To fit yourself for a wedding dress, the primary step involves accurately measuring your body to determine the correct size and necessary adjustments. This process focuses on specific key measurements that correspond to how a dress will fit your unique shape.
Getting accurate measurements is crucial whether you are ordering a standard size, pursuing made-to-measure, or simply understanding what alterations might be needed.
Key Measurements for Your Wedding Dress
Here are the essential measurements you'll need, as outlined in the provided reference, along with how to take them correctly:
- Bust/Chest: Measure around the fullest part of your chest. Ensure the tape measure is level across your back and around the front. Wear the undergarments you plan to wear with your dress for the most accurate measurement.
- Waist: To find your natural waist, bend to one side. The crease that forms is generally your natural waistline, which is typically the narrowest part of your torso. Measure around this point, keeping the tape measure comfortably snug but not tight.
- Hips: Stand with your feet together. Measure around the fullest part of your hips and rear. Again, ensure the tape measure is level around your body.
- Length: This measurement determines the vertical fit. Measure from the center of the collarbone (the indentation where your neck meets your chest) straight down to where you want the hem of the dress to fall. Remember to wear the shoes you plan to wear with the dress, or measure from the collarbone to the floor and add or subtract based on heel height.
- Maternity: If applicable, specific measurements and considerations are needed to accommodate a growing belly. This might involve measuring around the largest part of the belly and potentially taking additional circumference measurements at different points, depending on the dress style and stage of pregnancy.
Tips for Accurate Measuring
- Wear the right undergarments: Use the bra and any shapewear you plan to wear with the actual dress.
- Stand naturally: Don't suck in your stomach or puff out your chest.
- Keep the tape level: Ensure the measuring tape is parallel to the floor for horizontal measurements (bust, waist, hips).
- Ask for help: It's best to have someone else take your measurements, especially for length and back measurements, as taking them yourself can lead to inaccuracies.
Measurement Summary
Here's a quick reference for the essential measurements:
| Measurement | How to Take It |
|---|---|
| Bust/Chest | Around the fullest part of the chest. |
| Waist | Around the narrowest part of the waist (where you bend to the side). |
| Hips | Around the fullest part of the hips with feet together. |
| Length | From the center of the collarbone down to the desired hem (consider shoes). |
| Maternity | Special measurements needed to accommodate pregnancy (if applicable). |
By carefully taking these measurements, you can accurately determine your size relative to a designer's size chart or provide the necessary information for a custom-fitted dress, greatly simplifying the fitting process.
