If you’re looking at measuring your top or bottom with only a measuring tape, the tips below will be useful.
Collar – A collar should always be measured on the inside of the collar band. Open the shirt and flatten the collar as much as possible. Start with the tape where the button is stitched. Measure all the way to the far end of the buttonhole. (When the collar is buttoned, the button isn’t in the middle of the buttonhole, it usually pulls all the way to the end.)
Chest – With the garment open, measure straight across the back, from the armpit to armpit. Double this number to get the chest measurement.
Sometimes a jacket is cut so that the front is fuller than the back. This is common in women’s clothing and portly men’s clothing. For absolute accuracy, first measure across the back. Then, starting from the same place in the armpit, measure the front panel across to the button, and the other front panel across to the buttonhole.
Waist – The best way to find the waist is to lay out the garment and look for where it gets smallest. On men’s shirts this is usually just below the fifth button. On women’s clothing it could be anywhere. When you find the waistline, measure it using the same method as the chest.
A useful additional measurement, especially for women’s clothing, is how far down the waist occurs. To get this number, just run your tape from the waist straight up to the shoulder seam.
Hip – This is an important measurement in women’s clothing, and refers not to the hipbone, but to the fullest part of the thigh. If you can’t see this area just by looking at the garment, then estimate the hipline at about 10” below the waist.
Yoke – Often overlooked, this measurement reveals a lot about the size. The yoke is the area across the top and back of the shoulders. Sometimes on shirts and jackets there is an actual separate yoke piece. Other times the yoke is just part of the front and back. It’s best if you can measure the yoke while the garment is being worn. If you don’t have someone to measure it on you, lay the garment out carefully and smooth the shoulder area. Run your tape from shoulder seam to shoulder seam, across the top of the shoulders and the back of the neck. There is a slight curve to this area, so don’t try to pull the tape straight like you do when measuring other areas. Don’t be tempted to just measure the yoke seam straight across the back. The true yoke is usually larger than this seam.
Length – Measure in the middle of the back, straight down. Start at the shoulder seam. Don’t include the collar as part of the length.
Arm length – Measure from the shoulder seam straight down the outside of the sleeve. This number, plus half of the yoke, is the true sleeve length. (On most adult clothes, total sleeve length is somewhere between 28 and 38 inches.)
Note: sometimes people will try to indicate sleeve length by measuring the underside of the sleeve. This number by itself is virtually meaningless, since it varies with the size of the armhole.)
Pants Waist – With interfacings, belt loops and the zipper, it’s hard to measure a pants waist from the outside. You really have to open the pants and lay the measuring tape all the way around the inside of the waist. Measure only to the button or clasp, not to the edge of the fabric.
Measurements for different apparel.
Shirts and tops:
- Chest
- Waist
- Yoke
- Length
- Arm length
Skirts:
- Waist
- Hips
- Length from waistline to hem
Pants and shorts:
- Pants waist
- Hips
- Inseam (length from crotch to hem or cuff)
- Front rise (length from waistline to crotch)
- Rear rise (length from waistline to crotch in the back)
- Length from waistline to hem
Neckties:
- Full length
- Width at widest point
Hats:
- Inside diameter
Shoes:
- Heel height (from sole to bottom)
- Width at widest point (across sole)
- Length (across sole)
Purses:
- Width
- Height
- Depth
- Drop (distance from top of handle/strap to top of bag)
