Sizing Your Clothes When Shopping Online
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Sizing Your Clothes. Unlike in-store shopping where you can try on the style to see how it fits, when shopping online, it's really important to get as accurate a measurement as possible to minimize disappointment with the fit. A tape measure is your best bet. As you shop at Bantu's Motif, please see the sizing charts tab that will appear to the right side of your screen when you view most items.
Clothing measurements seem to differ between labels, countries, and even stores, making it challenging to understand which size to pick. That’s why it’s essential to understand your body measurements to navigate clothing sizes with more ease regardless of where you shop.
General Rules of Thumb
Taking accurate body measurements is straightforward and easier than most people realize. All you need is a cloth tape measure, keeping the tape level and firm, but not too tight. Make sure to measure over bare skin or tight clothing, but never over loose clothing.
Sizing Differences for Women and Men
Measuring for women’s clothing requires bust, waist, and hip circumference, while men’s clothing measurements emphasize chest, waist, and hip circumference, in addition to neck size, arm length, and potentially shoulder width, if measuring for jackets and dress shirts.
In contrast, unisex sizing refers to clothing that includes XXS-XXL. Women usually buy clothing in the lower range, men in the higher, but this is not a hard and fast rule.
How to Measure for Clothing Size
Chest: Measuring the chest area will be slightly different between men and women. For men, measure firmly underneath your armpits and around the widest part of your chest. For women, the chest area refers to the flat part slightly above your breasts, which requires a separate bust measurement, where the chest is fullest. If you’re a woman, bring the measuring tape directly under your armpits, but make sure to place the tape above your breast area.
In either case, make sure to keep your back straight and arms relaxed for the most accurate measurement.
Bust: Measure at the fullest part of the bust and measure around the body, from your armpits and shoulder blades back to the front. Keep the tape snug but not too tight. Pro tip:wear a non-padded bra for more accurate measurements.
Waist: Measure the waist where your body bends. This is usually located about 2 inches above your belly button. To check, bend side to side to figure out where the body creases.Pro-tip: Don’t suck in your stomach, which will only give you inaccurate results, providing a too-tight fit.
Hip: Stand with feet together, making sure to keep your back and pelvis straight. Measure at the fullest part of your hips, usually around the buttocks, roughly 8 inches below your natural waist. Pro-tip: For slim-fitting pants or dresses, take a second measurement, about three or so inches below the waist, for the high-hip area.
Inseam: Measure the distance from the uppermost inner part of your groin to the bottom of your ankle. Pro-tip: Ask someone to help you. If no one is available, measure the inseam on a pair of proper length pants that you already own.
Shoulder Width: Measure from shoulder to shoulder with your back straight, wrapping the tape around the circumference of your body.
Sleeve length: Measure from the top of your shoulder to the cuff of your sleeve, or where your wrist is.
Neck: Measure at the base where your neck connects to your shoulders, right below the Adam’s apple, for men. Look forward and stand relaxed. Pro-tip: Place a finger between your throat and tape to make sure the collar won’t be too tight.