Hoe To Measure Guide

Quick answer: To choose your Arsyince dress size, you need three measurements: bust, waist and hips. Measure in the bra and shapewear you plan to wear, keep the tape level and snug but not tight, then compare your numbers to our Size Chart. Your height and heel height help us check the dress length, and your upper arm measurement helps if you would like more room in the sleeves.

What You Need

  • A soft fabric measuring tape, not a metal one
  • The bra and any shapewear you plan to wear with your dress
  • A mirror, or better, a friend or family member to help
  • About 10 minutes

It is hard to keep a tape level around your own back, so asking someone to help makes a real difference. Many mothers ask a daughter, a sister or a friend, and it often becomes a nice part of getting ready for the wedding.

The Three Measurements That Choose Your Size

1. Bust

  • Wear the bra you will wear with your dress. Your bust measurement is not your bra size.
  • Stand straight with your arms relaxed at your sides.
  • Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your bust, under your arms and across your shoulder blades.
  • Check in the mirror that the tape is level all the way around your back.

2. Waist

  • Find your natural waist, the narrowest part of your torso. It is usually about 1 inch above your belly button. If you bend to one side, the crease that forms is your natural waist.
  • Wrap the tape around it, keeping one finger between the tape and your body for breathing room.
  • Breathe out normally and stand relaxed. Do not hold your stomach in.

3. Hips

  • Stand with your feet together.
  • Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your hips and seat, usually about 7 to 8 inches below your natural waist.
  • The tape should pass across both hip bones and stay level all the way around.

Helpful Extras for Length and Comfort

These measurements do not change your size, but they help us make your dress fit the way you want. You can write them in the note box on the product page.

Height

  • Stand barefoot with your back against a wall and measure from the floor to the top of your head.
  • Your height helps us check whether a tea length, ankle length or floor length dress will fall where you expect. Petite and tall customers can ask us to shorten or lengthen the hem and sleeves.

Heel Height

  • Measure the heel of the shoes you plan to wear, from the floor to the back of the heel where it meets the shoe.
  • Our floor length dresses already include about 2 inches for heels. If you plan to wear flats or lower heels, tell us your heel height and we will adjust the length.

Upper Arm

  • Relax your arm at your side and wrap the tape around the fullest part of your upper arm.
  • If you would like more room in the sleeves, include this number in your note, for example "upper arm 15 inches, please allow a little extra room in the sleeves".

Tips for Accurate Measurements

  • Measure over undergarments only. Clothing adds bulk and makes your numbers larger than they are.
  • Keep the tape snug, not tight. It should lie flat against your body without pressing in.
  • Measure twice. If the two numbers are different, measure a third time and use the number that appears most often.
  • Write your numbers down right away, in inches, and note the date you measured.
  • Measure close to your order date. If your measurements are more than a few months old, take them again before ordering.

Common Questions

My measurements match different sizes. What should I do?

This is very common. Choose the size that fits your largest measurement, then use the note box to ask us to take in the other areas. For example, if your bust matches size 16 and your waist matches size 14, choose size 16 and add "please take in the waist slightly". A dress can be made a little smaller in one area, but a dress that is too tight is much harder to fix.

Why is my dress size larger than my everyday size?

Formal and bridal dresses use their own sizing standard, which is more fitted than everyday clothing. It is normal to be one or two sizes larger in a formal dress than in your jeans or work clothes. Please choose by your measurements, not the size on your usual labels.

Should I add extra inches to my measurements?

No. Our size chart lists body measurements, and each dress is already cut with room to sit, move and breathe comfortably. Use your measurements exactly as you took them.

I measured, but I am still not sure. Can you help?

Yes. Email service@arsyince.com with your bust, waist and hip measurements, your height, your heel height and a link to the dress you like. We will recommend a size and let you know if any adjustment would help. We reply within 12 hours on weekdays, and within 24 to 48 hours on weekends, US holidays and major Chinese holidays.

Next Steps