Saturday, January 2, 2010

How to Measure Yourself for Custom Clothes

Click pictures to enlarge & Use these diagrams to reference the instructions below

Wear your undergarments and grab a tape measure. Wrap the tape comfortably around yourself without pulling on it.

CHEST (4): Wrap tape around upper torso, above bust, under the arms above the fullest part of the bust
BUST (5): Around the fullest part of the bust Make sure the tape is straight across the back.
EMPIRE WAIST (6): Measure just underneath your bust
WAIST (13): Around the body over the elastic
HIPS (15): (a) Around the fullest part of the hip, buttocks or upper thighs -- wherever is your fullest hip area, and (b) the distance from your waist to the fullest hip measurement (this is typically 7" to 9" depending on your height)
BACK WAIST LENGTH (25): Lower your head to identify the prominent bone at the base of your neck. Measure down from this bone to your natural waistline
BACK/SHOULDER WIDTH (23): Measure the across your back about 2" below the top ridge of your shoulders (approx. collarbone height)
ARM LENGTH (21): To locate the hinge, or bone, at the top of your arm, put your finger on the end of your shoulder and raise your arm. You'll be able to feel the bone. With your arm slightly bent, measure from this hinge to your elbow and from your elbow to your wrist bone Add these two together to determine your shoulder to wrist bone measurement.
SKIRT LENGTH (28): Measure from your natural waist down along your center front to you desired finished hem length. *Repeat this down along your center back if you have a luscious booty.
INSEAM for Pants (26): Measure from your crotch down to where you want your pant hem to hit. In this case, wear whatever shoes you plan to wear with the pants
OUTER SEAM for Pants (28): Measure from your waistline along the outer side of your leg, down to the desired hem length
FRONT RISE for Pants: Measure from crotch up the front of your belly to your natural waist
THIGH for Pants or Leggings (22): Measure around the widest part of your upper thigh
HEIGHT/Stature: Without shoes, stand naturally with your back against a wall or door frame. Place a flat ruler so it extends from the top of your head to the wall and is parallel to the floor. Mark the point on the wall with pencil or a piece of masking tape. Measure from the mark to the floor (Your stature can make a difference in how I scale certain garments, so the proportion looks right on you.)
READY-TO-WEAR SIZE: Tell me what size you generally buy off-the-rack in retail stores (I use this a general reference only.)
NOTES: Let me know anything else you think is relevant for yourself (if you are tall or petite, if you're short waisted or narrow shouldered, etc.) Also, tell me whether you prefer a very close (snug) fit or a bit of ease. For most stretchy clothing, I typically design for a moderately close fit. Outerwear typically has a bit more ease.

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