5 Tips to Measure Your Size for a Prom Dress
With more young women purchasing prom dresses online, our prom dress sizing experts at Prom Headquarters offer these smart tips to getting the right fit before you place that order.
1. Get It Right Before You Buy
Most online retailers won't return a dress that's already been ordered and sized, so get it right before you buy that prom dress online. Many designers use their own sizing measures, which means each size chart is different. Look for online retailers like Prom Headquarters that post a designer-specific size chart for each dress design.
2. Size Up for Formal Wear
Most formal dresses typically run smaller than regular clothing. The good news is that most online prom dress sellers will note that on product pages.
Don't rely on your usual dress size; you'll likely have to order a size or two larger than usual. That's why you must carefully measure your bust, waist, hips and more.
3. Don't Use a Ruler to Measure for a Dress
Since you're not made of flat cardboard, a rigid ruler won't cut it when it comes to measuring for a prom dress. Use a flexible cloth tape measure to navigate your 3D curves.
Stand in a comfortable position before measuring, because you want to be comfortable in the actual dress. If you can't quite reach around a curve, ask for help from a family member or friend.
4. Your Bust Size Isn't Always Your Bra Size
It might seem easier to just look at the tag on your bra to determine your bust size. Don't. Dress designers want you to measure around the fullest part of your breast.
Your blue jean size won't help you either when measuring your hip size. Measure the fullest part of your hips. When it comes to your natural waistline, what does that mean? It means measuring about 1.5 inches above your belly button.
5. Consult a Professional
If for no other reason than to confirm that you got it right, it doesn't hurt to reach out to a professional in the prom dress industry for help. At Prom Headquarters, our prom dress sizing experts can answer your questions about the tautness you should aim for in measuring for a close-fitting bodice and other common prom dress questions.
For more prom dress tips, visit our Prom Headquarters website.