How to Measure Yourself
for Perfect Fitting Clothes

How to measure:

1. Stand straight with your shoulders relaxed and head facing forward
2. Wrap the measuring tape around the base of your neck where your collar would naturally sit
3. The tape should rest on your collarbone in front and the base of your neck in back
4. Keep the tape snug but not tight - you should be able to slip 1-2 fingers between the tape and your neck
5. Read the measurement where the tape meets, keeping the tape level all around
6. Round up to the nearest half inch (1.3 cm) for dress shirt sizing

Common mistakes:

• Measuring too high up the neck instead of at the base
• Pulling the tape too tight, resulting in an uncomfortable collar
• Not keeping the tape level, causing uneven measurement
• Measuring over a shirt collar instead of directly on skin

How to measure:

1. Stand straight with your arms relaxed at your sides
2. Have someone help you for the most accurate measurement
3. Find the edge of one shoulder where it naturally ends (the bony protrusion)
4. Measure straight across your back from one shoulder edge to the other
5. Keep the measuring tape parallel to the floor, not resting on your shoulders
6. The tape should hover just above your shoulders, touching only at the endpoints
7. Take the measurement at the widest point of your shoulders

Common mistakes:

• Draping the tape over the shoulders instead of across the back
• Measuring from the neck instead of the actual shoulder edge
• Hunching or shrugging shoulders during measurement
• Not keeping the tape parallel to the ground

How to measure:

1. Remove or wear only a thin undershirt for accurate measurement
2. Stand straight with your arms relaxed at your sides
3. Wrap the measuring tape around the fullest part of your chest
4. For men, this is typically at nipple level; for women, across the fullest part of the bust
5. Keep the tape parallel to the ground all the way around
6. The tape should be snug but not tight - you should be able to breathe comfortably
7. Add 1-2 fingers of space (about 2-5 cm) depending on preferred fit
8. Take a normal breath and measure at the end of a normal exhale

Common mistakes:

• Measuring over thick clothing or multiple layers
• Holding breath or inflating chest during measurement
• Tape slipping up or down from the fullest part
• Not adding enough ease for movement and comfort

How to measure:

1. Find your natural waistline - typically where you wear your pants, not your belly button
2. For most people, this is about where your torso bends when you lean to the side
3. Stand naturally - don't suck in your stomach or push it out
4. Wrap the measuring tape around your waist at this point
5. Keep the tape parallel to the ground, snug but not tight
6. You should be able to breathe comfortably
7. Do NOT add extra inches - record the actual measurement
8. Measure after exhaling normally, not after a deep breath

Common mistakes:

• Measuring at the belly button instead of where pants actually sit
• Sucking in stomach for a smaller measurement (this leads to uncomfortable pants)
• Adding inches thinking you need "room" (tailors account for this)
• Measuring over thick clothing or belt

How to measure:

1. Start with your arm slightly bent at your side (natural position)
2. Place the measuring tape at the center back of your neck (at the prominent bone)
3. Run the tape across your shoulder to the shoulder edge
4. Continue down the outside of your arm, pivoting at the elbow
5. Measure to your wrist bone (where you want the cuff to end)
6. Keep your arm slightly bent throughout - this is how you naturally wear clothes
7. Add length based on preference: ladies add 1 cm, gentlemen add 3 cm, mature wearers add 2.5 cm
8. The final measurement should reach your wrist bone when your arm is hanging naturally

Common mistakes:

• Measuring with arm completely straight (unnatural position)
• Starting from the shoulder instead of center back of neck
• Not pivoting the tape around the elbow
• Measuring to the hand instead of wrist bone

How to measure:

1. Stand with your arm relaxed and hanging at your side
2. Do NOT flex your bicep - keep your arm completely relaxed
3. Wrap the measuring tape around the fullest part of your upper arm
4. This is typically about halfway between your shoulder and elbow
5. Keep the tape perpendicular to your arm (not angled)
6. The tape should be snug but not compressing the muscle
7. Add 1-2 fingers of space for comfort (about 2-4 cm)
8. Take the measurement multiple times to ensure consistency

Common mistakes:

• Flexing the bicep during measurement (this is for relaxed fit)
• Measuring too high (near shoulder) or too low (near elbow)
• Wrapping tape too tightly
• Not adding enough ease for movement and comfort

How to measure:

1. Stand with your feet together in a natural stance
2. Find the fullest part of your hips and buttocks
3. This is typically about 18-23 cm below your waistline
4. Wrap the measuring tape around this fullest part
5. Keep the tape parallel to the ground all the way around
6. The tape should be snug but not tight - able to move slightly
7. Make sure the tape isn't twisted in the back
8. Look in a mirror to ensure the tape is level

Common mistakes:

• Measuring at the waist instead of the fullest part of hips
• Not keeping the tape level (riding up in back or front)
• Pulling tape too tight
• Measuring with hands in pockets or uneven stance

How to measure:

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart
2. Keep your leg completely relaxed - don't flex
3. Wrap the measuring tape around the fullest part of your thigh
4. This is usually the upper thigh area, just below where your leg meets your body
5. Keep the tape perpendicular to your leg
6. The tape should be snug but not compressing your leg
7. Make sure you can slide the tape up and down slightly
8. Measure both thighs if you're very active in sports - they may differ

Common mistakes:

• Measuring too low on the thigh (should be upper thigh)
• Flexing or tensing the leg during measurement
• Wrapping tape too tightly
• Not accounting for larger thighs from athletic activity

How to measure:

1. Put on a pair of well-fitting pants to identify the starting point
2. Stand straight with your feet about 15 cm apart
3. Place the end of the measuring tape at your crotch seam (where the legs meet)
4. Run the tape down the inside of your leg
5. Measure to where you want the pants to end (typically ankle bone)
6. For dress pants, measure to just above the shoe (slight break on shoe)
7. For casual pants, measure to the ankle bone
8. Keep the tape straight down the inside of your leg, not angled

Common mistakes:

• Measuring the outside of the leg instead of inside
• Not standing straight during measurement
• Measuring to the floor instead of to ankle/shoe break point
• Pulling the tape too tight or letting it sag