Vintage clothing: waist to chest ratio problems?

[MaryMary]

Ok, so I was wondering if anyone else has this issue with buying vintage dresses: I have been hesitant to purchase anything actually vintage because I notice that all the measurements are usually in the 40's for chest and 20's or 30's for waist.

I am a small chested girl who could do 36' max, and I have probably a 28-30 waist, depending on the outfit. (I am an apple shape...)

Anyone else with similar measurements run into the issues when buying vintage or is everyone else lucky to have the ample chest AND tiny waist package??? Frankly it is a bit depressing...

I was thinking maybe it was the bras...the bullet bra might have taken up some room up there...... do people wear authentic undergarments with their clothing?

Mary

[Laura Chase]

You will probably often have to take in the chest in a tiny bit (or have a tailor do it for you), as I have seen many many dresses with a 36' chest, but often the waist on those is 26'-28' or something like that. Chest-waist ratio is often 8'-10' and the hip-waist ratio 10'.

I'm not sure, but I have a sense that if you look for 30's clothing you will be more able to find something for a smaller chest than if you look for 50's. Many 30's dresses I have seen have a 8' chest-waist ratio.

[miss_elise]

the ample bust and tiny waist only come with proper undergarments... *squish*

[Paisley]

Mary Mary, I don't have an hourglass figure, either. I pretty much stick to vintage-inspired clothes. If you get a jacket that's big enough in the waist, it might not fit your shoulders.

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

Get a measuring tape. You need to know your exact measurements. 36-28 isn't unheard of, really (34-36 is a very common bust size) - and yes, lots of us wear waist cinchers and foundation garments that help squish us into shape!

[get_atomized]

MaryMary, sounds like you and I are about the same size and shape! And we live in the same town too! Uh oh, competition!

( just kidding I don't have any money to buy vintage clothing at the moment, you are safe)

[Laura Chase]

You are lucky to have a 36' chest, a lot of super cute dresses out there in that chest size!

[Lady Day]

I am a small chested girl who could do 36' max, and I have probably a 28-30 waist, depending on the outfit. (I am an apple shape...)

As the other gals have said, a lot of the garments were meant to be worn with underpinnings. Ever seen patterns from the early 1900s? I have one listing a 40" bust with a 24" waist. WHAT!?

You will be fine. Get a nice girdle

LD

[MaryMary]

Thanks ladies,

Lady Day: omg, your post made me laugh...gotta love those measurements eh? That is like Barbie measurements! Wow! I would have to remove a kidney to get that shape...

Get atomized: Yayyy someone from Toronto!!! Excellent! I have been dying to meet someone near me actually! And don't worry, I won't buy up all the good clothes

Okay, I am going to see about getting myself some good undergarments! Thanks for the tips!

Mary

[December]

I'm lucky to have a 10" difference between my chest/ hip and waist difference.

Although this is great for vintage clothing, it's not without it's flaws- trying to find high street basics that fit well is almost impossible!!