How to Measure
Taking measurements can be a little daunting, but don't be scared! Like age, a measurement ain't nothin' but a numba.
- Get your tools together -- you need a measuring tape, a piece of string a few yards long, and access to a mirror and/or a friend. Be objective!
- Don't pull too tight or leave the tape too loose. You want to just follow the contour of your body as closely as you can.
- Wear the undergarments you plan to wear with the shift. If you plan to wear jeans or a turtleneck under the dress, you can wear those as well.
- Being Americans over here, we work in inches. If you are a resident of one of the more enlightened/metric-using countries of the world, you can use the calculator in the pink box to help translate. Or, you can enter your measurements in centimeters -- just let us know so we can convert properly.
- Round your measurements to the nearest half-inch. If in doubt, round up.
- Stand neutrally -- don't twist or bend cause that'll throw things off. If you are taking your own measurements, watch your posture in a mirror.
Centimeters to Inches
All right! Let's do this!
Watch the Video
The Measurements
If you have any questions, check out the video, or drop me a line via the Contact page.
- Upper Bust: Measure around your chest at the armpits. Take a deep breath and hold it while you pull the tape comfortably around you (not too tight or loose).
- Full Bust: Measure around the fullest part of your bust.
- Under Bust: Measure around your chest under your bust.
- Waist: Measure around your waist, usually 2-3 inches above the navel. If you have some chub around here, make sure you're holding the tape comfortably around the biggest part of your waist. If you have a more hourglassy shape, measure around the smallest part of your waist.
- Belly Button: Measure around your body level with your belly button.
- Hips at Widest Point: Tie the piece of string around the widest part of your hips. It's easiest to see this in a mirror from the side so you can make sure you've got it around the biggest part of your booty. Measure around where you tied the string.
- Shoulder to Bust Point: Start where your bra strap crosses the middle of the top of your shoulder (about where a shoulder seam would go) and measure straight down to the fullest part of your bust. If you are between half-inch increments, or if you are having a hard time deciding, round up.
Range: Small ladies with smallish bosoms will start around 9". Voluptuous and/or tall ladies may go up to 15". Very few people will be outside of this range. - Collarbone to Belly Button: Feel in between your collarbones -- there is a U-shaped bump where they come together. Start measuring here and go straight down the front of your body to the belly button.
- Belly Button to Hip: Now measure straight down the front of your body from your belly button to the string you tied around the widest part of your hips.
Range: There's a decent variation in this number -- for most people, it'll be around 5-6 inches. But for Madge (a high-hipped lady) it's only 4, and if you tend to carry your weight around your thighs it might be as much as 8 or 9. - Hip to Top of Knee: Measure down the front center of your body, from the string to top-of-the-kneecap level. Easiest way to do this is in the mirror: let the measuring tape dangle straight down to the floor, stepping on it to straighten if need be.
- Height: Measure your height in bare feet by standing against a wall, nice and straight. Make a tiny mark with a pencil, and measure from the mark down to the floor.
And that's it! You're done, hon!
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