How to Measure Dress Size

If you’re into online shopping, finding the perfect fit is the most important part of choosing a new dress. We always recommend having a professional take all of your measurements; however, we know this is not always possible so we’ve compiled this handy guide to doing it yourself.

What you’ll need:

-soft measuring tape

-the undergarments that you plan to wear with the dress

-the shoes you plan to wear with the dress

To get the best results you should measure yourself while wearing the undergarments you plan to wear with the dress. Wearing the shoes you intend to wear will give you a better idea of dress length. While most measurements can be done on your own, it is very helpful to have a friend assist you in measuring length.

Bust

Pull the measuring tape around the fullest part of your bust and relax your arms at your sides. Keep the tape parallel to the floor and give a little breathing room to this measurement. Be sure to take into consideration any padding in your bra plus any padding the dress may have in the bust itself.

Waist

To measure your natural waist, you have to find the narrowest part of your upper body. Measure with the tape slightly loose or you can keep your forefinger between your body and the measuring tape for an accurate fit.

Hips

Standing with your feet together, and measure around the fullest part of your hips which usually falls about 7 inches below your waist.

Dress Length

Measure from the hollow space between your collarbones to the desired length of your dress. Taking this measurement while wearing the shoes you plan to wear with the dress will give you the most accurate idea of how long the dress will be.

Height

Measure from the top of your head to the floor and don’t forget to be barefoot to get the most accurate measurement.

Now that you know how to take your measurements, the next step is to compare those measurements to those in the size chart. Keep in mind that sizes are not uniform across brands, so you will want to check the size chart for each dress you are interested in. Just because you were one size from company A doesn’t mean that you wear the same size from company B.

What are your best measuring tips and tricks? Share in the comments below.