How to take measurements: whole body

Sizing is important, and this page will show you how to properly take measurements.

Every piece of clothing starts with taking the correct measurements. But how do you do that?

I’m sorry if this is a long read, but it makes it all much easier in the end.

First of all, stand natural. Don’t strike a post, don’t suck in your belly. Just relax, look forward and stand straight. This is not an army drill so you don’t have to force up your chest and back. Be super careful not to stoop or stretch yourself into unnatural positions as this will add length or remove length.

Don’t wear bulky clothing as this will add extra length to your measurements. Wear some sport leggings and if you have a turtleneck shirt (otherwise a normal t-shirt with a higher neckline is also good) and a bra to support the (prosthetic) breasts.

A good fitting turtleneck shirt works well for measuring the neck circumference (number 1), around the base of the neck, as it allows you to easily follow the line of the neck.

Another 2 important measurements are the chest and back widths (number 2 and 33). These measurements are taken between the widest points on the armhole circumference.

By wearing a t-shirt the line of the armhole can be seen as the seam running from the ball of the shoulder to the armpit.

Don’t pull too tightly on the tape measure. This will make measurements smaller than they are. Allow the tape to simply lay upon your skin. We will make sure that the latex still hugs you by applying the necessary reductions to the received measurements.

Please take your time to take measures as they serve as the starting point of your latex piece. You can even take all measurements two or three times to rule out some errors.

Okay, it’s finally time to grab the measuring tape!

The first steps are the horizontal measurements. Most of these sizes are measured around your body. Make sure that the measuring tape is always held in a straight horizontal line.

When measuring the circumferences it can help to mark the body with a skin friendly pen or a piece of sticky tape to double check your measurements.

These marks will also guide you in the next step: measuring vertical sizes.

Most of the vertical sizes stem from the waist circumference so make sure you have that marked. The best way is to tie a piece of string or ribbon around your waist so you always have the same starting point.

Your waist is measured at the narrowest circumference of your torso. This is typically found around 6 cm above your belly button and often in alignment with the elbow.

Also good to know:Your jugular is the dimple between your collarbones and the 7th cervical vertebra is the bony bump at the lower part of your neck that you’ll feel if you gently tilt your head forward and rub the back of your neck.

1 Neck circumference

From the jugular to the 7th cervical vertebra of the neck and back again, also called the t-shirt line

2 Chest width

Starting around 6 cm down from jugular to the widest part of the armhole

3 Bust

Across the nipples, around the widest part of the breast

4 Under bust

A horizontal measurements taken right under the breasts

5 Waist

Narrowest part around the torso, about 6 cm above the belly button

6 Hip

Widest part, around the buttocks.

7 Upper thigh

Around the leg directly under the buttocks

8 Thigh

Around the mid part/widest part of the upper leg

9 Knee

Around the knee

10 Calf

Around the widest part of the lower leg

11 Ankle

Around the bony part of the ankle

12 Upper arm

Around the arm directly at armpit level

13 Bicep

Around the widest part of your upper arm

14 Elbow

Around the elbow

15 Wrist

Around the bony part of your wrist.

16 Shoulder

From the neck circumference (number 1) to the ball of the arm (raise the arm and where a dimple forms is the ball)

The next 4 measurements are all taken from the shoulder (the ball of the arm) at the side of the arm with the arm in a restful state.

17 Shoulder – upper arm

From the shoulder to the upper arm line

18 Shoulder – bicep

From the shoulder to the bicep line

19 Shoulder – elbow

From the shoulder to the elbow line

20 Shoulder – wrist

Overall arm length

21 Inside leg

From the perineum to the ankle, measured as a straight line

The next 5 measurements are all taken from the waist up. Please tie a piece of string or ribbon around your waist, so you always have the same starting point.

22 Front length waist

In the middle from the waist up to the jugular.

Measure the following numbers like the dotted line on the drawing (at the side of your body)

23 Waist – chest width

Waist up to the chest width

24 Waist – bust

Waist up to the bust line/nipple

25 Waist – under bust

Waist up to the under bust line

26 Waist – shoulder

Waist up to the middle of the shoulder

27 Waist – waist

Taken from the waist front, down between the legs and up to the waist back

The next 6 measurements are all taken from the waist down at the side of your leg.

28 Waist – hip

Waist down to the hip line

29 Waist – upper thigh

Waist down to the upper thigh line

30 Waist – thigh

Waist down to the thigh line

31 Waist – knee

Waist down to the knee line

32 Waist – calf

Waist down to the calf line

33 Waist – ankle

Waist down to the ankle line: overall leg

34 Back width

Starting around 15 cm down from the 7th cervical vertebra of the neck to the widest part of the armhole

35 Back length waist

In the middle form the waist up to the 7th cervical vertebra of the neck

36 Around forehead

Over your eyebrows around your forehead.

37 Around mouth

Keep your mouth closed.

38 Neck

Around the smallest circumference of the neck

Final lengths

Back length (for dresses, tops, jackets etc)

Start from the 7th cervical vertebra of the neck down to the desired length

Side length (for pants, skirts ets)

Start from the waist down to the desired length

Sleeve length

Start from the ball of the arm down to the desired length