My uncle's vintage blazer advice was dead wrong on sizing

My uncle collects 70s Pendleton sport coats and told me to size down on a wool blazer because they stretch. I bought a 42 off eBay for $60 and could barely button it. After three wears the shoulders still feel tight, no stretch at all. Did I just get a bad cut or does anyone else find vintage wool runs small in the arms?

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rayy831mo ago

My buddy Mark bought a 1960s Hickey Freeman from a thrift store in Portland and had the exact same problem. He's a 40 regular and grabbed a 42 because the tag said "vintage fit," figured he'd be fine. First time he wore it to a wedding he couldn't raise his arm to shake hands without the shoulder seam digging in. Took it to a tailor who said the old wool was cut for a different body shape, shorter torso and narrower arms, so it's not really a sizing thing as much as a whole different pattern. He ended up selling it and buying a modern blazer, never looked back.