Measure Twice, Order Once: How to Measure for a Bridesmaid Dress
Taking measurements correctly is of utmost importance to have a well-fitted dress when shopping for bridesmaid dresses online. A perfect fit can showcase the bridesmaids’ beauty, hide problem areas, and bring out their inner beauty. Furthermore, it can avoid the hassle of returns, alterations, or ill-fitting dresses, saving money and time for you. It sets the foundation for a stress-free and enjoyable dress-shopping experience.
Read on, and we’ll guide you on how to measure bridesmaid dresses.
Part 1. Gathering necessary tools
The two primary tools you’ll need are a measuring tape and a mirror. A soft measuring tape is ideal for capturing accurate measurements. Make sure it’s not stretched or bent when taking measurements to ensure precision. Be aware of what unit you are using. Usually, measuring tape has centimeters on one side and inches on the other. Be sure you are recording the suitable unit.
Find a well-lit space with a full-length mirror. Clear any clutter that might hinder your movement or affect the accuracy of the measurements. Having a friend or family member assist you during the measuring process is also helpful, as they can ensure the tape is aligned correctly and provide an extra set of eyes.
Part 2. Taking the measurements
1. Around bust: Wrap the measuring tape around the fullest part of your bust. Attention: around bust measurement is not the bra size. It helps nothing if you tell the seller that your bra size is a 32C or a 36DD.
2. Around the waist: Locate your natural waistline, the narrowest part of the waist. If you can’t tell where exactly the natural waistline is, measure around 1.5″ above your belly button. For some less curved and plus-size girls, having nearly the exact measurements around the bust and waist is common. In this case, don’t worry. Measure around your under-bust. This will help the seller judge and calculate the proportion.
3. Around hip: Measure the widest part of your hips. It is neither the up-hip nor lower hip, just the widest part of your hip. Since most brides will go for an A-line silhouette, this part is unimportant if your hips are not wider than usual. Pear body shapes shoulder pay attention to this measurement.
Follow these tips to ensure you measure correctly:
1. Stand straight and relaxed: Maintain good posture and avoid slouching or arching your back during measurement. This helps to capture accurate measurements.
2. Don’t suck in: This will give you a beautiful number around the waist but result in a too-tight waist.
eDresstore.com is a professional bridesmaid brand specializing in customizing and individualizing Modest Bridesmaid Dresses. They have experienced and skilled tailors and sewists with decades years of experience with formal attire. They can check your measurements in a professional version and find any potential problems.
Part 3. Dress length and height
Stand straight with bare feet or your shoes on the big day. Measure from the shoulder-neck point (where the shoulder and neck meet) over the bust, then down to the desired hemline.
The actual height is essential, too, as it helps the dress-maker judge if the dress length is measured correctly and judge the torso length. If a bridesmaid is significantly taller or shorter than average, it’s worth measuring the height.
Remember, it’s always better to measure twice and order once to avoid surprises or last-minute alterations.
As many sellers offer bridesmaid dresses in a very long version, usually 59″ to 61″ dress length, it will be long enough for most girls. So another safer way is to have it hemmed by a skilled tailor wearing the dress if you are not taller than 5’7″ with shoes. For taller girls, do consult the seller about the dress length. It’s always easy to hem a dress shorter than to lengthen it( which is impossible).
Part 4. Additional Measurements to Consider
Suppose you are planning to have modest bridesmaid dresses. In that case, some additional measurements are needed: shoulder width, around the armpit, around the bicep, around the elbow, around the wrist, and sleeve length.
Shoulder width: Measure from one shoulder corner to the other. Remember to bend a little bit when crossing the neck.
Around the armpit: Measure where the arm and shoulder meet. If unsure, wear a tight-fitted T-shirt, and measure along the shoulder-arm seam.
Around bicep: The widest part of the upper arm, usually right below the armpit.
Around elbow: Have your arms fall straightly, and measure around, don’t measure with bending arms.
Sleeve length: From the shoulder seam down to the desired sleeve length.
Before doing that, it’s better to ask the seller which measurements are needed. For some sleeve styles, arm measurements are unnecessary, such as batwing, flutter sleeves, butterfly sleeves, slight cap sleeves, etc.
Despite all the effort, there is still the possibility that the dress doesn’t fit you perfectly, so order as early as possible and be prepared for alterations. Ask the seller about the estimated delivery date and schedule with the tailor for possible alterations.
