
Here at Kittie’s Kostumes we are able to set you up with designers who can make costume pieces, custom order pieces from afar, or design costume pieces for you to wear. When we do this we need accurate measurements of your body to be able to make these fit you. When a garment fits well not only does it feel better but it looks better too.
To measure yourself you will need a soft measuring tape (available at most Dollar Stores), paper, pencil/pen and if possible a friend to help measure you, as it is easiest to get proper measurements when someone else is measuring you.
Height:
Height is measured from the crown of your head to the floor where you stand flat footed. Ensure to do this on a solid surface as grass and carpet will sink under your weight.
Head:
Place the measuring tape around your head about 1/8″ (0.38 cm) above your ear, acrossthe mid-forehead, completely circling your head. Hold the tape firmly but not too tightly. If you fall between numbers, choose the larger size of the two you fall between.
Neck:
Measure around the base of your neck, starting at the hollow. Round up to the nearest 1/2″ (1.25 cm)
Upper Arm:
Measure the circumference of your arm. Wrap the tape measure around the widest part of your upper arm from front to back and around to the start point.
Sleeve:
Place your hand at your waist or hip (your elbow should be bent at a 90-degree angle). Then start at the middle of the back of your neck and measure to your shoulder, down your arm to the elbow, and then on to the wrist.
Chest or Bust:
Measure the circumference of your chest by placing the tape over the fullest part of your bust, wrap it around your body ensuring it is under your armpits and over your shoulder blades, and bring it to the front.
Underbust:
Wrap the tape around your rib cage immediately under your breasts. Round up to the nearest whole number (in inches) to get your band size.
Rough Guide to Figuring Out Cup Size
Difference in Inches | USA Cup Size | UK Cup Size |
1/2 “ | AA | AA |
1 “ | A | A |
2 “ | B | B |
3 “ | C | C |
4 “ | D | D |
5 “ | E or DD | DD |
6″ | F or DDD | E |
7″ | G | F |
Waist:
Use the tape to circle your waist, much like a belt would, at your natural waist line. The natural waist line is roughly 2 inches above the belly button but below your rib cage. Ensure not to suck in your stomach or else risk getting a false measurement. If you generally wear your clothes below your waist, take that measurement as well.
Hips:
Measure the circumference of your hips. Start at one hip and wrap the tape measure around your rear, around the other hip, and back to where you started. Make sure the tape is over the largest part of your buttocks. Because making sure the tape is level back there can be hard, measuring in front of a mirror can help.
Inseam:
This is the distance from the uppermost inner part of your thigh to the bottom of your ankle. You can measure your inseam in two ways. Always measure from the crotch down.
With help: While you’re wearing a pair of pants, have a friend stretch the tape from your crotch to the bottom of your ankle.
Without help: If you have a pair of pants that fit you perfectly (and they shouldn’t be too loose around the waist), measure the inseam of the pants, again from the crotch to the hem.
The proper inseam on a pair of pants you’re going to purchase will depend on the height of the heel you’ll be wearing with them.
Thigh:
Measure the circumference of the fullest part of your thigh. Wrap the tape measure around your thigh from front to back and then around to the front. You may be tempted to cheat by lowering the tape measure a few inches, but then you won’t get an accurate measurement.
Foot:
Flatten your feet by shifting your weight forward and then measure your foot from heel to the tip of your longest toe. Measure booth feet as one is larger than the other. Feet swell throughout the day so ensure to measure your feet around the time you would be wearing the shoes unless they will be worn all day, then measure them after being on your feet all day.
Measurement in CM | USA Child | Euro Child | UK Child |
7.9 | 0 Infant | 15 Infant | 0 Infant |
11.4 | 4 Toddler | 19 Toddler | 3 Toddler |
17.1 | 11 Small Child | 28 Small Child | 10 Small Child |
22.2 | 4 Child | 36 Child | 3 Child |
Measurement in CM | USA Men | USA Women | Euro Men | Euro Women | UK Men | UK Women |
20.8 | . | 4 | . | 35 | . | 2 |
21.6 | . | 5 | . | 35.5 | . | 3 |
22.5 | . | 6 | . | 36.5 | . | 4 |
23.5 | 6 | 7 | 39 | 37.5 | 5.5 | 5 |
24.4 | 7 | 8.5 | 40 | 39 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
25.4 | 8 | 9.5 | 41 | 40 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
26 | 9 | 10.5 | 42 | 41 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
27 | 10 | 11.5 | 42-44 | 42 | 9.5 | 9.5 |
28 | 11 | . | 44 | . | 10.5 | . |
28.6 | 12 | . | 45 | . | 11.5 | . |
30.2 | 14 | . | 47 | . | 12.5 | . |