
To measure a man's coat size, you'll need to take measurements of several parts of the body: the chest, waist, shoulders, arms, and back. Wrap a measuring tape around the broadest part of your chest, keeping your arms at your sides. Then, measure the width of your shoulders by stretching the tape measure horizontally across your back. Next, find the circumference of your natural waist, which is typically just below the ribcage. Measure your sleeve length by placing one hand on your hip and measuring from the base of your neck to your wrist. Finally, measure your hip circumference at the widest point, wrapping the tape around your buttocks. These measurements can then be compared to a brand's sizing guide to find the perfect fit.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Chest | Measure the circumference around the fullest part of the chest |
Waist | Measure the circumference around the narrowest and fullest area of the waist |
Shoulder | Measure the width of the shoulders |
Sleeve | Measure from the shoulder seam to the tip of the wrist |
Hip | Measure the circumference around the widest part of the hips |
Length | Measure from the top of the shoulder to the desired length of the jacket |
Chest measurement
To measure your chest, you will need a measuring tape. First, take off any thick clothing, such as sweaters or bulky jeans, as these can distort your measurements. Then, lift your arms to the side and wrap the measuring tape under your armpits. Lower your arms and ensure that the tape is wrapped around the widest part of your chest. The tape should be snug but not too tight.
If you are looking for a casual jacket, you may want to add an additional inch to your chest measurement for a looser fit. For a formal jacket, it is important to get your chest measurement right, as the jacket should sit flat on your shoulders. If the chest size is incorrect, the jacket may bunch up or sag over your upper bicep.
Once you have your chest measurement, you can compare it to a brand's sizing guide to pick a coat that fits you perfectly.
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Shoulder width
To measure the shoulder width of a man's coat, first lay the coat face down. Smooth and flatten out the body of the jacket with your hands. Then, measure from where the shoulder seam meets the sleeve on one side of the jacket straight across to where the shoulder seam and sleeve meet on the other side.
If you are measuring your own shoulder width, stand up straight against a wall and use a pencil to mark where each arm meets each shoulder. These are usually the boniest parts of your shoulder. The distance between the two marks is your shoulder width.
If you are measuring someone else's shoulder width, ask them to stand with a relaxed, natural posture. Stretch the tape measure horizontally across the back of their shoulders and measure the full width.
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Sleeve length
To measure your sleeve length, place your hand on your hip so your arm is bent. Start the tape measure at the bone at the base of your neck and run it down to your wrist. This is how long your coat sleeve should be.
The sleeve of your coat should fall between a quarter of an inch and three-quarters of an inch above your shirt sleeve. If it's longer, it will look like your coat is too big, and if it's shorter, it will look like you shop in the boy's department. It's more conservative to show less cuff, but currently, it's more fashion-forward to show more.
You should also factor in the proportions of your arms to the rest of your body. If you have long arms, showing less cuff will help to visually balance them out, and vice versa if you have short arms.
For winter coats, you want the sleeves to be long enough that they just start creeping onto the back of your hand. This will ensure that they cover your shirt cuffs and jacket sleeves, even when you're wearing gloves.
If your coat sleeves are too short or too long, it's worth getting them altered by a tailor.
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Waist measurement
To get the right waist measurement for your coat, you'll need to take measurements of your body and compare them to a brand's sizing guide.
To find your waist measurement, wrap a measuring tape around your waist. This is the narrowest part of your waist, which you can find by bending to one side. This will be higher than where you normally wear your trousers, sitting just below your ribcage and above your belly button. Keep the tape measure parallel to the floor and measure all the way around your torso.
If your coat has buttons, they should button neatly over your waist without strain or tightness. This is why it's important to get the right waist measurement.
It's worth noting that trouser sizes are determined by measuring the waist at the belt line, which is usually found just on top of your hip bones. This is different from where you would measure your waist for a coat.
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Back measurement
To measure the back of a coat, you must first understand how to measure your back size. This is important because you'll want the coat to lie flat across your back and not bunch up or sag over your upper arms.
To measure your back, you will need assistance from a friend. Stand with your arms by your side and your shoulders relaxed. Ask your friend to place the measuring tape at the tip of one shoulder and run it horizontally across your back to the tip of the other shoulder. The tape should be held level and snug, but not too tight. This measurement will give you the width of your back, which you can then compare to the sizing guide of the brand you are purchasing from.
It is important to note that brands tend to vary in their sizing, so it is best to find measurements that are unique to the brand you are buying from. Additionally, different countries have instituted different systems of measurement, so it is recommended to compare your measurements with the specific product's measurements rather than relying on general country-wide guidelines.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a measuring tape and, ideally, a friend to help you.
Measure the broadest part of your chest, right under your armpits. The tape should be snug but not too tight.
Stand with a relaxed, natural posture and stretch the tape measure horizontally across the back of your shoulders.
Place one hand on your hip so your arm is bent. Start the tape measure at the bone at the base of your neck and run it down to your wrist.
Jacket length varies based on height and style. For a standard blazer or coat, measure down to the top of the thigh.