The tape should be comfortably touching the skin, with enough room so that you do not feel restricted.

1. Stand with your shoulders relaxed. Your back should be straight, but your shoulders need to hang naturally in a relaxed position.
2. Locate the shoulder points. These points are actually marked by your acromion bones, which can be found at the upper tips of your shoulders.
   • These two points should also be the points at which the shoulder meets the arm, or the points at which the shoulder begins curving down into the arm.
   • If you are wearing a dress shirt that fits your upper body correctly, you can use it as a guide. The shoulder seams on the back of your shirt will usually match up with your actual shoulder points.
   • If your shirt does not fit perfectly, use your knowledge of how loose or snug the shoulder fit is and adjust your two end points accordingly to make improvements.
3. Measure the space between your shoulder points. Have your helper position the end of the tape measure flat against your back at the first shoulder point. Your helper should then measure up and over the curve of your shoulders, across your back, then back down to the outside edge of the other shoulder point.
   • Keep in mind that you should be measuring across the broadest part of your shoulders. This usually lands out roughly 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) below the neckline.
   • The tape measure will not be horizontally straight during this measurement. It must bend at a gentle curve along with your shoulders.

Always slightly bend the elbow when measuring to allow for extra ease. If you do not do this your sleeve length will be short because the natural position of your arm is slightly bent.

The "Pinch" of the hand is found where the base of the thumb and the base of the index finger intersect

Measure around the chest and body at its fullest part (typically right under the armpits and shoulder blades, right across the nipples).

Hold the tape against the body tight enough so that it does not slip down, but not so tight that it restricts breathing. It should be "snug".

Make sure the tape is horizontal and the person's arms are by their side; then take a normal breath and measure. Do not puff out your chest.

Measure around the fullest part of the waist/stomach or right below your bottom ribs, whichever is greater.

While standing, place the measuring tape at the fullest part of the waist/stomach or right below your bottom ribs (whichever is greater), then sit down in a chair, allowing the tape to slide as your waist expands.

Measure around the fullest part of the hips and buttocks.

Measure straight down the front from the base of the neck (right or left side) to the point level with your thumb knuckle (or till the length you would like your jacket)

Take this measurement while NOT wearing a bra. Place the measuring tape over the top of your bust and underneath your armpits. The tape will be horizontal at your back and front, and diagonal at your side. Keep your arms down when recording your high bust measurement (the model is lifting her arm so you can see where the tape goes).

Take this measurement while wearing a bra (if you wear one), ideally the one you intend to wear along with the garment. Place the measuring tape around the fullest part of your bust, often at your nipples. Keep your arms down when recording your full bust measurement.

Make sure you keep the measuring tape straight as you record the number so that it doesn’t dip at the back. Check this in a full length mirror.

While standing, place the measuring tape at the narrowest part of your torso (your natural waist).

If you are having difficulty finding your waist, stand tall and lean over to one side – the point where your body bends is your waist. Sometimes it can help to tie a piece of string or ribbon around your waist to find the right position.

While standing, place the measuring tape at the narrowest part of your waist (your natural waist), then sit down in a chair, allowing the tape to slide as your waist expands.

The Waist to Hip measurement is a vertical measurement that should be taken from where you took the standing waist measurement down to where you took the standing hip measurement, taken along the side of your body.

While standing, place the measuring tape around your body at the fullest point of your hips/bottom. It’s probably lower down than you think and not around the top of your hip bone.

While standing, place the measuring tape around your body at the fullest point of your hips/bottom, and then sit down in a chair, allowing the tape to slide as your body expands.

The Shoulder to Waist measurement is a vertical measurement that should be taken from the top of your shoulder (where the shoulder seam of a shirt usually is) down to where you took your standing waist measurement.

The Waist to Hem measurement is a vertical measurement that should be taken from where you took your Waist measurement down to the bottom of the hem. This could be your knee, the floor, or another length depending on which dress length you choose for a particular design.