Fit guidance that we provide on each listing based on the current production and fabric is as follows:
GET TO KNOW THE BASICS:
- “You’re Perfect Fit” - We all have a preference to how we like our clothing to look on us as well as what we are comfortable in. This information below will hopefully help guide you to finding the “Perfect Fit”. Our bodies are all different and sometimes the perfect fit requires a leap of faith or some tailoring. Know your body, and how your other items fit with Vixen and what the fabrics, design details are as they will help guide you on all your future purchases.
- “Painted on Look” - Designer and owner Micheline prefers a painted on look for herself. She is between sizes Small and Medium. With her measurements being 36 inch Bust - 27 inch Waist - 40 inch Hip she opts for the use of shape wear to wear a size Small. Her body like many of us fluctuates and can put her more in a size Medium than a Small at times, which is why she wears shape wear under many of her pieces. Most of our fabrics have some sort of give that allows her to order down to a Small in everything based on her comfort level.
- "Order Down if Between Sizes" - This means if any part of your body and measurements fall between two sizes on the size chart we suggest ordering down.
- "Order Up if Between Sizes" - This means if any part of your body and measurements fall between two sizes on the size chart we suggest ordering up.
- "Runs True to Size" - This means this item will have a flexible fit and runs TTS and will fit the exact specs listed on the size chart.
FIT GUIDANCE:
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Ordering Down if Between Sizes: This means the item has stretch or some stretch. If your, Bust, Waist or Hips puts you between two specific partnered sizes for example: Small or Medium, Large or XL. To be between sizes your measurements need to sit between these two partnered sizes for you to order down. Example: 32/33 inch waist puts you between a Large and XL, which means if your other measurements also put you between these two sizes you will want to order down unless for example your Bust measurements put you between an XL and a 2X, you may want to stick with the XL, as your bust may not fit in the Large at all, as it falls outside of the “Between Sizes” range your waist puts you in. Important, example, if your waist is a 34/35 you would be an XL, and should not be ordering down.
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Order Up if Between Sizes: This means the item has minimal stretch to no stretch. If your, Bust, Waist or Hips puts you between two specific partnered sizes for example: Small or Medium, Large or XL. To be between sizes your measurements need to sit between these two partnered sizes for you to order up. Example: 32/33 inch waist puts you between a Large and XL, which means if your other measurements also put you between these two sizes you will want to order up unless for example your Bust measurements put you between an XL and a 2X, you may want to stick with the XL, your bust may have a harder time fitting into an XL, and you may need to modify what bra you wear or order up and have the item tailored down to fit you. Important, example, if your waist is a 34/35 you would be an XL, and should not be ordering up.
- TTS: This means true to size. This means order your standard size in our brand.
- Fit is Firm: This means there is very little stretch.
- Belts: If your ordering up or down your belt is rigid and only fits the specified size ranges listed, there are extra holes to give some flexibility up or down but keep this in mind when selecting a size to order.
GET TO KNOW OUR FABRICS:
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First and foremost almost all dark or black fabrics have less stretch, this is due to the amount of density of dye that is in the fibers of the material, that limits the stretch/give a fabric has.
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Printing techniques on fabrics, is another factor that can change stretch of a fabric, like pigment or block printing. This printing technique is used on pre-existing ground fabric and the design is printed on the face of the fabric. The larger surface this print takes up that uses this process the less stretch you have.
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Printing techniques on fabrics, can change how a fabric fits. If the fabric is wet printed or custom dyed fabrics this can change the stretch of a material. This type of printing causes the material to go through multiple processes that refinishes the fabric completely. In the finishing stage of the fabric, the material can react differently, causing it to have more, or less strech. It can also cause the fabric to vary in weight, and feel.
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Fabrics themselves, comes from a selection of suppliers, and lots of production from those suppliers. These fabrics will vary in stretch/weights, as it is near impossible to get constant consistency, unless we are having the fabric made custom for us, and even then that still is not 100% controllable.
You can get the same style in a different colorway and or print and all the above factors will be in play on how your item fits. We modify markers, shrinks and construction to get as close as possible to a consistent fit, with each item. However once you wash something it could react differently to the process causing it to shrink especially if it has any of the following elements; Nylon, Rayon, Spandex, Cotton.
DESIGN DETAILS:
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Also an important thing to keep in mind when ordering, if your item has a waist seam or a gathered skirt the waist will absolutely have less flexibility in stretch and fit. Items with no waist seams will always offer more flexibility. Gathered skirts usually mean there is less stretch due to the bulk of the material, so keep this in mind when ordering.
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If your item has a print or design on it, over stretching the material can comprise the quality and longevity of the print, or in some cases cause the print to “smile” which means you are opening the knit so much that the ground white material is now visible.
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Pilling, is not a flaw or defect in a fabric or material. Pills do not interfere with the functionality of the textile. Pilling happens on most knit fabrics or more open weaved woven textiles. It happens when washing and wearing of fabrics causes loose fibers to begin to push out from the surface of the cloth, and, over time, abrasion causes the fibers to develop into small spherical bundles, anchored to the surface of the fabric by protruding fibers that have not broken. Easy to remove with a pill shaver or other various on market tools.
FABRICS:
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Millennium/Bengaline - Woven - Nylon/Rayon/Spandex - heat reactive, will shrink if exposed to too much heat or hot water - Has the most stretch out of our fabrics - Maneater Dresses - Peasant Dresses - Capri Pants - True Romance Top - Several Items
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Ponte - Nylon/Rayon/Spandex - Knit - heat reactive, will shrink if exposed to too much heat or hot water - Has the 2nd most stretch out of our fabrics - Avon Dresses - Bawdy Dresses - Several Pants - Several Tops - Several Dresses
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Cotton Sateen - Cotton/Spandex - Woven - heat reactive, will shrink if exposed to too much heat or hot water - Has the least amount of stretch out of our fabrics - Breathes/relaxes with wear - Maneater Tops - Sweetheart Dresses - Dream-House Dresses - Bardot Dresses - Pencil Skirts - Swing Skirts - Several Dress Styles
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Cotton Spandex - Cotto/Spandex - Knit - heat reactive, will shrink if exposed to too much heat or hot water - Has stretch but will compromise material if over stretched - Bad Girl Tops - Powder Puff Tops - Most Tops - Heavier Weight Version Used for some Dresses and Skirts
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Vacation Fabric/Fine Stretch Twill - Trylene/Spandex - Knit - heat reactive, will shrink if exposed to too much heat or hot water - Has some stretch, varies based on color, weave and printing processes - Vacation Dresses
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ITY - Poly/Spandex - Knit - Less heat reactive but still has spandex and could shrink. - Has stretch but will compromise material if over stretched - Styles - Vacation Tops - Older Starlet Wiggles
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Stretch Crepe - Poly/Spandex - Knit - heat reactive, will shrink if exposed to too much heat or hot water - Has the 2nd most stretch out of our fabrics, printing process tends to firm up the fit fabric causing it to have less stretch and a firmer fit - Ingenue Dresses - Starlet Dresses
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Liverpool/Stretch Crepe - Poly/Spandex - heat reactive, will shrink if exposed to too much heat or hot water - Has the 2nd most stretch out of our fabrics, printing process tends to relax the fit of the fabric causing it to have more stretch and a more relaxed fit - Starlet Tops - Older Stripe Leopard Styles
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Twill - Cotton/Spandex - Woven - heat reactive, will shrink if exposed to too much heat or hot water - Has more stretch than Cotton Sateen, and is much heavier weight - Cigarette Pants - Vamp Tops - Rebel Skirts - Some Dresses - Some Skirts
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Faux Leather/Vinyl - Polyurethane/Cotton Backing - Spot clean, dry clean or hand wash, do not apply heat. - Minimal mechanical stretch, will relax with wear, vinyl tends to always have a firmer fit, faux leather tends to relax more with wear than the vinyl - Several Tops, and Separates
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Stretch Velvet - Poly/Spandex - heat reactive, will shrink if exposed to too much heat or hot water, do not iron - Has the 2nd most stretch out of our fabrics, the fabric has strong recovery and usually takes several wears to relax fabric - Starlet Dresses - Wrap Tops - Powder Puff Tops
All of our bodies are different and we all like our clothes to fit based on our specific desires. The best advice we can give you, is to know your body, fabrics and current measurements and fits. This will help choose the size you will like best when placing your next order. Order how you like your clothes to fit you, and your body.
As always if you need any additional help or guidance please reach out to our Customer Service Team directly:
As always if you need any additional help or guidance please reach out to our Customer Service Team directly:
vixenbymichelinepitt@gmail.com
