Need to take your measurements at home? All you need for this is a tape measure, pen, paper, perhaps a mirror, and most importantly, a bit of honesty.
1. Bust The bust measurement is calculated by taking the circumference (front through back) of the fullest area around the bust. This is usually where the nipples are. Our dress forms are made with a pin in the center of the bust (visible in this photo) to mark the horizontal degree of this measurement.
2. Waist For the waist, you would need to take the circumference of the narrowest area around the waist. This is usually where the belly button is. Our dress forms all come with a secure ribbon around the waist area (hidden under the red line in this photo) which makes for a great draping guide. Exhale before this measurement.
3. Hips The hips measurement is taken from the circumference of the fullest area around the hip section. For some people this is where the hip bones protrude while for others it is slightly below.
4. Neck The neck measurement is the circumference of around the neck along its height.
5. Shoulder The shoulder measurement is that of a single shoulder measured from the base of the neck to where the shoulder starts tapering off. Here too, our dress forms are made with a nice seam along this shoulder line for a draping guide.
6. Bust Spread The bust spread, also know as "apex to apex", is the distance between the fullest section of one side of the bust to the other (usually nipple to nipple).
7. Back Width The back width is taken as the horizontal distance of the widest section of the back.
8. Front Length The front length measurement is the vertical distance between the base of the neck and waist line - all on the front of the torso. Our dress forms have a seam running along this line for guide use during draping.
9. Back Length Similar to the ‘front length’, the back length measurement is the vertical distance between the base of the neck and waist line - all on the back of the torso. Here again, our dress forms have a seam running along this line to use as a guide during draping.
10. Crotch The crotch measurement is taken starting from the center of the waist on the front, down through the crotch area to the back, and up to the center of the waist on the back. Our forms have pins in both the center of the waist in the front and the center of the waist in the back. This measurement, as well as those that follow, are only pertinent to our full body professional forms.
11. Inseam The inseam measurement is taken from the bottom of the crotch (in between the legs) down through the ankle area.
12. Outseam The outseam measurement is the distance between the waist and the ankle area. This is very similar to the ‘inseam’ only that it begins higher up at the waist.
13. Thigh The thigh measurement is the circumference around the fullest area of the thigh.
14. Knee The knee measurement is the circumference around the kneecap.
15. Leg The thigh measurement - occasionally referred to as the calf measurement - is the circumference around the fullest area of the leg.
