How do I measure myself???

[ejaghana]

I'm in the market for a costume, but I have no idea how to measure myself!!! I bought a tape measure and took my measurements, but it seems like there should be an extra step. What else do I need to do?

[MelanieLA]

If you took your measurements correctly, that's all you need to do.
Bra measurements are around your ribcage, right beneath your breasts. Then measure a bit higher, straight across your breastpoint, all the way around your back. The difference between these 2 measurements is your cup size, I believe 1" difference is an A, 2" a B, 3" a C, etc.
Hip size is your high hip, right around your hipbones(where the top of your belt will lay), and low hip, around the widest part of your butt and thighs. This is where your skirt size matters.
Good luck!

[ejaghana]

Okay! Thanks so much! I thought I had to add two inches to each measurement or something. Don't know where I got that from!!!

[MelanieLA]

Well that's a good idea to do to allow for weight gain, or bloating during that time of the month. If you are ordering a custom costume, you should definitely add an inch or inch and a half to allow for the best fit. Especially if you have never measured yourself before, it is best to size up rather than exactly to allow for any mistakes. You can always move hooks to make something smaller, but you can't add inches out of thin air!

[je_ateek]

What about skirt length? Where's the best place to measure that? I know that's a personal preference for some depending on how long they like their skirts to be, but is it as simple as upper hip to ankle?

[Andrea2]

Re: skirt length - yep, it's just that easy (I sound like an infomercial). The length of the skirt is from the top of the elastic to the bottom hem. Assuming you wear your skirts at your upper hip along with the belt, this is where you should measure from.

[elljay]

Note - you should never measure yourself. If you do, you're bending and reaching and won't get an accurate measurement. Thats how my troupemate's skirt ended up being two inches too short - she was bending over to measure her own skirt length. Always get someone else to do it for you.

[MelanieLA]

You can measure your own skirt length by holding it at the top of your hip and stepping on the tape measure at floor length. Then keep your foot there to mark where the hem should be, and go ahead and bend over to see what the length is. Remember that usually your rear-end will add a few inches too, so you could measure from the back this way too. Just takes a bit of coordination.

If you are having it made for you, you give this exact measurement and the seamstress will know to add about an inch to finish the hem; if you are making it yourself, add 3/4" to an inch so that you can fold the hem up(finish it).