Vinted, the popular online marketplace for pre-loved fashion, has rolled out a significant change to its sizing system that is leaving both buyers and sellers across the UK frustrated and confused.
What is the Vinted Sizing Update?
The platform has automatically updated its size guidelines for women's and children's clothing in an effort to make sizing more accurate across international brands. A Vinted spokesperson confirmed the change, stating: UK members will have received a message in their Vinted inbox with more details and that full information is available in the app's Help Centre.
The intention behind the update is to address the long-standing issue of non-standardised sizing between different countries and regions. However, the implementation has been anything but smooth.
User Backlash and Real-World Problems
The update, which went live in November 2025, has been met with a wave of criticism from the Vinted community. Users report that items are being automatically recategorised, leading to major discrepancies between what is listed and what is shown in search results.
One exasperated shopper voiced a common concern, stating: "Now if I want a size 14, I can only choose medium which will show me all size 12 and 14s." This consolidation means users can no longer filter for specific, individual sizes as easily as before.
The problems run deeper. Another user experimented by searching for both medium and large sizes, as they typically wear a UK 14-16. They discovered items listed as 'M' under the old system, which were actually a size 10, being shown in their results. This has rendered the search function "f***ing useless" for many trying to find clothes that will actually fit.
Urgent Advice for Vinted Shoppers
This shake-up means that shoppers can no longer rely solely on the size category selected by the seller or the platform's filters. To avoid purchasing ill-fitting items, buyers are now being urgently advised to adopt new habits.
The key is to scrutinise the listings more carefully than ever before. Vinted users should:
- Check the actual garment measurements provided by the seller in the description.
- Examine the tagged photos of the item's label to see the manufacturer's stated size.
- Read the seller's description thoroughly for any additional sizing notes.
As one user wisely noted, a seller may have listed an item as 'L' but described it in the text as fitting like a 14-16, or chosen a size based on the old system. The responsibility now falls heavily on the buyer to do their due diligence before clicking 'buy'.
With the new system causing such disruption, it remains to be seen if Vinted will refine its approach or if UK shoppers will simply have to adapt to a new, more cautious way of buying second-hand clothes online.
