A well-fitting suit begins with 12 key measurements of the body — from the chest and shoulder width down to the wrist. Mon Amie's Measurement Guide is a detailed protocol that helps clients and consultants gather measurements that are accurate, complete and consistent before production begins. This article walks through each measurement point and how to take it yourself at home — particularly useful when you order remotely.
Why accurate measurements are worth so much
In tailoring, measuring right is the first step to cutting right. The value of precision shows in four ways:
- A better fit: accurate measurements produce a clean, comfortable silhouette.
- Time saved: fewer alteration rounds and a shorter path to the finished garment.
- Better use of cloth: less fabric wasted and a more efficient cut — all the more important with fine cloths such as Canonico or Holland & Sherry.
- A refined experience: a professional start builds trust from the very first encounter.
Mon Amie built this guide to ensure every part of the garment is designed from true body measurements, to help consultants understand your build, wearing habits and personal requests, to minimise the risk of error when measuring remotely, and to deliver a professional tailoring experience wherever you happen to be.
The 12 key measurements for a tailored suit
- Chest: measure around the fullest part of the chest, level with the underarms.
- Waist: measure around the natural waist, usually the narrowest part of the midsection.
- Seat: measure around the fullest part of the hips and seat, keeping the tape level.
- Shoulder width: measure in a straight line from the left shoulder point to the right.
- Sleeve length: measure from the top of the shoulder, over the elbow, to the wrist bone, with the arm slightly bent in a natural position.
- Jacket length: measure from the base of the collar down to the desired length (at or just below the seat).
- Trouser length: measure from the waist down to the heel of the shoe or to the desired length.
- Thigh: measure around the fullest part of the thigh.
- Calf: measure around the fullest part of the calf.
- Neck: measure around the neck, close to its base.
- Wrist: measure around the wrist, close to the wrist bone.
- Height and weight: provide your height (cm) and weight (kg) so the consultant can shape the right silhouette.
A general note: stand upright and naturally, do not pull in your stomach, and take each measurement twice to be sure it is exact.
Tips for measuring accurately at home
- Use a soft tape measure; wear thin, well-fitting clothes while measuring.
- Stand in front of a mirror or ask someone to help — points such as shoulder width and jacket length are nearly impossible to take alone.
- Keep the tape level, neither pulled tight nor left slack; the tape just touching the skin through a thin layer of fabric is the right tension.
- Photograph each measurement point so a Mon Amie consultant can double-check — a single photo reveals a tilted tape or a misplaced position.
- Note any particular requests about fit and wearing preference: whether you like a trim or relaxed jacket, straight-leg or gently tapered trousers.
Where this set of measurements is used
- Remote orders: clients in distant provinces or overseas order without visiting the showroom.
- Online consultations: during video-call sessions, a specialist guides you through each measurement in the order above.
- Made-to-measure: the first stage of the made-to-measure process at the showroom, taken by the consultant personally.
- Welcoming new clients: a professional first impression that builds trust from the outset.
At Mon Amie, your measurements are never used once and discarded: the system keeps them on file for life, so from your second suit onward you only choose the cloth and the style — every figure is already waiting at all five showrooms across Ho Chi Minh City.
A word from Mon Amie's artisans
A tailor reads a set of measurements the way one reads a portrait: the gap between chest and waist speaks of posture, a few centimetres' difference between the two sleeves speaks of an uneven shoulder line. That is why Mon Amie's artisans never treat measuring as a formality — every centimetre recorded wrong shifts the silhouette by a degree. Measuring right is the first step to cutting right.
If you would like to be measured by a Mon Amie consultant in person, or guided through a remote measurement over video, you are welcome to book an appointment or call our hotline 0888.111.118. You may also explore the tailoring process to see the stages your measurements will pass through before they become a finished suit.