While taking your own body measurements can seem like a daunting task, fear not because it’s not as bad as it looks. You can do it!
Although we’re a full-service alterations shop, the reason we don’t take your measurements to take to another tailor is simply because we don’t want to be held liable in case they don’t match what they want.
(For example, what if you’re not sure how wide/narrow you want your pants to be? Believe it or not, this measurement is affected by the pant length, so we may get a particular measurement, which you then take to another tailor, who makes you your new pants, which end up not being what you wanted originally.
Unless those measurements are for our own reference or use, we won’t take them.
Having said that, let’s now get on to how YOU can get your own measurements!
NOTE: Having a buddy measure you is encouraged but not required.
LADIES
Order of slideshow images:
- How to measure your shoulders
- How to measure your chest
- How to measure your upper arms
- How to measure your bust
- How to measure the section under your bust
- How to measure your waist
- How to measure your hips
- How to measure your height
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- SHOULDERS: Measure all the way across your back, from the tip of one shoulder to the tip of the other. Try not to hunch over!
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- CHEST: Measure all the way around your torso immediately above your bust.
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- UPPER ARM: Place the tape measure around the widest part of your underarm (your bicep). Then bend your arm slightly at the elboy to ensure a better fit.
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- BUST: Wearing your usual bra, with arms relaxed at your sides, measure your bust at the fullest point, keeping the tape parallel to the floor. It takes it past over both nipples, UNDER the underarm, OVER the shoulderblades, and AROUND your back about where your bra strap is.
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- UNDER BUST: Measure all the way around your torso, immediately beneath your bust.
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- WAIST: Measure around the narrowest part of your natural waistline. To find your natural waistline, bend to one side; there should be a crease where you bend (often it’s below your ribcage)–that’s your waistline. It’s OK if it’s higher than where you normally wear your pants but it’s SO important for getting a great fit!
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- HIP: Standing with heels together, measure around the broadest part of your hips (this includes the broadest part of your butt).
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- HEIGHT: Slip out of your shoes, stand with your feet slightly apart and your back to a wall, and measure straight from the floor to the top of your head.
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In case you can’t see the pictures above, we also recommend this resource by the For Dummies crew: How to Get Your Body Measurements.
GENTLEMEN
We found three good instructional videos that we recommend (see them below). The first is the shortest and the last two are part of a series, are more detailed, and lasts about ten minutes each.
A Note Re: Your Inseam
If having someone else measure your inseam makes you uncomfortable, then have them perform this neat trick: Take a hardcover book spine up and place that spine perpendicular to your crotch. Then simply measure the distance from the top of that spine to wherever you’d like your pants to go. That’s your inseam measurement!
(Or you may also measure the inseam of a pair of pants that already fit you very well.)
Another Note Re: Assistance
Although the videos indicate you can’t do this on your own, if you’re really nervous, feel free to recruit someone to help you. We’ve known of men who successfully take their own measurements but if you’d rather have someone help you while you become a pro, just ask them! We’re sure they’ll be glad to help.
Now The Videos
AND THAT’S IT!
We hope you’ve found these resources helpful. If you do have any questions or run into any hurdles, feel free to contact us.