Comments on: Vintage Snobs ‘R’ Us

By: Samantha

Samantha — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:00:27 +0000

Oh my gosh, what a concept. I really wish the “trendy” thrift store near my house would get a clue and start doing something like this. Tired of trying on cute stuff in the “L” section only to find that one piece fits like a 90s belly shirt, while the next is a circus tent from torrid.

By: 1948goa

1948goa — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:01:22 +0000

Wow, if all this is meant for my perusal, I will go and get a good glass of vintage wine and toast…… I got what I deserve
GMP

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 01:10:29 +0000

I think one can politely remind people about vintage sizes, though, without coming off like a jerk. I love thrift shopping and while visiting New York I came across my first Vintage store (oh my God, look! It’s VINTAGE! That’s like thrift, but cool!) so of course I had to go take a look.

Keep in mind I’d recently dropped 180 pounds, working my way down to 36-32-40, so feeling pretty proud of myself. I’ll tell you what makes me not want to shop at someone’s store, being told, “Oh, we carry mostly vintage European. Nothing here is going to fit someone like YOU.”

You know, you guys carry bags, jewelry, shoes, hats… Just about a dozen things that I could have bought regardless of waist size. Not anymore.

On the other hand, posting up a sign with a note that “Vintage Clothes Are Fragile, And Easily Stretched/Ripped. Since Vintage Sizes Differ From Modern Sizes, Don’t Trust The Tag! Please Make Sure The Clothes Are REALLY Your Size Before Trying On” as another store pointed out to us, that’s harmless and a good reminder for shoppers.

By: Jules

Jules — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:41:36 +0000

I’ve been to a vintage clothing shop where they measure the clothing before it goes on sale and then put it on a rail marked with the MODERN measurement. This makes things a lot easier. So 1950′s size UK 16 will be hung up on the modern UK 10 for example as the measurements are similar.

By: big suze

big suze — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 22:34:53 +0000

madison is literally the worst place I’ve ever lived, so this makes sense. And yes – (if you’re not one of them) hippie-vegan-liberals are the snootiest people ever!!!!

By: TippingCows

TippingCows — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 04:20:22 +0000

I can’t quite make out the picture on the “Shoplifters will be Prosecuted” sign, but it looks like your unborn fetus will be taken from you as punishment.
(Am I the only one that sees an ultra-sound on that paper)?

By: Catskillet

Catskillet — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 02:36:54 +0000

I live in Madison…where is that store!? I’m so curious.

By: Maas

Maas — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 19:25:20 +0000

No Visigoths or spiders for that matter.

By: Roundredhead

Roundredhead — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 04:05:36 +0000

Look, I’m a fat chick, in fact I am a very fat chick. I have never in my life torn or otherwise damaged a piece of clothing while trying it on. I know how big I am and I have never liked tight clothing. My guess is that most of the people who are ruining the clothes at this vintage store are anorexics whose self definition is completely tied up in the number on the label. People who think that because they are “thin” and thus morally superior to the rest of us that they don’t have to use care in the treatment of items they do not yet own.

By: Team Retail

Team Retail — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:39:29 +0000

Because the store’s beef is likely not with “fat chicks” at all, but with medium-sized modern ladies whose brains can’t compute being unable to squeeze into a 1960s size 14 (which is roughly a 6 in 2010 sizing). I shop vintage a lot and see this delusion in action all the time– ripped seams and busted zippers are the usual result. These aren’t $5 t-shirts from Old Navy– they’re one-of-a-kind items that the store can’t simply exchange or replace.

I agree that store #2 could be more diplomatic in their signage, but too many people are seriously clueless about the fact that (a) we used to be built a lot smaller before they started spiking our milk full of HGH, and (b) vanity sizing was not in play in the early 20th century.

By: LordOfThePants

LordOfThePants — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:56:07 +0000

I’m a 6ft., 150lb. adult. If I shop at a 2nd hand store, I often find myself drifting towards the boys’ section in order to find some clothes that I’m not totally swimming in.

By: Anon

Anon — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:31:22 +0000

Why don’t they just put a “No Fat Chicks” sign in that store?

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:08:45 +0000

I know, right? Why do fat people try to wear clothes that don’t fit? Why don’t they just wear caftans? Or lose some weight? Or start a fat-people-only commune so I don’t get confused about what size to wear?

I mean, it’s totally easy for me to find stuff that fits, and I’m a size 2! There’s, like, more fat people, so they shouldn’t have any problems finding fat people clothes, and fat people are less hot than me, so they should care more, right? DON’T THEY KNOW I HAVE TO LOOK AT THEM?!?!?!?!?!

…Question Mark, if being a size zero and uncomfortable around overweight people are genuinely that much of a problem for you, you’re either really lucky or really easy to piss off.

By: Mo®

Mo® — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:17:52 +0000

Spock loved a nice Nehru jacket.