HOW TO TAKE YOUR MEASUREMENTS

Please remember, your garments are being made exclusively for you. Accurate measurements are essential to good fit. Although we do allow returns, due to the variety and level of customization that we offer, returned items can not be used to fill another customer's order. Please read these instructions thoroughly before starting, and follow them carefully. Be Honest! The fit of your garment depends on it.

If you require help, you may contact us by email at measurements@marcelledesigns.com or by telephone at (781) 641-2310. You may also request help choosing a size by submitting our measurement form. Our customer service hours are Monday - Friday, 10:30 A.M. - 7:00 P.M. EST. We will be happy to assist you.

What you will need
What to wear
Important Tips
Instructions for a sized garment
Instructions for Made to Measure (coming soon)
Our Size Chart

What You Will Need

• A Flexible Measuring Tape - tailor's or seamstress's tape, NOT a carpenter's tape.
• Masking Tape or Stickers - to mark reference points.
• String - to tie around your natural waist.
• A Printout of our Measurement Form - or paper, and a pencil or pen.
  A printable copy of this form is available for your convenience.
  Measurement Form For Sized Skirts         Measurement Form For Made to Measure Skirts
• A Full-Length Mirror
• A Friend's Assisstance - not absolutely necessary, but very helpful and highly recommended.

What to Wear

It is also important to wear shoes while taking your measurements. Choose a pair with the heel height you usually wear with the type of garment you are ordering, or that you wear most often, if measuring for more than one type of garment. If you are planning on wearing a particular pair of shoes with the clothing you are ordering, wear them while measuring. Your posture and the distribution of your weight are different when supported by the footbed of a shoe, even flats, than when barefoot. This will have an effect on the accuracy of your measurents.

Important Tips

• Always make sure you are starting from the beginning of the measuring tape (the"0" end).
• Lay the measuring tape flat against your skin, and make sure it is not twisted.
• Don't pull the tape too tight or give it too much ease (don't let it droop). It should be slightly snug.
• When taking circumference measurements, make sure the measuring tape is parallel to the floor. It should look straight, not sloped or crooked.
• Stand up straight, but relax and don't "lock" your knees. Place your feet in a natural position, slightly apart. Do not slouch, or bend over to read the tape. Do not "suck in" your stomach, and remember to breath.
• Round measurements up to the nearest 1/4 inch.
• Be honest with yourself! (and us!) Your measurements may not be what you think, but accuracy is essential to good fit. Honesty is the best policy here.

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Instructions For a Sized Garment

SKIRTS

Before You Start

Mark the following locations with a piece of masking tape or a sticker.

• Mark your natural waist. To find your true waist, place a piece of string around your torso, parallel to the floor, and tie it, snugly but not too tight. It will naturally fall to your narrowest point.

• Mark your hip. Turn sideways to the mirror, and place a piece of tape or a sticker on your side, level with your fullest point. The placement will vary for each person. This should be whatever part of your body is the widest. For some, this will be around the buttocks. For others, it may be around the stomach.

• Mark your high hip. Looking in the mirror, find the area between your waist and hip that is the fullest. This may be at your hip bone or at the fullest part of your abdomen. The direction to face the mirror in will depend on your shape. If your fullest point is the width of your hip bone, face front. If your largest point is the fullest part of your abdomen, it will be easier to turn sideways to the mirror. The placement will also vary for each person, depending on your shape. Place a piece of tape or a sticker on your side, level with this point.

• Mark your thigh. Looking in the mirror, facing front, find the area of your upper thighs that is the fullest. Place a piece of tape or a sticker on your side, level with this point.

WIDTH/CIRCUMFERENCE MEASUREMENTS

Waist Circumference

If you are wearing leggings or pants, roll the waistband down well below your waist. Do not measure over clothing. Even the thinnest waistband will cause this measurement to be wrong. Place the measuring tape around your waist, using the string as a guide. If your waistline is slightly lower in front, allow the tape to follow this natural slope. This is the only measurement that may be taken accurately without keeping the tape parallel with the floor. The tape should nestle comfortably into your smallest point. Make sure that the string is not directly under the tape (lift it out of the way if it is), and that your fingers are not under the tape. Pull the tape snugly, but not tight. Do not allow it to "cut in". Record this measurement. Don't remove the string, we will need it later.
Note:This should be your actual body measurement. Do not loosen the tape to mimic the way a waistband fits. We add wearing ease to our patterns based on the true body measurement.

High Hip Circumference

Place the measuring tape around your body at the high hip point you marked with tape. Keeping the tape parallel with the floor, pull it snugly, but not tight. Make sure the tape is level all the way around, and doesn't rise or dip in the front or back. Record this measurement.

Hip Circumference

Place the measuring tape around your body at the hip point you marked with tape. Make sure this is the fullest part of your body. Keeping the tape parallel with the floor, pull it snugly, but not tight. Make sure the tape is level all the way around, and doesn't rise or dip in the front or back. Take care that the tape doesn't rise above your buttocks in back. Record this measurement.

Thigh Circumference

For skirts, this is a complete body circumference around your upper thighs, not each individual thigh. Stand with your feet comfortably apart, not together. Place the tape around your body at the thigh point you marked with tape. Make sure this is the fullest part of your upper thighs. Allow the tape to nestle in below your buttocks. Keeping the tape parallel with the floor, pull it snugly, but not tight. Make sure the tape is level all the way around, and doesn't rise or dip in the front or back. Record this measurement.

LENGTH MEASUREMENTS

Finished Skirt Length (at Center Front)

We allow you to chose the finished length of your skirt, based on personal preference. Decide where you would like the finished length of your skirt to be. You may mark this point on your leg with tape as a guide, if you like. This measurement will be taken at center front, from the string at your natural waist to the finished length. Standing straight, with your feet comfortably apart, measure down from your natural waist, at the center front of your body, to where you would like your skirt to end. Do not bend over to read the tape. It is recommended that you have someone help you read this measurement.
If you must take this measurement alone, try this alternative way of measuring: tape a quarter to the "0" end of the tape measure to weight it. Stand in front of a full-length mirror, and hold the tape at your center front waistline with the quarter end hanging down. Move the tape up and down until the quarter end falls where you want your skirt to end. Place your finger on the tape where it meets the string on your waist and, keeping your finger in place to mark the measurement, lift the tape to read it. Do not bend over to read the tape.
Record this measurement.

FIGURE CHARACTERISTICS

Abdomen

Your abdomen, or "belly", is the area just below your natural waistline. It can be described as very flat, flat, average, round, or very round. It can be just 2 to 4 inches below the waist for some, or extend as low as the hips for others. This area is usually coverd in the high hip measurement. You may need to look at the shape, size and placement of your abdomen in relationship to your hips to see if it will be needed to determine your skirt size, especially in a closer fitting style. If your high hip measurement is larger than your hip measurement, you may need to choose your size based on the high hip to ensure that your skirt is not tight in this area. For further help deciding this, see the section below - HOW TO CHOSE YOUR SIZE.

Buttocks

The shape of your buttocks can also be described as very flat, flat, average, round, or very round. In addition to shape, you also need to consider where you are fullest, and if this point is higher, the same as, or lower than your hips. (Remember, your hip measurement is where you are the largest.) This area is usually included in the hip measurement. You will need to ensure that the hip measurement of the size you choose is large enough so that it is not tight across the back, especially in a closer fitting style. For further help, see the section below - HOW TO CHOSE YOUR SIZE.

Thighs

The area of your upper thighs may effect the size you chose in some cases, especially in a closer fitting style. If you have "thigh bulge", or your thigh circumference is larger than your hip measurement, you may need to choose your size based on your thigh measurement to ensure that your skirt is not tight. For further help deciding this, see the section below - HOW TO CHOSE YOUR SIZE.

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR SIZE

• Your measurements
• Your figure charateristics (shape)
• The fit of the style you are ordering

If you are ordering a slimmer style (6 Gore or Quarter Circle), the skirt has less fullness through the hips and thighs. You should choose your size based on your largest measurement. The measurements shown on the size chart are body measurements, not the measurements of the garment. The skirt will have wearing and style ease added to these measurements. If your measurement is only a small amount over the amount on the chart (under 1 inch), the ease added may be enough, and you may not have to order the next size. If you are not sure, you can contact us for help by submitting our measurement form, by email at measurements@marcelledesigns.com or by telephone at (781) 641-2310. Our customer service hours are Monday - Friday, 10:30 A.M. - 7:00 P.M. EST. We will be happy to assist you.

Our fuller skirt styles (Half Circle or Full Circle) have more style ease through the hips and thighs. The size you choose is less dependant on body shape. In most cases, you should choose your size based on your waist measurement. If your high hip measurement is larger than that listed for the size that fits your waist (by 1 1/2 inches or more), you may need a larger size, especially in the Half Circle. If you are not sure, you can contact us for help by submitting our measurement form, by email at measurements@marcelledesigns.com or by telephone at (781) 641-2310. Our customer service hours are Monday - Friday, 10:30 A.M. - 7:00 P.M. EST. We will be happy to assist you.

View Our Measurement Form For Sized Skirts
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Instructions For Made to Measure (coming soon)

SKIRTS

Before You Start

WIDTH/CIRCUMFERENCE MEASUREMENTS

LENGTH MEASUREMENTS

FIGURE CHARACTERISTICS