Take measurements like the pros - how to do it at home
Waist circumference? Upper body length? Leg length? Taking the right measurements requires a few tricks and rules. We have summarized the best way to do this at home in an article for you.
The most important tips
- When measuring, wear the underwear that you will wear under your clothing.
- Stand upright and look straight ahead.
- Breathe deeply into your body. (Otherwise you run the risk of taking measurements that are too small)
- If you don't have a tape measure at home, you can also take the measurements using an inelastic string or packing tape, which you then simply attach to a meter stick.
chest circumference
Run the measuring tape from your back under your arms to the front. Make sure that the tape is horizontal. Now measure at the fullest part of your chest.
waist circumference
Put the measuring tape around your waist. It should sit where the narrowest part of your torso is. It is especially important to breathe deeply into your stomach here so that later on there is room for breathing, eating and sitting in the garment.
hip circumference
Here too, the measuring tape is placed horizontally around your body. This time at the thickest point, across your buttocks. To test whether you are really at the thickest point, hold the tape together and try to move it up and down. If it can slide in both directions, you have found the right point.
arm length
Place the measuring tape at the highest point of the armhole and bend your arm slightly. Now measure to the length where you want the sleeve to end.
upper arm width
Put the measuring tape around the fullest part of your upper arm. It's best to tense your biceps, this is the easiest way to find the point. If you want the sleeve of the garment to be a little looser, just add a centimeter or two.
upper body length
You will need two measuring tapes for this. You use the first one as described above to measure your waist circumference. Or you can use a narrow waist belt. You place the second measuring tape at the highest point in the shoulder and neck area and run it over your chest down to the waist measuring tape or waist belt. You can then read your upper body length from there.
fuselage length
The beginning of the measuring tape is held in the crotch and measured from there to the highest point in the shoulder-neck area. This measurement is especially important for the correct length of jumpsuits.
Are you a visual type?
If you want a more detailed explanation of how to measure, we have videos for you on our Instagram account. There, Julia shows you how it's done properly as a professional.
dress length
If you want to know what measurements you need for a certain dress length, start at the top of the shoulder and neck area, just like when measuring the length of your upper body. You must stand straight and not look down. Let the measuring tape fall loosely down and stop at the point where you want your dress to end. If you are measuring yourself, simply stand close to a mirror and read the number in the mirror while standing upright.
skirt length
To measure the length of your skirt, it's best to put a tape measure around your waist or use a waist belt. From there, measure straight down to where you want your skirt to end. Here, too, it's important to stand upright and read the measurement in the mirror if necessary.
inside leg length
The measuring tape is held in the crotch and guided down the leg. You read the measurement where your trouser leg should end. For floor-length trousers, you should already be wearing the shoes you want to wear when measuring.
shoulder width for blazers
We recommend that you measure your shoulder width on a blazer that you already have at home. Put the blazer on and measure straight across the back from shoulder seam to shoulder seam. If the blazer you are using to measure does not fit perfectly, then add or subtract something from the shoulder width accordingly. For more defined shoulders, add one or two centimeters.
