Aine

A little preparation is the difference between a good measurement and a great one. The following takes five minutes and will save you having to re-measure.

• Ask someone to help you. You can take some measurements on your own, but most are more accurate with a second pair of hands. Ask a friend, partner or family member.
• Use a soft tape measure and a length of elastic tape. The elastic tape is used to mark your natural waistline — tie it around your waist and leave it on until every measurement is taken. It removes the single biggest source of error.
• Wear the underwear you plan to wear under the dress. Even nylon tights can reduce your hip measurement by a few centimetres; shaping underwear changes everything. If the gown has a low back or built-in bodice and you will not wear a bra, measure without one. Remember that every bra adds some volume, even soft-cup.
• Stand naturally. Straight but relaxed, feet together, arms at your sides. Do not suck in, do not puff out, do not hold your breath.
• Measure against bare skin or thin clothing — not over a sweater.
• Keep the tape horizontal for every circumference measurement — this is the most common source of error. A tape that dips in the back produces a reading 1–3 cm off.
• The tape should be snug, not tight. You should be able to slide a finger underneath without the tape sliding on its own.
• Use one unit throughout — centimetres or inches, never mixed.

Also consider the style of dress you are ordering:

• For a fully fitted dress, every measurement matters, including upper arm / bicep if the dress has sleeves.
• For a fitted bodice with a free-cut skirt, hips are less critical — focus on bust and waist.
• For a free-cut dress, only the bust measurement is critical.

If you measure yourself twice and get the same number both times, that number is reliable. If the two readings differ by more than half a centimetre (a quarter-inch), measure a third time.

1. Waist circumference

Pass the tape along the elastic tape you tied around your natural waist. Keep it snug, not tight — you should be able to fit a finger between the tape and your body. Keep the tape level and horizontal all the way around the front and back of your waist. Do not hold your breath or pull in your stomach.

2. Upper bust circumference

Pass the tape around your back and up to the front at the level of your armpits. Keep the tape level and horizontal across the back and the bust. Snug, not tight — a finger should fit underneath. Breathe normally; do not pump up your chest.

3. Bust circumference

Pass the tape around your back and across the front at the level of the fullest part of your bust. Keep it horizontal all the way around.

4. Lower bust circumference (underbust)

Pass the tape around your back and across the front just below your breasts — the same line a bra band sits on. Keep it horizontal.

5. Central front waist length

The vertical distance from the jugular fossa (the small hollow at the base of the throat) straight down to the waistline.

6. Bust point

Measure from the top of your shoulder to the fullest point of your bust. You can take measurement 7 (front waist length) at the same time, continuing the tape from this point.

7. Front waist length

Measure the vertical distance from the top of your shoulder down to your waist. Make sure the tape passes over the fullest point of your bust. Keep the tape in a straight vertical line.

8. Back length

Measured from the highest point of the shoulder at the base of the neck straight down to the waistline, parallel to the spine.

9. Shoulders

Measure the horizontal distance between the ends of your shoulders. The end of the shoulder is the small bump just before the top of the upper arm. Keep the tape level but flat against the skin. Do not push your shoulder blades back — stand in your natural posture.

10. Back width

Measure the distance between the back tops of your armpits (across the back).

11. Bust width

Measure the distance between the front tops of your armpits (across the front of the bust).

12. Breasts

The horizontal distance between your nipples. This is the bust-point measurement used to position darts and shaping seams on the bodice.

13. Neck circumference

Pass the tape around the base of your neck. Keep it loose enough that two fingers lie flat between the tape and your neck.

14. Upper arms

Relax your arm at your side, bicep slightly tensed. Pass the tape around the thickest part of your upper arm. Snug, not tight — a finger should fit underneath.

15. Armpits

Pass the tape around your armpit, measuring the circumference of the shoulder socket. Keep the tape in a straight vertical line around the armpit. One finger should fit underneath.

16. Cuffs

Depending on the style of sleeve you have chosen, pass the tape around your arm or wrist at the point where the sleeve will end. A finger should fit underneath.

17. Sleeve length

Measure from the top of your shoulder down to the point where you want your sleeve to end. Hold your arm slightly away from your body, not pressed against your side.

18. Hip circumference

Pass the tape around the widest part of your hips and the fullest part of your bottom. Keep it horizontal all the way around. A finger should fit underneath.

19. Skirt length

It is best to take this measurement wearing the shoes you plan to wear on your wedding day. If you do not yet have them, use a pair with a matching heel height. Measure vertically along the side seam from the waist to the floor.

20. Front waist–crotch–back waist (bodysuits only)

Pass the tape from the centre of the front waistline, down through the crotch, and back up to the centre of the back waistline. This measurement is only needed if you are ordering a bodysuit or separates with a crotch piece.

21. Hips height

Measure the distance from the base of your nape — the small bump where the neck meets the back — down to the fullest part of your bottom.

In more than a decade of atelier fittings, the same handful of errors account for most alterations. Avoiding these will save you time and money.

1. Letting the tape slope. Any circumference measurement — bust, waist, hip — must stay horizontal all the way around. A tape that dips in back or rises in front produces a reading 1–3 cm off.
2. Pulling the tape tight. The tape should be snug, not compressing. A tight measurement results in a tight gown.
3. Measuring over the wrong undergarments. The bra you wear when you measure should be the bra you wear on the day. A strapless bra, a bralette, or no bra at all will all produce different bust readings.
4. Guessing the natural waist. It is rarely where your jeans sit. It is the narrowest point of your torso, usually 5–8 cm higher. Tie the elastic tape there before you start.
5. Mixing units. Centimetres and inches must not be mixed in the same set of measurements. Choose one and stay with it throughout.

Once you submit the form, our atelier reviews your measurements for consistency and flags any likely errors within two business days. If anything looks off — for example, a bust and underbust measurement that do not match a standard cup-size relationship, or a sleeve length that seems unusually short — we write to you directly to confirm or re-measure before we cut a single piece of fabric.

For made-to-measure gowns, your measurements are used to create a pattern cut specifically for your body. Every Mýwony gown is constructed in natural silk — silk crash chiffon, silk crêpe, silk organza — with hand-applied lace and, where called for, hand-stitched silk flowers. For ready-to-wear or size-standard gowns, your measurements help us select the closest size and advise on likely alterations.

From there your dress moves through the atelier — pattern-cutting, couture construction, hand-finishing — and arrives in time for your first fitting (typically eight to twelve weeks, depending on the gown and season). Two to three fittings follow, during which we fine-tune the fit against the live measurements of your body on the day.

If you have not yet chosen your gown, you can browse our current couture collection Spells of the Whispering Forest, the full Mýwony collection, or the 2024 collection. If you would like help choosing a silhouette, our wedding dress styles chart is the best place to start.

How do you take a bust measurement?

Stand naturally with arms at your sides. Wrap a soft tape around the fullest part of your bust — usually across the nipples — keeping the tape horizontal all the way around. The tape should be snug but not compressing. Wear the bra you plan to wear on your wedding day, and do not hold your breath.

What is a bust point measurement?

The horizontal distance between the two apex points of the bust (nipple to nipple). It is used in dressmaking to place bust darts and shaping seams correctly on a bodice. Measure with the tape held flat across the front, not curved around the bust.

Where exactly should I measure my bust for a wedding dress?

At the fullest point of the bust — usually the line that passes across the nipples. Keep the tape horizontal all the way around; it must not dip or rise at the back. Wear the bra you plan to wear on the day, stand naturally, and keep the tape snug but not tight.

What is the difference between bust and underbust measurement?

The bust measurement is the circumference around the fullest part of the bust (across the nipples). The underbust (or lower bust) is the circumference directly beneath the bust, where a bra band sits. The difference indicates cup volume and is essential for corset-style gowns and bodices with internal cups.

How do I measure armpit to armpit?

Locate the armpit crease on each side of your torso — the vertical fold where the arm meets the body. Measure the horizontal distance between them across the back (back width) or across the front (bust width), depending on which is specified. Keep the tape flat against the body.

What is the natural waist and how do I find it?

Your natural waist is the narrowest part of your torso, usually 5–8 cm above where jeans typically sit. Bend sideways — the natural fold that forms is the waistline. Tie an elastic tape there and leave it on until every measurement is taken.

Do I need to wear a bra when measuring?

Yes — and specifically the bra you plan to wear on your wedding day. Bust and bodice measurements change meaningfully depending on the bra. If you are unsure, a smooth nude non-padded bra is the safest default. If your dress has an open back or built-in bodice and you will not wear a bra, measure without one.

How accurate do wedding dress measurements need to be?

Very accurate. A measurement that is one centimetre off (about 3/8 in) can require a significant alteration at fitting. Measurements should be taken to within half a centimetre of accuracy. If you take a measurement twice and get the same number, it is reliable; if they differ by more than half a centimetre, measure a third time.

Can I measure myself for a wedding dress?

You can for some (waist, hip, wrist), but accuracy is significantly better with a helper for bust, back length, shoulder width, and sleeve length. If you must measure alone, use a mirror to verify the tape is horizontal for every circumference measurement, and record each measurement twice to cross-check.

How long does it take to measure yourself for a wedding dress?

About 20–25 minutes with a helper, or 35–45 minutes on your own. This includes the 21 measurements on the Mýwony form plus time to verify each one.

What should I do if I am between sizes on the standard chart?

For Mýwony made-to-measure gowns this is not an issue — we build to your exact numbers. For ready-to-wear, always size up, not down. It is far easier to take in a gown than to let it out, and many gowns cannot be let out at all.