Reference guides
Editorial
Answers to the questions the archive gets asked: which size, which season, which line, which collaboration.
Sizing & Fit
How a given model fits.
How a given model fits, what to compare it with, and when to size away from the label.
All 11 →
Balenciaga Runner Sneaker Sizing Guide 5 min 
Balenciaga 10XL Sneaker Sizing Guide 4 min 
Balenciaga Strike Boots Sizing Guide 5 min 
Balenciaga Track Sneaker Sizing Guide 5 min 
Balenciaga 3XL Sneaker Sizing Guide 5 min
- Balenciaga Defender and Bouncer Sizing Guide Balenciaga Defender and Bouncer versions differ, while 15 community mentions favor true to size for wide feet and one size down for narrow feet. 5 min
- Homme Plissé Issey Miyake Sizing Guide Use height and desired length first when choosing Homme Plissé Issey Miyake pants. The official body chart covers sizes 1–4, while each product page gives the measurements for its particular cut. 5 min
- The Community-Powered Balenciaga Sizing Guide Wardatrobe analyzed more than 1,000 Balenciaga sizing discussions. Compare the community results for sneakers, boots, clothing, and other footwear. 12 min
- Maison Margiela Tabi Sizing Guide Maison Margiela Tabi sizing varies by style. Current ballerina and mule product pages recommend sizing up, while other models need to be checked individually. 5 min
- Balenciaga Boots Sizing Guide Compare official Balenciaga boot fit notes with community sizing data for Strike, Stomper, Alaska, Bulldozer, Steroid, Trooper, and other models. 8 min
- Balenciaga Triple S Sizing Guide Compare Balenciaga's size-down advice with 18 community sizing mentions for the original Triple S, then see what changed on the Triple S.2. 5 min
Dating & Authentication
Reading the product code.
Reading the product code, care label and neck tag to place a garment in a season.
All 8 →- How to Date Gucci From Its Tags A practical guide to dating Gucci clothing and handbags from vintage wordmarks, modern label colours, corporate names, production tags, and style numbers. 18 min
- How to Date Maison Margiela From Its Tags A practical guide to dating Maison Martin Margiela and Maison Margiela from early collection labels, later quality-tag numbers, and Japanese distributor tags. 18 min
- How to Date UNDERCOVER From the Product Code A practical guide to dating UNDERCOVER from its product number, including the current year-letter system, five older formats, and products the code cannot date exactly. 17 min
- How to Date Issey Miyake From the Tags A practical guide to dating Issey Miyake, Pleats Please, Homme Plissé, IM MEN, BAO BAO, and related lines from the product code and care label. 14 min
- How to Date Comme des Garçons From the Tags A practical guide to dating Comme des Garçons, Homme Plus, Junya Watanabe, PLAY, SHIRT, and related lines from the AD year and product code. 13 min
- How to Date Yohji Yamamoto From the Tags A practical guide to dating Yohji Yamamoto, Y's, Pour Homme, Ground Y, S'YTE, and related lines from the product code, size label, and Japanese care symbols. Includes season codes through Autumn/Winter 2026-27. 12 min
- Rick Owens: How to Read a Product Code and Date a Piece Current Rick Owens apparel codes identify the line, season, year, style, material, and color. Older formats still identify the product, but pre-2013 tags do not provide a reliable year. 8 min
- Balenciaga Label Dating Guide: Bags and Clothing Balenciaga bag tags and clothing labels can narrow a piece to an era, but no single detail gives an exact date or proves authenticity. This guide separates the useful clues from the uncertain ones. 12 min
Lines & Brand Knowledge
How a house is structured.
How a house is structured: its diffusion lines, sub-labels and what each name means.
All 5 →- Issey Miyake Lines Explained: Mainline, Pleats Please, Homme Plissé, and More Issey Miyake is a family of distinct labels, not one collection split across price points. This guide explains the design teams, dates, materials, and techniques behind the mainline, Pleats Please, Homme Plissé, IM MEN, BAO BAO, A-POC ABLE, and more. 14 min
- Comme des Garçons Lines Explained: Homme, Play, Junya Watanabe, and the Rest Comme des Garçons is a company with more than a dozen labels under it, several run by their own designers, not by Rei Kawakubo. Here is what each line is, when it started, and how to date a piece from its tag. 11 min
- UNDERCOVER Lines Explained: What the Label Actually Says UNDERCOVER has expanded through menswear and womenswear lines, retail collaborations, and performance projects. This guide explains the dates, design credits, and label names that distinguish them. 7 min
- Yohji Yamamoto's Lines Explained: Y's, Pour Homme, Y-3, and the Rest Yohji Yamamoto's company separates its core brands from capsules and collaborative projects. This guide explains Y's, Pour Homme, Y-3, LIMI feu, Ground Y, S'YTE, discord, WILDSIDE, and the smaller labels. 10 min
- Maison Margiela Numbers 0–23: A Guide to the Product Lines Maison Margiela's numbered label identifies the product line, such as Artisanal, womenswear, menswear, accessories, fragrances, or shoes. It does not show the size or season. 6 min
Collaborations
Joint collections and capsules.
Joint collections and capsules, who made what, and how to tell the partners apart.
All 3 →- Vetements Collaborations After Demna, 2019–Present A dated guide to Vetements collaborations since Demna left, including Star Wars, New Rock, Elie Saab, Castelbajac with Steiff, and the few Demna-era partners that continued. 10 min
- Vetements Collaborations Under Demna, 2014–2019 A dated guide to more than 30 Vetements partners during Demna's tenure, including all 18 Spring 2017 manufacturers and overlooked releases in Hong Kong, Seoul, and Tokyo. 16 min
- Balenciaga Collaborations Under Demna: The Complete List A chronological guide to Balenciaga's collaborations and licensed projects around Demna's 2015–25 tenure, including footwear, games, music, charity work, regional releases, and cancelled Supreme. 25 min
Topics
- Balenciaga 11
- Balenciaga sizing 9
- brand knowledge 8
- shoe fit 8
- sneaker sizing guide 7
- brand guide 5
- date code 5
- product code 4
- boot sizing guide 3
- collaborations 3
- dating guide 3
- Homme Plissé 3
- Issey Miyake 3
- Maison Margiela 3
- product codes 3
- CDG 2
- Comme des Garçons 2
- Demna 2
- Jun Takahashi 2
- Junya Watanabe 2
- oversized sneakers 2
- Pleats Please 2
- Tabi 2
- UNDERCOVER 2