How to Measure For a Plus Size Formal Dress
Step One
Take Your Measurements
Use a cloth measuring tape to measure your bust, waist and hips. Avoid a metal tape measure. You won't get accurate results!
- Best to ask a friend, relative or professional tailor to measure you.
- Wrap measuring tape around your body snugly. Be carefully not to make it too tight!
- Write down your measurements or enter as a contact in your cell phone for real convenience.
BUST
Measure all the way around the fullest part of your chest over, not under, the bra cups.
Tip: Keep your arms relaxed!
WAIST
Measure all the way around the narrowest part of your body.
Tip: Measure just above your belly button.
HIPS
Measure around the fullest part of your lower body.
If you're 5'3" or shorter, measure 6" below your waistline.
If you're 5'4" or taller, measure 7" below your waistline.
Tip: Stand with your feet and legs together then measure all the way around your body.
HOLLOW-TO-HEM
What is "hollow-to-hem"? It's the length from the indentation in the front of your neck to the edge of the hem on the skirt of the dress. It will tell you how long the dress will be on your body.
Tip: Always best to let someone else get this measurement.
Step Two
Check Our Size Chart
Compare your measurements with the bust, waist and hips measurements on the Sydney's Closet size chart. The dress must be large enough to fit you in the bust, waist and hips.
Tip: When measuring for a dress, if any measurement is too small, take a larger size.
Between sizes? Always order the larger one!
| SIZE | BUST | Waist | Hips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 39 | 34 | 42 |
| 12 | 41 | 36 | 44 |
| 14 | 43 | 38 | 46 |
| 16 | 45 | 40 | 48 |
| 18 | 47 | 42 | 50 |
| 20 | 49 | 44 | 52 |
| 22 | 51 | 46 | 54 |
| 24 | 53 | 48 | 56 |
| 26 | 55 | 50 | 58 |
| 28 | 57 | 52 | 60 |
| 30 | 59 | 54 | 62 |
| 32 | 61 | 56 | 64 |
| 34 | 63 | 58 | 66 |
| 36 | 65 | 60 | 68 |
| 38 | 67 | 62 | 70 |
| 40 | 69 | 64 | 72 |
Step Three
Be Size Wise
- Don’t assume you wear the same size in a plus size dress as you do for everyday clothes.
- Sizes for special occasion dresses vary widely depending on the designer.
- Select a dress style that fits and flatters your curves.Focus on fit not size.
- Plan on alterations for a perfect fit.
- Letting out a dress is almost never an option.
- The dress must fit you at three critical points on your body: bust, waist and hips. If even one measurement is too small, the dress won't fit.
- Between sizes? Always take the larger one.