FAQ

What does “Measure Twice” actually mean on this site?

It is the standing rule in our guides: before you read a single review, take three measurements yourself — the garment or bag dimension, your own body or laptop or shelf, and the gap between the two. A 16-inch laptop is about 35.5 cm long; a tote listed as “fits 16-inch” can have an interior width of anywhere from 36 to 42 cm. The second number decides, not the first.

Which three numbers should I measure before buying any bag?

Interior width at the base, strap drop, and depth. Interior width decides what fits inside — a laptop sleeve is not the same as the bag's outer width. Strap drop decides whether it sits on the shoulder or fights it: under about 25 cm and most straps will not stay put over a coat. Depth decides the bulge.

How do I convert my shoe size between US, UK and EU without guessing?

Measure your foot in centimetres and buy from that number, not from letters. A US men's 9 is a UK 8 and roughly an EU 42 on most size charts, but charts disagree by up to half a size between brands. The centimetre measurement is the only figure that stays constant across the chart.

What do the width letters in sneakers actually mean?

Most brands scale width in roughly 5 mm steps per letter — B is standard women's, D standard men's, 2E and 4E get wider. The catch: the letter applies to the forefoot, not the heel. If your heel slips in a wide size, the fix is lacing or an insole, not a wider letter.

Is a higher price a reliable signal of better materials?

No. Check the composition label instead: for silver, look for a 925 stamp rather than a “sterling” word; for gold vermeil, the legal floor is a 2.5 micron plating over sterling, and brands that meet it state the figure. Price correlates with branding at least as often as with spec.

Why do coat sleeves wear out before the rest of the coat?

Because sleeves take the abrasion — desk edges, door frames, bag straps — while the body of the coat does not. Construction matters more than wool grade here: a lined sleeve with a proper cuff hem outlasts an unlined one in better cloth. Check the lining fabric content before the wool percentage.

How much should I expect resoling to cost, and is it worth it?

Leather-soled dress shoes typically resole for a fraction of a new pair's price and can take several resoles; rubber-soled pairs often cannot be resoled at all or cost close to replacement. Over five years the leather pair usually wins on total cost — but only if the upper holds up, which is why stitching matters more than the sole.

Can I trust the measurements a brand publishes on its own spec sheet?

Treat them as a starting point, not a verdict. Brands measure at different points — a bag's width at the top vs the base can differ by several centimetres. Where our articles compare products, we state whose figure each number is, and where a brand publishes nothing measurable, we say that too.

How do I measure myself for a hat or a watch without a fitting?

Two numbers. For a hat, wrap a soft tape around your head about 1 cm above the ears — that circumference in centimetres is the size most brands use. For a watch, measure lug-to-lug on a case you already own: a case wider than your wrist's lug-to-lug overhangs the edge, which is the complaint no diameter figure predicts.

Still have a question?

Write to contact@voguevane.com. If a question points at a number we got wrong, it gets corrected on the page.