Fit Guide
We source our clothing from 20+ different designers: We love having variety, but variety means that sizing is not the same for every garment in the shop! We include detailed fit info on each product page, and you can always write us for personalized sizing/styling advice. If you wanna go a little deeper on your own, here’s our recommended strategy to find a good size:
- Know your body measurements
- Check our flat measurements
- Compare body + flat measurements
Snag our fit kits for all the supplies you need to measure yourself: measuring tape, ring sizer, personal fill-out size chart + instructions.
Body measurements:
Your body is really a bunch of circumferences when you get right down to it! Grab a soft measuring tape and your phone or some paper to take notes. Measure over your bare skin, or while wearing something fitted (e.g. camisole + leggings), and be sure to hold your tape as taut and as level as possible.
Bust: Measure around the fullest part of your bust. Tape should feel snug, but not tight, and it shouldn’t dig in anywhere. Take this measurement while wearing whatever you usually wear under your clothes, whether that’s a padded bra, a soft bralette, or no bra at all.
Waist: Measure around your natural waist: It’s where your body naturally bends if you tilt to the side, usually just a smidge above your bellybutton. Tape should feel snug, but not tight, and it shouldn’t dig in anywhere.
Hips: Measure around the fullest part of your hips/booty. If you’re taking this measurement by yourself, double check in the mirror to make sure it’s level, it can be a tricky one! Tape should feel snug, but not tight, and it shouldn’t dig in anywhere.
Tight Hips: This measurement is really handy for pants/jumpsuits that are pull-on style (no buttons/zips) or any other garment that requires your hips to fit through a fixed waist seam! Wrap the measuring tape around the fullest part of your hips, then pull the tape as tight as feels comfortable.
Torso: An essential measurement for jumpsuits! Measure from the top of one shoulder (where the strap of a jumpsuit would hit) towards the center of your body, where the crotch seam of your pants would hit. This measurement will be at an angle, not straight up and down.
Flat Measurements:
At the shop, we lay garments on a flat surface and measure with a soft measuring tape. We list our flat measurements (plus any specific fit notes) on each product page.
Bust: We measure straight across from pit to pit (right underneath the arms) then double the number to get the full circumference.
Waist: For dresses/jumpsuits/tops, we measure straight across at the waist seam (or about 9” below the bust), then double the number to get the full circumference. For pants, we measure straight across the top of the waistband and then double. If we’re measuring an elastic waist, we do it twice: once with the elastic totally relaxed, and again while pulling the elastic taut.
Hips: We measure straight across at the hips, right around where pockets are, then double the number to get the full circumference.
Bottom Hem: We measure straight across the bottom hem of a shirt, and then double the number to get the full circumference.
Inseam: We measure from crotch seam to bottom hem, right along the inseam. FYI: Things with a wide-cut leg often feel longer than things with a narrow-cut leg, even if the inseam is the same.
Torso Length: We measure diagonally from one shoulder seam to the crotch seam of a jumpsuit.
Length: This is the overall length of a top/dress. We measure from one shoulder to the bottom hem. If a garment is longer in the back than the front, “length” refers to the front measurement.
Comparing flat & body measurements:
Time to bring it all together! A good fit is about the relationship between your own body measurements + the flat measurements of a garment. You may be able to visualize how something will fit just based on the numbers, or you may want to try out these strategies:
Measure clothing you already own and love. This is such a power move, especially if you aren’t used to buying clothes online! If you’re anything like us, you have iterations of similar fits in your wardrobe, so you can measure a twin item to get an idea of what a certain flat measurement looks like on your body. When you’re choosing a twin, think about similarities in fabric, silhouette, and how it gets on and off your body. Some examples: A fitted top made of a stretchy fabric. A boxy top in a firm, non-stretch fabric. A pair of high rise pants with a button and a zip. A skirt that has elastic all around the waist.
Use Cat or Chika as reference. We have the sizes they wear & their body measurements listed on each product page. Compare Cat or Chika’s body measurements to the flat measurements of her size to see the difference between the two numbers. If you want a similar fit to what’s shown in the photos, pick the size that represents the same difference between the flat measurements + your own body measurements. For example, if Cat’s wearing a top that’s about 4” larger than her actual bust in a photo, you’ll wanna choose whatever size has a flat measurement that’s about 4” larger than your bust!
Follow a few general guidelines. For tops and shift dresses that are not stretchy, you’ll usually want at least 1”-2” of room at the bust and the hips so that they will hang straight. Stretchy tops and dresses can be closer to your actual body measurements, or even a couple inches smaller. For high rise bottoms, you’ll usually want the flat waist measurement to be equal to or a little bit smaller than your actual waist. For jumpsuits, the flat torso measurement usually needs to be at least an inch or two longer than your actual torso measurement, so you can move around comfortably.
A note on buying clothing for someone else:
When we’re picking out gifts, we often lean towards less-tailored, more-adjustable styles for an easy fit. Look for stretchy fabrics, things with adjustable straps/waistbands, and loose, flowy silhouettes. Check out this collection to see some of our favorite easy-fit gifts.
Please don’t hesitate to email us if you have any questions, need some personalized sizing/styling advice, or wanna do some gift brainstorming! We’re always game.
XOXO,
Cat & Chika (& the rest of Team Velouria)