Waist measurement and where the tape should sit
Short answer: The waist is the narrowest point on your torso, usually just above the navel. Measure with a relaxed stomach and the tape horizontal.
Find the right spot
Bend slightly to one side in front of a mirror. Where the body folds the most is your waist. That is usually a couple of centimeters above the navel and not where a waistband normally sits. Many people mistakenly measure the trousers themselves and end up with a hip figure instead.
How to hold the tape
The tape needs to sit horizontal all the way round and touch the skin without pressing in. Keep the stomach relaxed and breathe out normally, the way you would in everyday life. Pull the stomach in while measuring and you get a number that does not match how you actually move.
What the number is used for
Waist measurement is used for trousers, skirts and dresses with a defined waistline, where the fabric needs to sit close exactly there. For low waisted trousers, hip measurement matters more than waist. See women's bamboo pants.
When waist and hip are far apart
If there is more than twenty centimeters between waist and hip, most trousers will gape at the back even if the waist fits perfectly. Choose by the hip in that case and have the waistband taken in a little instead. See bamboo clothing for women and bamboo panties.
Waist size shifts through the day
The stomach and waist swell a little over the course of the day, especially after meals. A measurement taken in the evening can therefore be several centimeters larger than the same measurement taken in the morning, without you noticing it happening.
Using an old garment instead
If you own trousers or a skirt with a waist you know fits well, lay it flat and measure the waistband seam to seam, then double the figure. It is a quick shortcut when you do not have a tape measure handy.
Fabric and stretch play a role
A fabric with elastane allows a couple of centimeters of margin, while a stiff cotton fabric needs a measurement that matches almost exactly. Check the material information next to the size chart before relying on the waist figure alone.
Avoid the classic mix up
Many people confuse the waist with where they usually wear their trousers, which is often lower than the body's natural narrowest point. Find the spot where the body bends instead of where the clothing usually sits, and the measurement will be right every time.
Use the figure alongside the hip measurement
Waist alone does not tell the whole story, since a garment needs to fit at both points. Always check the waist figure together with the hip figure on the size chart, and choose the size based on whichever number is larger relative to your own.
Frequently asked questions
Should I measure over clothing or on the body
On the body over a thin layer, ideally underwear. Measuring over trousers instead makes the number too large and it will not match reality.
What time of day should I measure
In the morning, before eating. Waist measurement can vary several centimeters over the course of an ordinary day depending on meals and fluids.
How different is waist from waistband
A trouser's waistband figure is often measured at the hip rather than the actual waist. Always read what the chart specifically states instead of guessing from the word waistband.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
