Measurements and Fit for Shopping Online
Greetings and Happy Almost New Year! Earlier this month I blogged about style and fit. When shopping online one must have a good understanding of measurements. Following, I have provided you with some helpful information pertaining to your measurements. Hopefully, this will make your online treasure hunting easier as you look for fantastic new garments to add to your collection.
Bust Measurement: Run a flexible measuring tape (easily found at a sewing store) under your arms, across your shoulder blades at back and around fullest part of your bust at front, while keeping your arms relaxed at sides and the measuring tape parallel with the floor. This would be your bust measurement.
Waist Measurement: Natural waist usually occurs between the lowest part of the rib cage and high hip. When you bend to one side, you can find your natural waist indentation. Run the measuring tape around your natural waistline, keeping tape parallel with the floor. You can place one or two fingers between your body and the measuring tape for a more comfortable fit.
Hip Measurement: Stand on a level surface with both your feet together. Measure around fullest part of your hips and bottom (this can be approximately 7”-9” below your waistline dependent upon body type, height, and torso). Keep the measuring tape parallel with the floor.
Thigh Measurement: Stand with heels apart and measure around fullest part of thigh (approximately 1” below crotch). Keep the measuring tape parallel with the floor.
Inseam Measurement: This is the measurement from the inside of the pant leg starting at the top (where the crotch is seamed together) and going to end of the pant leg at the hem. It is best to measure your favorite pairs of slacks or jeans to determine your preferred inseam measurements. If you are unsure what looks best on you, enlist the help of a garment expert to consult with you on the best style and fit for your body type.
Inseam Things to Keep in Mind: You might want to consider what type of shoes (heel height and style) you will most often wear with your new slacks, pants, or jeans. This will impact the desired inseam length. Usually, pants or slacks which are too long for the wearer can be shortened by an alterations expert. However, short pants can rarely be extended, since the seam allowance at the hem is usually very small and the fabric has already been permanently creased.
Front Rise Measurement: This is the measurement from the center front seam of the crotch (where all pieces of fabric come together at the top of the two leg seams), to the top of the waistband. This measurement determines if the slacks/pants/jeans are low rise, drop waist, natural waist, high waist, etc. By taking this measurement on you, you can compare your measurement to garments you are thinking about purchasing and estimate approximately where the waistband of the garment will be on you.
Leg Opening, Thighs, and Calves: The leg opening size typically helps identify the cut and style of the slacks/pants/jeans (straight leg, boot cut, flair, pencil, skinny). For best fit, you should determine the size of your calves or thighs. This can be done by measuring each individual leg. Run the measuring tape around widest point of calf muscle, keeping tape parallel with floor. Run measuring tape around widest part (usually mid point between upper hip and knee) of leg thigh.
Wishing You Great Style and Fit
MATCH
