Yes — in most cases, you should size up when buying vintage. The question is how much. It depends on the era, garment type, and country of origin.
| US | EU | UK | USSR/RU | Bust cm | Waist cm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0/XS | 32 | 4 | 36 | 76 | 60 |
| 2/XS | 34 | 6 | 38 | 80 | 64 |
| 4/S | 36 | 8 | 40 | 84 | 68 |
| 6/S | 38 | 10 | 42 | 88 | 72 |
| 8/M | 40 | 12 | 44 | 92 | 76 |
| 10/M | 42 | 14 | 46 | 96 | 80 |
| 12/L | 44 | 16 | 48 | 100 | 84 |
| 14/L | 46 | 18 | 50 | 104 | 88 |
| 16/XL | 48 | 20 | 52 | 108 | 92 |
| 18/XXL | 50 | 22 | 54 | 112 | 96 |
How Much to Size Up
Women's vintage from the 1950s–1970s: size up 4–6 US sizes from your modern size (modern US 10 → vintage US 16). Men's vintage jackets: size up 2 US sizes. Soviet/EU sizing: use body measurements rather than sizing up arbitrarily.
When Not to Size Up
If you have the garment's actual measurements and they match your body + ease allowance, there is no need to size up regardless of what the label says.