How to measure a vintage football shirt before buying

To compare the fit of a vintage football shirt, request its pit-to-pit width and length in centimetres, measured flat without stretching. Measure a shirt that already fits you using the same method. The useful comparison is between garments measured at equivalent points: an M, L or XL label alone cannot tell you whether a shirt will fit as you want.

1. Choose your reference shirt

Choose a shirt with a fit you know and a similar intended use: worn on its own, over another layer or displayed. Record what you like about its fit and what you would change. For a gift without a reference garment, leave fit unconfirmed; do not infer it from height or weight alone.

Record label size, stated version and alterations separately. Do not convert every size from an era or brand using a “size up” rule.

2. Agree how to measure width

• Lay the shirt on a flat surface. Arrange the fabric without pulling it, ensuring the front or back is not gathered underneath. Do not force fragile areas flat.
• Measure in a straight line from one underarm junction to the other. Request a photograph showing both ends of the tape and the surrounding shirt.
• If the construction has no clear junction, agree another identifiable point and mark it in the photograph. Do not compare it with a measurement taken at a different height.

The result is the garment’s flat width, not your body’s chest circumference. Doubling it does not create a size recommendation or tell you how much room you will have when moving. Comparing it with your own shirt keeps the measurement meaningful.

3. Define the start and end of the length

One possible method runs from the high shoulder point beside the collar to the bottom edge of the front, excluding the collar itself. Record that route and use it for both shirts. Measuring from the centre of the back neck gives a different reference; do not mix the two methods in one comparison.

If the back hem is longer or the hem is curved, request front and back lengths separately and identify each route. For a raglan sleeve, agree the endpoints before requesting an additional measurement: “sleeve length” alone does not explain where the tape starts.

4. Complete this table before deciding

This blank table is for your purchase; it does not describe our inventory. Name photographs so they can be matched to each measurement and listing.

Detail and method	Your reference	Candidate	Photo or open question
Size stated on label	______	______	Readable label: ______
Flat width between underarms	______ cm	______ cm	Matching endpoints: ______
Front length, shoulder beside collar → hem	______ cm	______ cm	Visible route: ______
Back length, if needed	______ cm	______ cm	Agreed route: ______
Another measurement affecting your fit	Method: ______	______ cm	Photo: ______

Decide which differences are acceptable using garments you know. If you give a range in a sourcing request, explain whether it is essential or a preference. Do not set a universal tolerance for all fabrics and cuts. Keep the original numbers and unit; if you convert inches to centimetres, label the conversion and do not present it as a new measurement.

5. Resolve differences before authorising the purchase

If the description gives one figure and the tape appears to show another, ask the seller to repeat the measurement with the same endpoints visible. Do not simply choose the more convenient figure. “Not measured”, “different starting point” and “unreadable photograph” are different uncertainties and should be recorded separately.

If the measurement cannot be obtained, explicitly decide whether you accept buying with fit unconfirmed. A general manufacturer or shop size chart can guide a search, but cannot replace information about that particular item. A correct measurement does not confirm authenticity, condition or history either.

6. Send a request that can be checked

Copy this message if useful: “To compare the fit, I need the width between the underarms and the length from the shoulder beside the collar to the front hem, in centimetres. Please measure flat without stretching and send photos showing the tape’s endpoints. If you use a different method, explain it. My reference shirt measures [width] and [length] using this route; I am looking for [fit or range]. Mark anything you cannot check as unconfirmed.”

Include that reference in your sourcing request. If you have chosen a listing, provide its measurements and open questions when arranging a purchase from China. To repeat measurements on arrival, agree which points should be checked during inspection.

Sources and scope

A r/KitSwap question asks about substituting sizes; another request combines width and condition. These are individual experiences. The Classic Football Kit guide also refers to item measurements. This article’s method and table are original tools, not a universal sizing system.