How to Measure

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON MEASURING

Please use our measuring methods when you purchase from us. Please submit measurements that you would be comfortable wearing on a finished dress.

Accurate measurements are one of the key components to achieving a good fit. It is easiest and most accurate to have a friend measure you. If no one is available to help you, you can measure yourself standing in front of a full length mirror.

Always take your measurements over the undergarments and/or anything else you will be wearing with the dress. Stand up straight and place your feet directly beneath your shoulders. When measuring, please remember that the tape should not be held too tights; you should be able to slip two fingers under the tape when measuring around the bust and waist. Measurements should be redone if you have lost or gained 7 lbs or more.

HOW TO MEASURE

  • 1. Neck -- Measure all the way around the base of the neck for a comfortable neckline. The best way to do this is place a small chain around the base of your neck, and then measure the chain. 
  • 2. Bust/Chest --  (This is not your bra size) With arms initially outstretched, place measuring tape around your back shoulder blades and parallel with the floor. Bring tape around to front over fullest part of the bust. Lower your arms. The tape may expand slightly and will allow for back expansion.
  • 3. Waist -- Tie a piece of string or elastic around your natural waist. Bend from side to side to settle the elastic in your natural waist position. Measure around your waist at this position. If your dress is empire waist, please measure around the body where you want the empire waistline to be and submit that measurement as well.
  • 4. Hips -- Start at the fullest point of your hips. This could be between 2"-9" below the waistline. Measure around the fullest part of your hips keeping the tape parallel to the floor. 
  • 5. Shoulder length-- With tape at the base of the neck, measure along the natural shoulder seam line to the top of the arm
  • 6. Back Shoulders -- Measure from sleeve seam to sleeve seam across the back shoulder blades.
  • 7. Sleeve Opening -- Measure from the top of the arm down through the armpit and back around to the top. 
  • 8. Sleeve Length -- With arm outstretched, measure about 1" away from the body starting in the armpit along the arm to the desired sleeve length.
  • 9. Sleeve Ends -- Measure all the way around the arm at the end of your desired sleeve length.
  • 10. Back Bodice Length -- Start at the top in the center of the shoulder seam where the bodice front and back are joined and measure down the back over your shoulder blades to your waistline. IF your dress has an empire waist, please stop the tape where you want the waistline of your dress to be. (Please note #10 and #11 are measured the same way)
  • 11. Front Bodice Length -- Start at the top in the center of the shoulder seam where the bodice front and back are joined and measure down the front over the fullest part of the bust to the waistline. Again, if your dress has an empire waist stop the tape where you want the waistline to be. This measurement should end completely level with the back measurement. If you have a full bust this measurement will be longer than the back.
  • 12. Skirt Length -- Start at the end of the desired bodice length and measure down the leg to the desired skirt length.


Additional measurements needed if you purchased bloomers/panties/rompers:

  • 13. Back waist to Crotch -- With tape measure between your legs, begin the tape at the back waist level and measure down to the center of the crotch.
  • 14. Front Waist to Crotch -- With tape measure between your legs, begin the tape at the front waist level and measure down to the center of the crotch. (#13 and #14 are measured the same way)
  • 15. Waist to hem -- Beginning at the natural waist, measure over the side of the hip down to the desired finished length. 



Go to the Measurement Form