How to note down your measurements once

Short answer: Measure your chest, waist, hips, inside leg and shoe size, and write the five numbers down with a date. Then you do not need to measure again until your body changes. It takes a quarter of an hour once and saves time every time you shop.

Five numbers are enough

Chest, waist, hips, inside leg and shoe size cover almost any clothing you will buy. Tops go by chest, trousers and underwear by waist and hips, long trousers also by inside leg, and socks by shoe size. More numbers rarely make the choice better. Five numbers you trust are worth more than ten you doubt. See bamboo boxers.

How to measure chest, waist and hips

Use a soft tape measure and measure in underwear or close fitting clothes. Measure the chest around the widest part with your arms down. Measure the waist at the narrowest point and the hips at the widest point over the seat. Keep the tape level, breathe normally and do not pull tight. Write each number down straight away.

Inside leg and shoe size

Inside leg is measured from the crotch down to the floor along the inner leg. It is easiest to measure a pair of trousers with a length you like. Most people know their shoe size, but write it down anyway so all the numbers sit together. That makes choosing socks and trousers easy.

Write the date next to them

Without a date you do not know if the numbers still apply. A measurement from three years ago may be spot on, or it may have shifted. The date shows when it is time to check again. Put it at the top of the note, so it is the first thing you see. See bamboo socks.

Keep them where you will find them

A note on your phone is enough, and it is with you when you shop. Give it a name you can search for easily, such as my measurements. Then the numbers are at hand online and in a shop. A slip of paper in a drawer works too, but it is rarely with you when you need it. See bamboo sweat clothes.

Measure the same way each time

Numbers only compare if they were measured the same way. So add a few words to each measurement about where you measured. Say whether you stood in underwear, or measured the waist at the navel or a little higher. Next time, follow the same notes. Then a change in the number means a change in your body, not your method.

When to measure again

Once a year is enough for most people, or when clothes start to fit differently. If trousers feel tight or a top that used to fit now hangs, it is time to check the numbers. Otherwise they hold up well. When you measure again, update both numbers and date, and delete the old ones so only one version remains.

Note what fits too

Beside the five numbers, it helps to note which sizes fit you in clothes you like. If a certain T-shirt fits well in medium, write it down. That gives you an extra guide when you fall between two sizes, and it helps you remember how different cuts sit on your body.

Frequently asked questions

Which measurements should you note

Chest, waist, hips, inside leg and shoe size. Those five numbers cover almost any clothing you might buy, from tops to socks.

Why include the date

Because the body changes over time. Without a date you do not know whether the numbers still apply or are three years old.

How often should you measure again

Once a year, or when your clothes start to fit differently. Otherwise the numbers hold up well and you can use them again and again.