You need six core measurements for most made-to-order garments: bust, waist, hip, shoulder width, sleeve length and total garment length. Take them over close-fitting clothing or bare skin, keep the tape snug but never tight, and have someone else take them if at all possible. Accurate measurements matter more than choosing the right size — a custom garment is cut to your numbers, so the numbers are the garment.
What you need before you start
- A flexible tailor's tape measure. Not a metal builder's tape, and not a piece of string measured afterward — both introduce error.
- Close-fitting clothing or underwear only. Measuring over a sweater adds two to four centimetres and will make the finished garment loose.
- A mirror, and ideally a second person.
- The shoes you intend to wear, for length measurements only.
Stand naturally. Do not hold your breath, pull your shoulders back, or suck in. The garment will be worn by your ordinary body, not your best-posture body.
The six core measurements
1. Bust. Around the fullest part of the chest, tape level all the way round and parallel to the floor. Keep arms down at your sides — raising them lifts the tape and adds two to three centimetres.
2. Waist. Around the narrowest part of your torso, usually just above the navel. Bend sideways to find the natural crease if you are unsure. Breathe normally.
3. Hip. Around the fullest part of the hips and seat, usually 18–22 cm below the waist. Feet together.
4. Shoulder width. Across the back, from the bony point at the outer edge of one shoulder to the other. This is the single most important measurement for fit, and the one most often taken wrongly. Have someone else do it.
5. Sleeve length. From the outer shoulder point, down the outside of a slightly bent arm, to where you want the sleeve to end — wrist bone for full length.
6. Garment length. From the highest point of the shoulder, near the neck, straight down the front to where you want the hem. Measure in the shoes you will wear.
For trousers, add inseam — from the crotch to the ankle bone, down the inside of the leg — and outseam from the waist to the hem.
The five mistakes that ruin a custom fit
Pulling the tape tight. The most common error. The tape should sit flush against the body and be able to rotate slightly. If it leaves a mark, it is too tight, and the finished garment will be too small.
Measuring over clothing. Adds volume unevenly. A single layer of thin fabric is acceptable; anything more is not.
Guessing the shoulder measurement. Almost impossible to take accurately on yourself. This is the measurement that decides whether a garment hangs correctly, and it cannot be fixed by altering the waist.
Rounding. Record what the tape says, including half-centimetres. Rounding six measurements up by half a centimetre each compounds into a garment that fits nobody.
Measuring once. Take each measurement twice. If the two readings differ by more than a centimetre, take a third.
Should you send measurements in centimetres or inches?
Send whichever you measured in, and label it clearly. Converting between systems yourself introduces rounding error. Any competent atelier works in both — what causes problems is an unlabelled set of numbers.
What if you are between sizes?
This is the reason made-to-measure exists. Standard sizing is drafted to an average ratio between bust, waist and hip; most bodies do not match that ratio. If you are consistently a size larger on top than on the bottom, or vice versa, made-to-measure is not a luxury — it is the only route to a garment that fits.
Frequently asked questions
Can I measure myself alone? You can take bust, waist, hip and length alone with a mirror. Shoulder width and back measurements are genuinely difficult without help. Ask someone for those two.
How often should I re-measure? Before each custom order if more than six months have passed. Bodies change, and measurements from two years ago are not reliable.
What if my measurements do not match any standard size? That is normal and expected. Send the actual numbers — a made-to-measure garment is drafted from them rather than fitted to the nearest size.
Should I allow room for movement? No. Send your true body measurements. The atelier adds the appropriate ease for the garment's cut. Adding your own on top results in something too large.
What if the finished garment still needs adjusting? Minor local alteration is normal even with accurate measurements, particularly on structured pieces. Budget a small amount for a local tailor on formal wear — this is standard practice at every level of the industry.
AYRA garments are cut after you order, to your measurements rather than to a size chart. Send your numbers with your order, or [start a made-to-measure consultation] if you would like guidance on which measurements matter most for the piece you have chosen.
0 comments