How do dress sizes work

It can be super frustrating to walk into a shop and have to wade through dress after dress to determine your size! Not to worry. Although dress sizes are different at most stores, as long as you know your measurements, you shouldn't have a problem figuring out which sizes work best for you.

Part1 Measuring Your Dress Size 1. Measure your bust. You'll need to measure the fullest part of your bust to get the proper measurement. Make sure that the measuring tape a dress maker's soft tape measure for preference goes under your arms. Bend to one side doesn't matter which and find your waist's natural crease. At the crease, measure around your waist, making sure that the measuring tape is a bit loose. Stand with your feet together. Measure around the fullest part of your hips and rear.

This is typically midway between your crotch and your belly button. Again you'll want to keep the measuring tape somewhat loose, so that your dress size doesn't end up being too small. Keep in mind that size charts tend to be different for different stores and that even with your measurements and the size chart, you may be surprised by the wide array of sizes you will seem to fit into.

However, you can use this size chart as a basic guide. Some stores don't use the typical 6, 8, 10, Instead they use letters like XS, S, M, etc. How to Measure Your Bust:. Wearing the undergarments that you will wear with the dress, wrap the measuring tape around your back and under your arms at the fullest part of your bust.

How to Measure Your Waist:. Stand up straight and bend to the side, the crease created is your natural waist. Wrap tape around the narrowest part of your natural waist. How to Measure Your Hips:. Stand with your feet together, wrap the tape around the fullest part of your hips and seat. Get Started: Measure your height, bust, waist and hips and compare to the size chart above.

If you are between two sizes, we suggest selecting the smaller size. To get the most accurate measurements, have someone else measure you. Be sure to hold the measuring tape straight and snug, not tight, to your body. Bust: Measure over the fullest part of your bust, with the tape measure parallel to the floor. Once you have your measurements, find a dress size chart online to see what size you are. To learn how to determine your dress size at specific stores, read on!

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Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Measure your bust.

You'll need to measure the fullest part of your bust to get the proper measurement. Make sure that the measuring tape a dress maker's soft tape measure for preference goes under your arms. If you do it too tight if your bust is popping out over the tape then you'll get the wrong measurements and your dress won't fit properly.

Measure your waist. Bend to one side doesn't matter which and find your waist's natural crease. At the crease, measure around your waist, making sure that the measuring tape is a bit loose.

You can also find your natural waist by measuring 2 inches up from your belly button. It's usually the smallest part of your waistline. Measure your hips. Stand with your feet together. Measure around the fullest part of your hips and rear. This is typically midway between your crotch and your belly button. Again you'll want to keep the measuring tape somewhat loose, so that your dress size doesn't end up being too small.

Look at a size chart. Keep in mind that size charts tend to be different for different stores and that even with your measurements and the size chart, you may be surprised by the wide array of sizes you will seem to fit into. However, you can use this size chart as a basic guide.

Always choose the larger size if your measurements come between two sizes, especially if you're ordering online. Avoid the dress size generators, as they tend to give you the wrong sizes. Dress size generators claim to be able to tell you your dress size in each store since so many stores size their women's clothing differently. Convert numbers to letters for sizing. Some stores don't use the typical 6, 8, 10, Instead they use letters like XS, S, M, etc.

Fortunately these letter sizes tend to correspond to specific numerical sizes and you can figure your size out based on that. This is what it usually is, although sizes may still vary depending on the store.