VASHE Journal / Fit Guide
How to Measure a Dress
A quiet atelier simulation for taking the measurements that shape a VASHE piece: bust, waist, hips, shoulder, sleeve, and shoulder to floor.
6 Atelier points
Measure slowly. Keep the tape soft.
The goal is not to make the smallest number. The goal is to capture how the body naturally stands, breathes, and moves.
Use a flexible measuring tape, stand upright, and ask someone to help with shoulder and floor lengths when possible.
Bust line
Wrap around the fullest part of the bust.
Keep the tape parallel to the floor and let it sit smoothly across the back. It should touch the body without pressing into it.
- Wear the bra or undergarment planned for the dress.
- Relax the shoulders and breathe normally before reading the number.
Find the natural waist.
Measure the narrowest point of the torso, usually just above the navel. The tape should feel secure but never tight.
- Do not hold your breath while measuring.
- If unsure, bend gently to one side; the crease is the natural waist.
Measure the fullest part of the hips.
Stand with feet close together and guide the tape around the widest point. This gives the dress room to fall cleanly.
- Check in a mirror that the tape is level all the way around.
- For fitted silhouettes, this number is especially important.
Measure shoulder edge to shoulder edge.
Place the tape across the back from one shoulder point to the other. This helps balance neckline, straps, and sleeve placement.
- Keep arms relaxed at the side.
- Ask another person to read this measurement for better accuracy.
Follow the arm from shoulder to wrist.
Start at the shoulder point and measure down the outside of the arm to the desired sleeve finish.
- Keep a slight natural bend in the arm.
- For long sleeves, measure to the wrist bone or desired cuff point.
Measure the full dress length.
Start at the top of the shoulder and measure straight down to the floor, wearing the heel height planned for the event.
- Stand tall and look forward while someone else measures.
- For bridal or evening length, include the shoes you will wear.
Keep the tape level around the fullest part of the bust. A soft touch is better than a tight line.
Your atelier card
One tape
Use a flexible tailor tape. A metal ruler or phone measurement tool will not follow the body accurately.
One posture
Stand naturally for every reading. Changing posture between steps creates numbers that do not belong to the same body.
One note
If a number feels uncertain, write it down and repeat it once. The best measurement is consistent, not forced.
Fit begins before
the first stitch.
When your measurements are ready, send them to the VASHE atelier and our team can guide the next step.
Contact the Atelier
