Your Precise Measurements Guide
A perfectly fitted suit begins with accurate measurements. Follow our step-by-step guide below -- taken with a soft tape measure, ideally with the assistance of a second person -- to ensure your Arden & Wolfe garment is cut to your exact proportions.
Chest
Wrap the tape measure around the fullest part of your chest -- directly beneath your underarms and across the broadest point of your shoulder blades at the back. Keep the tape horizontal and parallel to the floor. You should be able to fit two fingers comfortably beneath the tape for accurate ease.
Stand naturally with arms relaxed at your sides. Avoid expanding your chest or holding your breath. For suit jackets, we add 4-6 cm of ease to this measurement.
Waist
Locate your natural waist -- the narrowest point of your torso, typically 2-3 cm above your navel. Wrap the tape snugly around this point, keeping it level all the way round. For trouser waist, measure at the point where your trousers naturally sit.
Do not suck in or push out your stomach. Breathe normally and measure at the end of a relaxed exhale. Trouser waist measurements typically run 2-3 cm smaller than the body measurement.
Hips & Seat
Measure around the fullest part of your seat -- typically 18-23 cm below your natural waist. Keep the tape parallel to the floor throughout, passing around the widest point of the buttocks with feet together.
Stand straight with feet together and weight evenly distributed. A well-cut trouser seat adds 3-5 cm of ease to this measurement for comfortable sitting and movement.
Shoulder Width
Measure from the top of one shoulder (where the sleeve seam sits) straight across the back to the corresponding point on the opposite shoulder. The tape should lie flat and follow the natural curve of your upper back.
The shoulder seam should sit exactly at the edge of your shoulder bone. An ill-fitting shoulder cannot be corrected by alteration -- it defines the entire silhouette of the jacket.
Back Length
Starting at the top-centre of the collar seam (the base of the neck), measure straight down the spine to where the base of your thumb rests when your arm hangs naturally at your side.
The jacket hem should align with the knuckle of your thumb when arms hang relaxed. For a contemporary cut, 1-2 cm shorter is acceptable.
Neck
Wrap the tape around the base of your neck where your shirt collar would sit -- at the mid-point of the neck, roughly level with your Adam's apple. Insert one finger between the tape and your neck to ensure comfortable breathing room.
Always add 1.5 cm to your raw neck measurement for collar ease. A finished shirt collar should allow two fingers to fit comfortably between collar and neck.
Inseam
Stand straight and measure from the highest point of the inner thigh (the crotch seam) down the inside of the leg to the base of the ankle bone. Wear shoes similar in heel height to those you'll wear with the suit.
A full break rests on the shoe and creates a fold. A half break just grazes the shoe. No break -- the clean, contemporary choice -- sits slightly above the shoe top. Specify your preference when ordering.
Thigh
Stand naturally with your weight evenly distributed on both feet. Wrap the tape measure around the fullest part of your thigh -- typically 2-3 cm below the crotch seam, at the widest point of the upper leg. Keep the tape horizontal and snug against the skin without compressing the muscle. Measure both legs and use the larger of the two measurements.
The thigh is the most critical trouser measurement for comfort and silhouette. A well-fitted trouser adds 5-7 cm of ease to this measurement. If you are between sizes, always size up at the thigh -- a skilled tailor can take in the waist, but a tight thigh cannot be let out.
Bicep
Stand with your arm relaxed and hanging naturally at your side -- do not flex. Wrap the tape measure around the fullest part of your upper arm, midway between the shoulder and the elbow. Keep the tape snug but not tight, allowing enough room to slide one finger underneath comfortably. Measure both arms and use the larger reading.
The bicep measurement determines the width of your jacket sleeve. A correctly fitted sleeve should allow free movement without pulling across the upper arm when reaching forward. We add 4-6 cm of ease to this measurement -- if you are particularly muscular or athletic in build, mention this when ordering as it affects the entire sleeve and chest balance of the jacket.
Arm Length
Stand naturally with your arm slightly bent at the elbow -- approximately 15 to 20 degrees. Starting at the top of the shoulder bone (the same point where your shoulder seam sits), run the tape along the outside of the arm, over the elbow, and down to the wrist bone. For shirt sleeve length, continue to the base of the thumb. Have a second person assist where possible as this measurement is difficult to take accurately alone.
A correctly fitted jacket sleeve should show approximately 1-1.5 cm of shirt cuff below the jacket hem when arms hang naturally. Always measure with a slight bend in the elbow -- measuring with a straight arm will give a shorter reading and result in sleeves that are too short when the arm is in its natural relaxed position.
Outside Leg
Stand straight with your feet together and wearing the shoes or heel height you would typically wear with a suit. Starting at the top of the waistband -- where your trousers naturally sit on your hip -- run the tape down the outside of the leg in a straight line all the way to the bottom of the ankle. Do not follow the curve of the hip or thigh; keep the tape as vertical and straight as possible throughout.
The outside leg is the most reliable trouser length measurement as it accounts for your natural waist position and is easier to take accurately than the inseam alone. When we have both your outside leg and inseam measurements together, we can also calculate your rise -- the distance between waistband and crotch -- which is essential for achieving the correct trouser seat and silhouette.
Wrist
Wrap the tape measure around your wrist just below the wrist bone -- at the narrowest point where your shirt cuff would naturally sit. Keep the tape snug but comfortable, allowing just enough room to slide one finger underneath. Measure your dominant hand as it is typically slightly larger, and always measure on bare skin rather than over a sleeve.
The wrist measurement determines your shirt cuff size. A well-fitted cuff should close neatly around the wrist with one finger's ease -- loose enough to move freely but not so loose that it slides down over the hand. If you prefer a closer or more relaxed cuff fit, mention this when ordering as it is a simple adjustment for our tailors to make.
| UK Size | Chest (cm) | Waist (cm) | Seat (cm) | Shoulder (cm) | Back (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 S / R / L | 91–94 | 76–80 | 91–95 | 43–44 | 72 / 75 / 78 |
| 38 S / R / L | 96–99 | 81–85 | 96–100 | 44–45 | 73 / 76 / 79 |
| 40 S / R / L | 101–104 | 86–90 | 101–105 | 45–46 | 74 / 77 / 80 |
| 42 S / R / L | 106–109 | 91–95 | 106–110 | 46–47 | 75 / 78 / 81 |
| 44 S / R / L | 111–114 | 96–100 | 111–115 | 47–48 | 76 / 79 / 82 |
| 46 S / R / L | 116–119 | 101–105 | 116–120 | 48–49 | 77 / 80 / 83 |
| 48 S / R / L | 121–124 | 106–110 | 121–125 | 49–50 | 78 / 81 / 84 |
S = Short (under 172 cm) · R = Regular (172–183 cm) · L = Long (over 183 cm)
All measurements are body measurements. Garment ease is included in the finished piece.