How to measure

The size guides in this catalogue give the measurements of the garment itself, laid flat, not of the body.

The surest way: measure a piece of your own of the same kind that fits the way you like, in the same way, and choose the size with the closest numbers.

What you need

  • A tape measure (or a piece of string and a ruler).
  • A table or a bed to lay the garment on.
  • A piece of your own that fits you well.

T-shirts, hoodies, shirts, jackets

Lay the garment flat, buttoned or zipped, without stretching it. Measure edge to edge on the garment.

  1. 1
    Length

    From the highest point of the shoulder, next to the collar, straight down to the hem.

  2. 2
    Chest

    Just below the armpits, edge to edge. If the guide gives the full chest, double your number.

  3. 3
    Shoulders

    From one shoulder seam to the other, across the back.

  4. 4
    Sleeve

    From the shoulder seam to the end of the sleeve, along the sleeve.

  5. 5
    Hem

    The bottom edge, side to side.

Trousers, shorts, joggers

Lay the trousers flat, buttoned, one leg on top of the other.

  1. 1
    Waist

    The top edge, side to side. If the guide gives the full waist, double it. Measure an elastic waist without stretching it.

  2. 2
    Rise

    From the top edge, at the front, down to the crotch seam.

  3. 3
    Hips

    At the widest point, just above the crotch, side to side.

  4. 4
    Thigh

    One leg, just below the crotch, side to side.

  5. 5
    Inseam

    From the crotch seam to the bottom of the leg, on the inside.

  6. 6
    Length

    From the top edge to the bottom edge, on the outside.

  7. 7
    Leg opening

    The bottom of the leg, side to side.

No piece to compare with?

Measure your body with the tape level, snug but not tight, over a thin layer.

Chest
Around the fullest part of the chest, under the armpits.
Waist
Where you usually wear your trousers.
Hips
Around the fullest part of the hips.
Inside leg
From the crotch to the floor, barefoot, or measure trousers of yours that have the right length.

A garment has to be wider than the body: for a comfortable fit, its full chest (the guide's «chest» × 2) is usually 8–12 cm more than yours, and more for an oversized cut.

Shoes

  1. 1

    Measure in the afternoon, in the socks you will wear: feet swell a little during the day.

  2. 2

    Put a sheet of paper on the floor against a wall and stand on it with your heel against the wall.

  3. 3

    Mark the tip of your longest toe, holding the pencil upright.

  4. 4

    Measure in centimetres from the edge of the paper to the mark. Measure both feet and keep the longer one.

In the shoe's table, choose the size whose length equals yours or is up to half a centimetre longer. Between two, take the larger. With no table, a pair of your own from the same brand is the best comparison.

Bags

  • Dimensions are width × height × depth, without the handle or the strap.
  • To picture it, measure a bag of your own the same way, or mark the dimensions on a sheet of paper.

Good to know

  • Sizes differ from brand to brand: go by the centimetres, not by the letter (M, L) you usually wear.
  • The guides are measured by hand, so allow 1–3 cm either way.
  • Between two sizes? Say so in the piece's note in your list and we will help you choose.