Ladies Measurement Guide for Bespoke and Couture
Measuring Guide
Ask someone else to measure you or assist to confirm the measurements taken.
- Tie a piece of string or ribbon round your natural waistline firmly for accuracy.
- Neck - measure at the base of the neck for neck pieces.
- Bust - make sure the tape is straight across your back. Keep the tape tight under your bust to measure this part as you would if being measured for a bra. Keep it firm round the bust but dont depress your nipples – do not take this measurement wearing a padded bra.
- Neck to waist measurement is from the bottom of your neck at the front to natural waistline.
- Shoulder to bust is from your nipple directly up to your shoulder 3cm to the side of your neck.
- Torso measurement - start with the tape at the same point on your shoulder - 3cm to the side of your neck - take it down and underneath your body and up the back across to the opposite shoulder – this is for the bodysuit – keep the tape firm.
- Shoulder to longest length is from same point on shoulder to the finished hem. Do it in front of a mirror with your dance shoes on so you are not bending forward to look! Fishing line and special hem finishes do alter the final position and Lycra is of course stretchy. Ballroom dresses are usually worn just above the ankle bone.
- Short fringed Latin's often have very little in the way of a skirt. The skirt is there merely to hold the fringe. Please check the length at back also so that your bottom is covered when standing. Some Latin's are simply costumes with fringe added so obviously there is no finished length. Other Latin's have diagonal hems so please advise the shortest and longest lengths. Straight Latin dresses are worn short for movement so please bear this in mind when determining the length.
- Armpit is the distance around your arm at the shoulder -keep the tape loose for movement.
- Record measurements in centimetres except for height use the usual feet and inches - its just a double check so we can check the length.
- Dress size and bra size is also used as a double check so we can check measurement accuracy – please indicate if it is UK, US or EU next to the number.
- Only complete measurements relevant to your order - eg. if your gown has no sleeves then leave the sleeve measurement.
Everything else should be straightforward but we are at the end of a phone if you need help - call us on 01202 729902 UK or +44 1202 729903 for international. We send dresses all over the world all from on-line ordering without problems but we can only make to the measurements you give us, although we check them over and query anything that does not look right it is your responsibility to provide accurate measurements. Please spend time making sure each one is correct.
You will receive a chart to complete after ordering.
Measurements Required
- Around Neck
- Chest (under arms above bust)
- Bust
- Under bust
- Armpit
- Shoulder to Bust
- Shoulder to Waist
- Waist
- Waist to hem (straight skirt style - if Latin not including fringing)
- Torso (shoulder to crotch to shoulder)
- Top Hip (13cm below waist)
- Lower Hip (20cm below waist)
- Sleeve length (from shoulder to wrist in hold)
- Shoulder to knuckle
- Bicep
- Wrist
- Shoulder to shoulder across top of back
- Neck to waist
- Waist to knee - without shoes
- Waist to floor - without shoes
- Shoulder to floor - without shoes
- Shoulder to longest length - ballroom - with shoes
- Shoulder to longest length - Latin - diagonal hem styles - with shoes
- Shoulder to shortest length - Latin- as above- with shoes
- Shoulder to average length - Latin - for irregular hem styles - with shoes
- Height
- Usual dress size - identify if UK, US, EU etc
- Usual bra size - as above