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Glossary

Sizing terms, explained

What inseam, rise, ease and Mondopoint actually mean, with labelled drawings showing where each measurement is taken.

Clothing measurements

13 terms
Chest widthThe distance straight across the front of a top, from armpit seam to armpit seam, measured with the garment laid flat.BustThe fullest part of the chest, used for sizing women's tops, dresses and bras.WaistThe narrowest part of the torso as a body measurement, or the width of a waistband on a garment.HipThe widest part of the hips and seat, measured around the body or across the garment.Shoulder widthThe distance across the back of a garment from one shoulder seam to the other.Sleeve lengthThe length of the sleeve from the shoulder seam to the end of the cuff.Body lengthThe length of a top from the highest point of the shoulder, next to the collar, down to the hem.InseamThe length of the inside leg seam of pants, from the crotch seam down to the hem.RiseThe distance from the crotch seam to the top of the waistband, which decides where pants sit on the body.Thigh widthThe width across one leg of a pair of pants at its widest point, just below the crotch.Leg openingThe width of one leg of pants or shorts at the hem, measured laid flat.CCollar sizeThe neck measurement used to size dress shirts, in inches (US and UK) or centimetres (EU).Head circumferenceThe measurement around the head, used to size hats and caps.

Bras

2 terms
Band sizeThe number in a bra size, such as the 34 in 34C, based on the measurement around the ribcage under the bust.Cup sizeThe letter in a bra size, such as the C in 34C, based on the difference between the bust and underbust measurements.

Shoes

7 terms
Foot lengthThe distance from the back of the heel to the tip of the longest toe, the basis of shoe sizing.Shaft heightHow tall the upper part of a boot is, which tells customers where the boot will reach on the leg.Shaft circumferenceThe measurement around the widest part of a boot's shaft, important for fitting the calf.Heel heightHow high the heel of a shoe raises the back of the foot.MMondopointA shoe sizing system based on foot length in millimetres.PParis pointThe unit of European shoe sizes: two thirds of a centimetre.BBarleycornThe unit behind US and UK shoe sizes: one third of an inch.

Jewellery

3 terms
Ring inner diameterThe distance straight across the inside of a ring, edge to edge.RRing circumferenceThe distance around the inside of a ring, which is also the European (ISO) ring size in millimetres.GGaugeThe thickness of body jewellery, where a smaller gauge number means a thicker piece.

Fit and sizing

7 terms
GGarment measurementsMeasurements of the item itself, usually taken with it laid flat, as opposed to measurements of the body.BBody measurementsMeasurements of the person a size is meant for, such as chest, waist and hip circumference.EEaseThe difference between a body measurement and the garment's measurement, which gives room to move and creates the fit.TTrue to sizeA product that fits the way its size label suggests. "Runs small" and "runs large" mean it fits smaller or larger than expected.SSize gradingScaling a garment's base pattern up and down to make the other sizes, using set increments called grade rules.VVanity sizingLabelling clothes with a smaller size than their measurements would traditionally correspond to.TToleranceThe amount a finished garment's measurements are allowed to differ from the specification in production.