The perfect fit: how to get second-hand clothes sizing right 

The perfect fit: how to get second-hand clothes sizing right 

Guest written by The Seam 
Online second-hand shopping is fashion's future. By 2030, it’s predicted that second-hand clothes will comprise around 18% of the average wardrobe, up from 9% in 2020. This is a welcome shift for the future of the planet, and will help tackle the 18 billion pounds worth of clothing thrown away annually. As well as keeping clothing out of landfill and in circulation, the re-sale market decreases the need for new fabric production by reducing demand. 
For many people, the rise of resale offers a less expensive and more sustainable way to refresh wardrobes, along with the potential to earn money from unused clothes. But there remains a roadblock in the potential of second-hand clothes: finding the perfect fit. 
The complexity around second-hand sizing stems from the fashion industry’s lack of standardisation. The very first en mass size standardisation for garment manufacturing were put forth in 1958. Over the decades that followed, ‘vanity sizing’ continuously eased sizes and shifted standards with the assumption that if a woman found herself wearing a size 10 in jeans at Levis and an 8 at GAP, her loyalty would fall with the latter brand. Buying clothing from decades past renders the numbers on the tag essentially meaningless: a women’s size 12 in 1958 now matches a contemporary size 6. And the term ‘standard’ is far from an accurate description of how sizes shift from one retailer to the next. 
Beyond the confusion around interpreting sizing on secondhand clothes, there is a lack of size representation above a UK size 12. Aja Barber writes, ‘The fashion industry has, noticeably, always failed to invite bigger bodies to the party’. Thrifting shares this problem. There are often up to 100 times more options in smaller sizes, meaning that many women have very little choice. A final challenge of finding the right size second-hand is the fact that there’s only one of each item, with no option to exchange for another size if it doesn’t it.
Enter The Seam, a new, digital platform that connects customers with local, specialist Makers to alter, repair, and rework clothes, as well as craft beautiful, made-to-measure garments. 
Here are their top tips for cracking the sizing conundrum and embracing resale. 
Tip #1: Hack the size charts
Most resale garments are labelled by their original brand name, and most clothing brands differ on the exact proportions their sizes cater to. When checking out secondhand garms from a major brand name, the best thing you can do is pop over to the original brand website and scope out their size chart. On top of learning how to take good measurements, this will set you up for success when it comes to fit. 
Tip #2: Embrace Alterations 
We can think of standardised sizes as the fashion industry’s best guess at our shape. The Seam is trying to make a good fit open to everyone. Using a digital platform, we’ve created an accessible way for customers to find local, trusted Makers, get a free fitting, and transform ill-fitting clothes into favourites. Whether that’s through a trouser hem, waist alteration, or tapered seams, crafting the perfect fit can turn a disappointing thrift into a cherished piece. 
Tip #3: Rework 
Sometimes the issue with fit is hard to pinpoint. In times like these, it’s more about a nuanced ‘something isn’t right’ than the need for a clear cut alteration, which makes them perfect for an upcycling project or creative rework. Whether this means changing a dress into a 2 piece co-ord set, or converting sleeves from full to fitted, you can think of thrifted clothes as just the starting point to realise your vision. And if that feels overwhelming, The Seam’s Makers are here to help.