Quick Links

Your garments will be made according to the measurements YOU PROVIDE. Accurate measurements are essential to the creation of a properly-fitting garment and are easily distorted when taken by oneself. 

I recommend getting someone to help you and taking your measurements at least twice to ensure accuracy. 

PLEASE ask me any questions before completing your order to ensure you are taking measurements correctly.  Alterations can be made but will be at YOUR COST. 

There are ABSOLUTELY NO RETURNS ON SPECIAL ORDER ITEMS!!

**NOTE** The fit of clothing varies from era to era and is nothing like the fit of modern clothing. With a few exceptions (like the 1920s) most clothing through the 1960s was meant to fit nearly "skin-tight" so there is little if any ease.  Proper undergarments are critical to achieving the correct fit of the outer garments. If you have any questions about period fit, PLEASE contact me.

**NOTE** All measurements should be taken wearing any/all undergarments, stockings, shoes, etc. that will be worn with the desired finsihed garment. 

The diagrams depict the most appropriate locations to begin and end measurements for the different areas of your body. Oftentimes, customers will measure at the wrong location and get false results. For example, when measuring your waist, some people take the measurement below the belly button when your natural waistline is located above the belly button! Check out the easy-to-follow instructions for getting accurate measurements for each body part below:

• Bust/Chest: Measure the circumference of your chest. Place one end of the tape measure at the fullest part of your bust, wrap it around (under your armpits, around your shoulder blades, and back to the front) to get the measurement.
   
• Waist: Measure the circumference of your waist. Use the tape to circle your waist (sort of like a belt would) at your natural waistline, which is located above your belly button and below your rib cage. (If you bend to the side, the crease that forms is your natural waistline.) Don’t suck in your stomach, or you’ll get a false measurement. If you generally wear your clothes below your waist, take that measurement as well.
   
• Hips: Measure the circumference of your hips. Start at one hip and wrap the tape measure around your rear, around the other hip, and back to where you started. Make sure the tape is over the largest part of your buttocks. Because making sure the tape is level back there can be hard, try to do it in front of a mirror.

• Back Waist:  This is one of the more difficult measurements to get right.  Get help with this one!  First, tie a ribbon around your natural waist (around the belly button) so you have an accurate location of where your waist is on your back.  Now, start your measuring tape from the base of your neck (where your neck meets your shoulders) then down along your spine to your waist (where your ribbon is).  (Note:  typical back waists can range from appx 15" to 17" - if you are outside those ranges definitely measure again!)
   
• Outseams (Waist to . . . knee/hem/floor): This is another measurement almost impossible to take on your own! (DO NOT - hold the tape measure at your waist then bend over to see where the tape measure is on your leg or floor - this will give you TOO SHORT of a measurement!)  If you are just doing your floor to waist measurement, you can hold the tape measure at your waist, then drop the other end of the tape (continue holding the "0" at your waist), then step on it at the floor.  When you drop the tape at your waist, you should be able to see the measurement at the floor for your outer waist to floor.  ONLY DO THIS IN AN EMERGENCY!

• Inseam (Not generally needed for women/children): This is the distance from the uppermost inner part of your thigh to the bottom of your ankle. You can measure your inseam in two ways.
   
  • With help: While you’re wearing a pair of pants, have a friend stretch the tape from your crotch to the bottom of your ankle.
     
  • Without help: If you have a pair of pants that fit you perfectly (and they shouldn’t be too loose around the waist), measure the inseam of the pants, again from the crotch to the hem.
    The proper inseam on a pair of pants you’re going to purchase will depend on the height of the heel you’ll be wearing with them.
     
• Upper arm: Measure the circumference of your arm. Wrap the tape measure around the widest part of your upper arm from front to back and around to the start point.

• Sleeve length (common): Place your hand at your side.  Then start at the at the top of your shoulder (corner of your shoulder where a shoulder seam might be), down your arm to the elbow, and then on to the wrist.

•  Sleeve length (bent from center back): Place your hand at your waist (your elbow should be bent at a 90-degree angle). Then start at the middle of the back of your neck and measure to your shoulder, down your arm to the elbow, and then on to the wrist.