GETTING READY

We feel like “standard sizing” is an oxymoron. Bodies come in so many beautiful shapes and sizes, and all of them should be honored.

When measuring for underwear you do not want to be wearing a bra with a lot of padding or restriction. Take your measurements in close fitting garments and bare feet. Don’t be intimidated. This does not have to be perfect and exact, but the more accurate your measurements the better fit your clothing will have.

If you don’t have a soft measuring tape you can use a pice of string and measure it against a yard stick or carpentry measuring tape. We take measurements in centimeters or inches, but I use centimeters for drafting because they are more precise.

A piece of elastic or string can also help you find your natural waist, which is the slimmest part of your torso and doesn’t fall in the same place on every person.

THE MEASUREMENTS WE NEED

Full bust - This measurement is taken around the fullest part of your chest. If you have a smaller amount of breast tissue this will be around the level of your nipples, not right in the arm pit.

Under bust - This measurement is around your ribs right under your breast tissue. This is where the band of a bra or crop top will sit.

Waist - This is the narrowest part of your torso, usually, but not always a couple of inches above your belly button. You can bend back and forth to find where your torso naturally creases and hinges on the sides. If your experience of your body tells you that you have a higher or lower waist, or are long or short in the torso, this is a great thing to put in the notes section of our measurement form.

High Hip - This is your low waist where the waistband of some pants, low rise underwear, or boxer briefs will usually sit.

Full Hip - This is the widest part of your seat and bottom. It might be at a different place when looking from the front or from the side, so try to find a balanced place that encompasses both.

Thigh - This measurement is around the biggest part of your thigh, or where your boxer briefs leg band hits. This helps me adjust if you have smaller or larger thighs so your band doesn’t dig in or ride up.