The most common reason someone returns an item of clothing online is not that the wrong size was ordered — it's that the measurements listed were misunderstood.
Here is the distinction that solves most of it.
Your body measurement is the actual circumference, length, or width of your body at a given point. A tailor would measure your chest as the fullest circumference, measured across the nipple line, with the tape snug but not tight.
A garment measurement is the physical dimension of the garment when laid flat and doubled, or measured directly at the relevant point. A garment with a chest measurement of 40 inches will fit someone with a 38-inch chest with 2 inches of ease — the extra space that allows for movement and comfort.
Ease is intentional. Different garment categories have different ease standards:
- A fitted t-shirt might have 2–4 inches of ease at the chest - A relaxed shirt might have 6–8 inches - An oversized drop-shoulder might have 10–14 inches
When our product pages list "Chest 38"" next to a size S, that is the **garment measurement**, not the body measurement the garment is made for. The body measurement that works well with that garment is 30–34 inches, depending on how much ease you prefer.
We include fit notes on every product page to clarify this. "Relaxed fit" means more ease than a "fitted" cut. "Slightly fitted" means the garment is cut closer to the body with less ease.
We include model height and the size worn on each product page. This gives you a reference point that measurements alone cannot: how the garment hangs relative to body proportions.
If the model is 5'5" and wears a medium, and the garment reaches to mid-thigh on them, you can estimate how it would fall on your own height.
You need a soft measuring tape and one other person, or a mirror.
Chest: Tape under the armpits, across the fullest part of the chest. Keep the tape parallel to the floor. Waist: Tape around your natural waist, which is the narrowest part of your torso — usually 2–3 inches above the navel. Hip: Tape at the fullest part of your hips, usually 8–10 inches below your waist. Inseam: Measure from the crotch seam to the floor along the inside of the leg.
Write these down. Then compare them to the size chart for each garment, accounting for the ease indicated by the fit description.
For relaxed cuts: stay on your usual size or size up if you're between sizes. For fitted cuts: if you are between sizes, size up — you can always have something taken in, but you can't add fabric. For blazers and structured outerwear: the shoulder seam is the least forgiving measurement. Prioritise fitting the shoulder, then adjust the body.
Our returns policy allows exchanges within 21 days with no questions asked for unused garments with tags. But measuring correctly is better than returning — it saves time for both of us.
