HOW DO I TAKE MY MEASUREMENTS?
Trying to determine your size in women’s clothing can seem comparable to learning brain surgery! Whether you’re purchasing clothing at a brick & mortar store or ordering online, knowing your measurements is key to having perfectly fitted garments. A good fit can make all the difference in your clothes flattering your figure, transforming an o.k. outfit into a great outfit!
Clothing measurements have become even more important over the last few years with the increase in online shopping. No one wants to pay shipping charges to return or exchange an ill-fitting garment, but often you will find that one company’s size 14 is another company’s 12. Catalog sizing can often be entirely different, so it’s no wonder nothing seems to fit!
Clothing sizes have purposefully undergone a change over the last 20 years, with what is called “vanity sizing”. Some manufacturers use it, and some don’t. Again, confusing to the average consumer!! As the typical American woman has gotten larger, so has her clothing, by at least two inches. Years ago, wardrobe manufactures began to label garments smaller than they actually were to make their customers “feel better” about their size and more loyal to a brand.
In the 1960’s, Marilyn Monroe was said to have been a voluptuous size 14. In today’s sizing, Marilyn would be a size 8! A current size 14 would have been labeled a size 20 just a few decades ago! No wonder those antique dresses you tried on would not even zip!! If you are trying on vintage garments, be aware, that clothing runs 4-6 sizes smaller than modern sizes. Don’t go by the labels, ladies- I promise, you have not gained 4 sizes overnight! Use your measurements!
Now that we’ve determined the need to have body measurements, follow these simple directions to ensure that your numbers are accurate. First, you may want to have a family member or close friend assist you with the measuring process or ask any of the staff at Elizabeth Dean Boutique. We will be glad to help! It’s better to take measurements in your underwear or in the nude, using a cloth tape measure, not a metal one. Have your Elizabeth Dean Boutique card and a pencil ready to record your numbers. Take all dimensions in a standing position. Make sure that when the tape measure circles your body, that it is lying flat, and is neither too loose nor too tight. The measurements you will need to take are your bust, waist, hips, and possibly inseam length. The inseam length can vary by outfit, depending on the size of the heels on your shoes and where you want your pants to hit on your leg.
- Bust: measure from the front, around your back, under your arms, and across the fullest part of your chest.
- Waist: Use the tape to circle the smallest part of your natural waistline, where a belt would sit. This should be above your belly button. Do not suck in your stomach, ladies, or your measurement will be off!
- Hips: Measure over the fullest part of your hips and around the back, across your buttocks, with your feet close together. Use a mirror to be sure that the tape is level on your body.
- Inseam: This is measured from the uppermost part of your inner thigh (or crotch seam) to the ankle.
For those of you who are more technologically gifted than me, there is an app available, Sizer, that you may want to check out! It digitally captures your body measurements in a one-time scan. If anyone decides to try it, please let us know! We’d love to see how it works!
The final step in the measuring process is to place your completed card in your purse, so you can use it on your next trip to Elizabeth Dean Boutique. We want your clothes to fit you, not you to fit your clothes.
As Marilyn is quoted, “We are all of us stars, and we deserve to twinkle”!
Happy measuring!
The Consignment Fashionista