How to take measurements for a custom garment
Every commission asks for a set of measurements. Here's how to take each one accurately — plus what tailors do with them.
The single biggest reason a custom garment doesn't fit is a measurement taken over bulky clothes or with the tape too tight. Wear thin clothes, keep the tape snug but not squeezing, and get a friend to help — self-measuring the back of your shoulders is genuinely difficult.
The core measurements
- Chest / Bust — the fullest part, tape parallel to the floor, arms relaxed.
- Waist — your natural waist (bend to the side, the crease is your waist), not where jeans sit.
- Hips — the fullest part of your hips + seat, feet together.
- Shoulder — from the outer edge of one shoulder bone across the top to the other.
- Sleeve length — from the outer shoulder point down the outside of your arm to the wrist bone, arm slightly bent.
- Inseam — inside leg from crotch seam to the floor, no shoes.
- Total length (dresses/skirts) — from the top of the shoulder or waist down to where you want the hem.
For custom commissions
When you send a brief to a tailor, the measurement fields shown depend on the garment type. Every commission requires a brief (at least 10 characters describing the design), a delivery address, and the tailor's requested measurements — nothing else. The tailor sends back a quote (with optional materials advance) which you accept before any payment is taken.
