Vintage t-shirt sizing guide
why you can't trust the tag: the ultimate guide to t-shirt sizing
You’ve been there. You find a perfect, paper-thin concert tee from 1988. The tag says "Large," but when you get it home, it fits like a sausage casing. What gives?
The truth is, sizing has changed drastically over the decades. A "Large" today is a world away from a "Large" made in the 80s. We're here to let you in on the one secret that guarantees a perfect fit every single time: ignore the tag, trust the measurements.
This guide will teach you the exact method we use to measure every shirt in our collection, so you can buy with total confidence.
the golden rule: measure your favorite tee
The simplest way to find your perfect size in our store is to know the measurements of a t-shirt you already own and love. Grab it, lay it on a flat surface, and let's take two simple measurements.
Step 1: Pit-to-pit (the chest measurement)
This is the most important measurement for determining a shirt's size.
Lay your t-shirt flat and smooth it out. Measure from the point where the sleeve joins the body on one side (the armpit seam) straight across to the same point on the other side. That number is your pit-to-pit measurement.
Step 2: Length (The Top-to-Bottom Measurement)
This determines how long the shirt will be on your torso.
Measure from the highest point of the back collar, straight down to the very bottom of the hem. That's your length measurement.
The Faded Vibes Sizing Chart
Now that you have your measurements, here’s how we translate the pit-to-pit number into the modern sizes you see on our product pages.
A Quick History Lesson: Why Secondhand Sizes Are Different
So, why the huge difference? Two main reasons. First, fashion trends. T-shirts from the 70s and 80s were often designed to be much slimmer and more fitted than the relaxed cuts of today. Second, what the industry calls "vanity sizing" has become common—brands have slowly made their sizes bigger over the years to make shoppers feel better.
An expert hunter knows that the tag is just a historical detail. The real story is in the measurements, the type of cotton, and the construction, like whether it's a "single-stitch" tee (a hallmark of pre-mid-90s shirts).
You're Ready to Hunt
That's it. You're now armed with the two most important numbers for finding a secondhand shirt that fits you perfectly. The days of sizing guesswork are over.
Now that you know your fit, it's time to find your shirt.