Finding the right dress size online can be tricky, but it’s essential for ensuring your new outfit looks and feels amazing. Whether you’re searching for a chic animal print dress or a classic little black dress, understanding your body measurements and how they correspond to clothing sizes is key. This comprehensive size guide will help you confidently choose the perfect size every time, ensuring a flawless fit for your next dress purchase.
Understanding Body Measurements for Dress Sizes
Accurate body measurements are the foundation of finding the right dress size. Clothing sizes can vary between brands, so relying on generic sizes like “small,” “medium,” or “large” isn’t always reliable. Using your actual measurements in centimeters and inches, along with international size conversions, provides a much more precise way to determine your ideal dress size.
Body Measurements in Centimeters
| UKÂ | BUST (CM) | WAIST (CM) | HIP (CM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 82.5 | 65.5 | 95.5 |
| 8 | 85 | 68 | 98 |
| 10 | 90 | 73 | 103 |
| 12 | 95 | 78 | 108 |
| 14 | 100 | 83 | 113 |
| 16 | 105 | 88 | 118 |
| 18 | 110 | 93 | 123 |
| 20 | 117 | 100 | 130 |
| 22 | 124 | 107 | 137 |
| 24 | 131 | 114 | 144 |
| 26 | 138 | 122 | 148 |
Size Guide in Inches
| UKÂ | BUST (INCH) | WAIST (INCH) | HIP (INCH) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 32.5 | 25.8 | 37.6 |
| 8 | 33.5 | 26.8 | 38.6 |
| 10 | 35.5 | 28.7 | 40.5 |
| 12 | 37.5 | 30.7 | 42.5 |
| 14 | 39.4 | 32.7 | 44.5 |
| 16 | 41.4 | 35 | 46.5 |
| 18 | 43.3 | 36.6 | 48.4 |
| 20 | 46 | 39.4 | 51.2 |
| 22 | 48.5 | 42 | 54 |
| 24 | 51.5 | 44.5 | 56.5 |
| 26 | 54 | 48 | 58 |
International Size Conversion for Dresses
Understanding international size conversions is particularly helpful when shopping from brands that use different sizing systems. This table provides a quick guide to convert UK sizes to EU and US equivalents.
| Â UK | EU | US |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 34 | 2 |
| 8 | 36 | 4 |
| 10 | 38 | 6 |
| 12 | 40 | 8 |
| 14 | 42 | 10 |
| 16 | 44 | 12 |
| 18 | 46 | 14 |
| 20 | 48 | 16 |
| 22 | 50 | 18 |
| 24 | 52 | 20 |
| 26 | 54 | 22 |
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Measure Yourself for a Dress
Follow these simple steps to accurately measure yourself and find your perfect dress size. For the most accurate results, wear thin clothing and stand in front of a mirror.
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Neck Depth: This measurement is less about your body and more about understanding how low-cut a V-neck dress will be on you. Measure from the center of your collarbones down along your chest to see where the neckline of a dress would fall.
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Dress Length: To visualize dress length, place the tape measure at the point where your neck meets your shoulder and let it hang down. This will help you estimate where different dress lengths will fall on your body, whether you’re considering a mini, midi, or maxi dress.
Woman measuring dress length with a tape measure
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Top Length: Similar to dress length, measure top length from where your neck meets your shoulder down. This is useful for determining where a top will end on your torso.
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Skirt Length: For skirts, measure from your natural waistline down to gauge the skirt’s length. Your natural waist is typically the narrowest part of your torso.
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Waist Measurement: Locate your natural waistline. It’s usually the narrowest part of your torso, just above your belly button and below your rib cage. Wrap the tape measure around your waist, keeping it parallel to the floor. Ensure the tape is snug but not too tight, and breathe normally.
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Hip Measurement: Find the fullest part of your hips and buttocks. Stand with your feet together and wrap the tape measure around this widest point, ensuring the tape is level all the way around. Avoid wearing shapewear when taking this measurement for the most accurate size.
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Bust Measurement: Wear a bra that you would typically wear under a dress. Wrap the tape measure around the fullest part of your bust, keeping it level across your back and under your arms. The tape should be snug but not constricting.
Woman taking body measurements for clothing sizes including bust and waist
By taking these measurements and consulting the size charts, you’ll be well-equipped to select the right size when shopping for dresses online. Remember that slight variations in garment length and neck depth can occur based on your specific size and body shape.
If you have any further questions about sizing, don’t hesitate to reach out to customer care for additional assistance. Enjoy finding the perfect fit for your next dress!
