how we measure
Measuring sartorial items can be tricky, but taking the following precautions will produce the best results: Button the garment up fully and lay the it on a flat, hard surface to ensure accuracy.
jacket / coat
Shoulder to Shoulder
Lay the jacket face down. Measure from where the shoulder seam meets the sleeve on one side of the jacket straight across to where the shoulder seam and sleeve meet on the other side.
jacket / coat
Chest
Position the sleeves pointing up so that you can find the absolute corner where the side of the jacket meets the armpits. Measure from this point straight across the suit jacket to the opposite edge where the armpit and torso meet.
jacket / coat
Waist
Measure straight across from one edge of the jacket waist to the other edge. On a two button jacket, position the measuring tape straight under the top button. On a 3 button jacket, the measuring tape should pass under the middle button.
jacket / coat
Center back
Pop the collar such that the melton (felt) is visible beneath the collar. Starting from the intersection of the back, collar and center back seam, measure down along the center back seam to the bottom hem of the jacket.
jacket / coat
Sleeve length
Position the sleeves pointing up so that you can find the absolute corner where the side of the jacket meets the armpits. Measure from the armpit straight down to the end of the cuff.
trousers
Waist
The front of the waistband should lay directly on top of the back of the waistband. Measure across the top of the waistband from one side of the pants to the other.
trousers
Thigh
Fold the top leg up over the waistband, making the bottom of the crotch visible. Measure below the lowest part of the crotch (where the inseams of each leg meet), measure straight across the width of the leg.
trousers
Inseam Length
Fold the top leg up over the waistband, making the bottom of the crotch visible. The inseam length is measured from the bottom of the crotch (where the inseams meet), down the inside of the leg to the bottom of the leg opening.
trousers
Total Length
Measure from the top of the waistband down to the bottom of the leg opening, following along the side seam of the leg.
trousers
Leg Opening
Measure across the bottom of the pant hem, from one edge of the leg opening to the other.
shirt / knitwear
Around your Neck
Take your tape measure and position it at the base of your neck where the shirt collar would sit. With this in position, wrap the tape measure all the way around your neck, keeping one finger under the tape measure to allow for some breathing room.
shirt / knitwear
Shoulder to Shoulder
Measure from the point where the yoke meets the sleeve, straight across, to the same point on the other side.
shirt / knitwear
Chest
Put one end of the measuring tape at the bottom of the armpit of the shirt and measure straight across to the bottom of the other armpit.
shirt / knitwear
Waist
Find the narrowest part of the shirt’s body, most probably about halfway between the armpits and the bottom of the shirt. Measure the width of the shirt at this point.
shirt / knitwear
Center Back
With the shirt spread out on its front, measure from the base of the back of the collar straight down to the center of the very bottom.
shirt / knitwear
Sleeve Length
Position the sleeves pointing up so that you can find the absolute corner where the side of the shirt meets the armpits. Measure from the armpit straight down to the end of the cuff.
tie
width
Measure the width of a tie from the widest spot on the tie.