Sizing & fit
How to measure · Women
A made-to-order piece is cut from your numbers rather than from a size label. A piece only needs some of these — each product page lists the ones it's cut from — but taking them all once means you're ready for anything. You need a soft tape and, for the lengths, someone to help.
Before you start
- Wear the bra you'll wear with the piece, and light clothes over it.
- Stand naturally, feet together, arms relaxed.
- Tape snug but not tight — you should slide a finger under it.
- Inches, unless you prefer centimetres — just don't mix them.
Lengths and shoes
- Measure dress and skirt lengths in the shoes you'll wear, or note the heel height.
- For a corseted piece, measure the waist with and without the corset and note both.
- Style choices — slit, zip, pockets — go in the notes, not the measurements.
Top
- Neck
- Around the base of the neck, where a collar sits.
- Shoulder
- Across the back, from the bone at the edge of one shoulder to the other.
- Around shoulder
- Around both shoulders and the upper arms, arms relaxed.
- Bust
- Around the fullest part of the bust, tape level across the back.
- Upper bust
- Around the chest just above the bust, under the arms.
- Under bust
- Around the ribcage, directly under the bust.
- Bust span
- Straight across from one bust point (nipple) to the other.
- Waist
- Around the natural waist, level with the navel.
- Hip
- Around the fullest part of the seat, feet together.
Body lengths
- Shoulder to bust
- From the top of the shoulder, at the neck, down to the bust point.
- Shoulder to under bust
- From the top of the shoulder down to just under the bust.
- Shoulder to waist
- From the top of the shoulder down to the natural waist.
- Shoulder to hip
- From the top of the shoulder down to the fullest part of the hip.
- Waist to hip
- From the natural waist down to the fullest part of the hip.
- Waist to knee
- From the natural waist down to the middle of the knee.
Arms & sleeves
- Around arm
- Around the fullest part of the upper arm, arm relaxed.
- Around elbow
- Around the elbow, arm slightly bent.
- Wrist
- Around the wrist bone, where a cuff closes.
- Palm
- Around the widest part of the hand, so a cuff slips over it.
- Shoulder to elbow
- From the shoulder bone down the outside of the arm to the elbow.
- Short sleeve
- From the shoulder bone to where a short sleeve should end.
- Elbow sleeve
- From the shoulder bone to just above the elbow.
- Three-quarter sleeve
- From the shoulder bone to just below the elbow.
- Long sleeve
- From the shoulder bone, down the outside of the arm, to the wrist bone.
- Armhole
- Around the arm where it joins the shoulder, through the armpit.
Garment lengths
- Shirt length
- From the base of the neck at the back down to where the hem should finish.
- Blouse length
- From the top of the shoulder down to where the blouse should end.
- Skirt length
- From the waist down to where the skirt hem should fall.
- Dress length · short
- From the top of the shoulder down to above the knee.
- Dress length · midi
- From the top of the shoulder down to mid-calf.
- Dress length · long
- From the top of the shoulder down to the ankle (add heel height in notes).
Trousers
- Thigh
- Around the fullest part of the upper leg, weight on both feet.
- Around knee
- Around the knee, leg straight.
- Calf
- Around the fullest part of the calf.
- Ankle
- The trouser opening at the ankle — what the tailors call the base.
- Crotch
- From the front waistband, between the legs, up to the back waistband.
- Trouser length
- From the top of the waistband down the outside of the leg to the hem.
Extras
- Height
- Standing straight, barefoot, from the floor to the top of the head.
Saving them
Save them on your profile in My Wardrobe — or on the profile of whoever you're shopping for — and every made-to-order piece is cut from them. For ready-to-wear sizes instead, see sizing & fit.