Vintage Sizes Explained

The short answer

With vintage, secondhand and retro clothing, the size on the tag is only a rough clue. The same M can be several centimetres wider or narrower depending on brand, decade and cut. What really counts is the measurement in centimetres.

• Measure a piece that fits you well, laid flat
• Compare it with the measurements on the product page
• Up to 2 cm difference usually feels the same
• Ignore the tag if the centimetres say something else
• Want it looser? Choose a piece a few centimetres wider

Why vintage sizes are different

There is no binding size standard that all brands follow. In the US, the official standard for women's sizes was dropped back in 1983, and the European standard series EN 13402 is rarely used. Every brand sets its own sizes, and they change over the years.

On top of that, cuts change with fashion. Sportswear from the 90s and Y2K was cut differently from today, and a football polo is usually slimmer than a track jacket from the same brand. Pieces made for the Asian market often run smaller than European ones. And whether a piece really comes from its era is covered in our guide How to spot real vintage sportswear.

Good to know The tag tells you how the piece was sold back then. The centimetres tell you how it fits you today.

What our measurements show

We measure every piece flat before it goes online. Across all 45 tops in our shop in October 2026, the spread within one size is large:

Two pieces both labelled M can differ by 11 cm across the chest. Only 10 of the 45 tops fall into the chest range that our vintage size chart lists for their tag size, and 29 measure narrower. Track jackets in M sit between 50 and 56 cm, polos and shirts in M between 45 and 53 cm.

How to measure a top flat

You only need a tape measure and a piece that fits you the way you like.

1. Lay the piece flat on a table, close the zip or buttons and smooth it out.
2. Chest width: measure straight across, about 2 cm below the armpits, from side seam to side seam.
3. Length: measure from the highest point of the shoulder next to the collar straight down to the hem.
4. Note both numbers. Double the chest width and you get the rough circumference.

How to measure track pants flat

1. Lay the pants flat, front facing up, without stretching the waistband.
2. Waist: measure straight across the top of the waistband, edge to edge.
3. Length: measure along the outside from the top of the waistband down to the hem.

Most track pants have an elastic waistband. It stretches, so a few centimetres more or less at the waist are usually fine. The length matters more, especially if you like the hem to sit on your shoes.

How to convert your size

There is no formula that turns an old size into a new one. The reliable way is the centimetre comparison:

1. Measure your favourite piece as described above.
2. Check the measurements on the product page. Every piece at PrimeSupply lists chest and length, or waist and length.
3. Up to 2 cm difference usually feels the same. From about 3 cm you will normally notice it.
4. For a looser 90s look, choose a piece a few centimetres wider than your reference.

Nothing to measure at hand? Our size guide shows which chest width usually suits which body height.

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