What You’ll Needīefore getting started, you’ll need a soft measuring tape that can wrap around your body easily. You may need to alter your clothes for the best fit possible, but these general measurements will help you get started. These measurements can be used for standard size articles of clothing, such as oxford shirts and non-tailored sports jackets.
There are five parts to taking measurements that this guide will walk you through. While perfect fit may not be necessary for a plane ride or an evening at home, you'll want to look and feel your very best for your next dressy event. This stretches the tape and could result in an incorrect measurement-an easily avoidable error with a partner’s help. For example, when measuring yourself you may need to look down at the number on the measuring tape around your neck. While it’s possible to take measurements yourself, you’ll get the most accurate results with a partner wielding the measuring tape and providing their input. The process isn’t always as intuitive as you might think shirts with neck sizes that exactly match your own, for example, will most likely be a bit too tight.
If done incorrectly, you could end up with a tight collar that restricts breathing or sleeves that reach your fingers-mistakes to avoid at all costs. Understanding how to take measurements accurately is critical.