How to measure yourself at home
LAM’S makes wedding dresses for brides in the US, Australia, Germany, Canada, Japan and all over Vietnam. For a bride who cannot come to the studio, your measurements are the only thing we have to draft the pattern. The dress is cut to the numbers you send, with no spare fabric left for later alterations.
What you need
- 01A soft tape measureThe kind used for sewing, not a metal builder’s tape.
- 02Someone to helpMeasuring alone easily goes wrong at the waist and the back length.
- 03Your wedding braThe exact one you will wear. This is the detail most often forgotten.
- 04Your wedding shoesOr a pair with the same heel height.
- 05A large mirrorSo you can check the tape is parallel to the floor.
The 8 measurements, and how to take them
Each step zooms into the exact place to measure. Swipe on a phone, or use the arrow keys and the tabs on a computer.
1 / 8FrontNeck
Step 1 of 8 · Frontaround the base of the neck
Measure around the base of the neck, where the neck meets the shoulders, not around the middle of the neck. Keep the tape level and just touching the skin.
Tip: you should be able to slide one finger between the tape and your neck.
2 / 8BackArmhole
Step 2 of 8 · Backaround the armhole, over the shoulder
Pass the tape under the arm, up over the shoulder point and close the loop. Keep the arm relaxed at your side, do not lift it.
Tip: check in a mirror that the tape sits snugly in the armpit crease and does not slip down.
3 / 8FrontBust
Step 3 of 8 · Frontthe fullest part of the bust
Take the tape around the fullest part of the bust, keeping it parallel to the floor at the front and across the back.
Tip: wear the exact bra you plan to wear on the wedding day.
4 / 8FrontWaist
Step 4 of 8 · Frontthe narrowest part of the waist
Measure around the narrowest part of the waist, usually 2 to 3 cm above the navel. Breathe normally and do not hold your stomach in.
Tip: lean to one side; the crease that forms naturally is your waistline.
5 / 8FrontHip
Step 5 of 8 · Frontthe fullest part of the hip
Stand with your feet together and take the tape around the fullest part of the hip.
Tip: whoever is helping should crouch down and read the tape at eye level, not from above.
6 / 8FrontSleeve length, upper arm
Step 6 of 8 · Frontshoulder to wrist; upper arm
Sleeve length: measure from the shoulder point down to the wrist with the arm slightly bent. Upper arm: measure around the fullest part with the arm relaxed.
Tip: if you want the sleeve to fall past the wrist, add a note.
7 / 8BackDress length
Step 7 of 8 · Backfrom waist to floor, in your shoes
Put your wedding shoes on, then measure straight down from the waist to the floor.
Tip: if you do not have the shoes yet, note the heel height you plan to wear.
8 / 8BackTrouser length (ao dai)
Step 8 of 8 · Backfrom waist to ankle (ao dai)
Only needed for an ao dai. Measure from the waist down to the ankle or to the floor, depending on the cut you want.
Tip: skip this if you are only ordering a wedding dress.
FrontBackAll 8 measurements
Tap a number on the figure, or a measurement name, to see how it is taken.
A printable measurement sheet
Download it, print it on A4 and fill it in by hand as you measure. Photograph it and send it to us on WhatsApp or Zalo.
While you measure
- Tape touching the skin, never pulled tight
- Stand tall, feet together, breathe normally
- Measure twice; under 1 cm apart is fine
- Note anything particular about your body
When you have finished
- 1Measure a second time. If the two readings are within 1 cm of each other you are fine. If not, measure a third time and use the number that repeats.
- 2Photograph yourself standing straight from the front and from the side, in close-fitting clothes. We use the photos to cross-check the numbers.
- 3Write down what is particular to you. An uneven bust, a high or low waist, one shoulder higher than the other: these are not flaws, they are what we need in order to draft a pattern that fits you.
- 4Send it to us on WhatsApp or Zalo: photograph the filled-in sheet, or simply message us the numbers.
Ready to start?
Send us your wedding date and where you live. Phuong answers personally, usually the same day.
