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2013-05-16

A Lesson Worth Repeating

I know. I say it all the time. Don't look at the size number on the tag (still one of my favourite posts...) when you are thrifting. Clothes at the thrift store come from different stores, countries and decades and guess what? A size label means something different in every different store, country and decade...
This little tip could not have been more obviously demonstrated than last week when I went thrifting, hit the jackpot (let's skip over the part where I stood in the aisles for forever trying to make my decisions...) and ended up with these two beauties. An Andy Thê Anh sample bustier and a 1980's snakeskin printed dress...

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Cute right? Look real close.

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That's right, the vintage dress is a petite, size 15/16 and the bustier is marked as a size 4.
At 5'11, I don't believe I am petite and I don't think I am a size 4 or a size 15/16 either.
The bustier is a sample, but I love it because it is beautifully constructed (check out the elastic panels in the back!) and designed and made in Canada. I have no clue whether the sizes were meant for an international market or whether the sample sizes were skewed, I just know that I don't normally fit a 4 in designer (or any really...) clothing.
To be honest, the dress is a little on the bigger side but because of the fluid fabric, it still drapes in a flattering manner. The 80's loved excessive material, hence the long hem, gathered waist and the batwing sleeves... on a 'petite'design. I will still likely shorten the dress to get rid of some of the fabric and I am hoping this time I will measure twice and cut once. And while it needs a new hem to be the more flattering on me, it's not like I am swimming in this dress either. We all know I just like a short hem.

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So these were my finds last week. A size 4 and a size 15/16, both fitting into my closet rotation (closet explosion actually...) with little effort... 



*******giant kisses to Melanie from Modify Your Closet who I saw before my thrift trip and who gave me a coupon for 30% off my whole purchase at Value Village! -xx-

9 comments :

Sophie said...

Adore the snakeskin number!
Sophie
x

MisisD said...

Great finds!

Sue @ A Colourful Canvas said...

Clever design lines on that bustier. I can't wait to see how you style it. I'm getting back into sewing again and am a pattern size 14 right now, which seems ginormous to me after wearing size eights back in my twenties...but you're right. I wear anything from a six to a 12 in clothing I buy thrift. I actually find thrift store shopping easier to ignore sizes. I rarely shop at stores where there are sales associates, but the whole idea of them tsk tsking about needing a size larger etc., just scares me.

Sue xo

Unknown said...

Both are awesome! Love the beautifully constructed bustier and at wait to see you wear it..

Leah said...

I can't believe you found that bustier! Beauty.

Lucy said...

The corset is *beautiful.* Nice finds! I haven't had a chance to check out the thrifts this week, and now I'm definitely itching to hit up some shops for some good 'ole digging.

DressUpNotDown said...

Both finds blow me away! As for size, if you looked in my closet to find out my size (maybe to surprise me with a new designer bustier, hehe), you would not get much help going by the numbers...I have quite the range of sizes in there. My biggest qualm over an "exploding" closet, is not getting to wear everything often enough 'cause there's just so much! :o)

www.dressupnotdown.blogspot.com

Tara Honeybird said...

Not looking at tags is a great tip when thrifting. I have found great things from sizes S to XXL!

Rachel said...

I love your story--it's so true that you can't really rely on the number tags--especially when you don't know the original source of the clothing. If you love it, try it on. Maybe it will fit or maybe you can do something to adjust it to make it fit!