What is a measurement guide? It is a detailed set of instructions that helps client and consultant gather accurate, complete and consistent figures before making begins. In tailoring it is the foundation of a garment that fits and looks right — measuring correctly is the first step to cutting correctly.
Why a proper measurement guide matters
A sound measurement guide does four things:
- The right points: it fixes the correct location of each key measurement — a centimetre astray at the shoulder or waist already changes the line of the jacket.
- Accuracy: it produces precise figures and limits error.
- Ease of use: the instructions are clear, easy to understand and easy to follow at home.
- Consistency: the standard is shared between you and Mon Amie, so both sides speak the same language of numbers.
More deeply, a measurement guide exists so that every part of the garment is drafted from the true dimensions of the body; so the consultant understands your build, your wearing habits and your personal requirements; so the risk of error in remote measuring is reduced; and so the tailoring experience remains professional wherever you happen to be.
The value of accuracy
- A better fit: accurate figures produce a clean, comfortable silhouette.
- Time saved: fewer alterations and a shorter road to the finished suit.
- Cloth used well: less waste and a better cutting and sewing process — which matters especially with fine cloth from Canonico or Dormeuil.
- A premium experience: a professional start builds trust from the first appointment.
The 12 key measurement points
These are the points Mon Amie takes for a full suit:
- Chest: around the fullest part of the chest, passing under the arms.
- Waist: around the natural waist, usually the narrowest part of the midsection.
- Seat: around the fullest part of the hips and seat, tape held level.
- Shoulder width: from left shoulder point to right shoulder point, in a straight line.
- Sleeve length: from the shoulder point over the elbow to the wrist bone, arm slightly bent as it naturally rests.
- Jacket length: from the base of the neck at the back down to the length desired (at the seat or just below).
- Trouser length: from the waist down to the heel of the shoe or the length desired.
- Thigh: around the fullest part of the thigh.
- Calf: around the fullest part of the calf.
- Neck: around the neck, close to its base.
- Wrist: around the wrist, close to the wrist bone.
- Height and weight: give height in centimetres and weight in kilograms so the right silhouette can be recommended.
One general note: stand naturally upright, do not hold the stomach in, and take each measurement twice for the truest figure.
Tips for measuring accurately at home
When you need to measure yourself — for a remote order or an online consultation — remember to:
- Have a soft tape to hand, and wear thin, close-fitting clothes.
- Stand in front of a mirror, or have someone help you.
- Keep the tape level, neither pulled tight nor left slack.
- Photograph each measurement point so the consultant can check it.
- Note any particular requirement about shape and wearing preference — whether you like it close or easy, which wrist carries your watch, which pocket usually holds your phone.
A measurement guide proves its worth in several situations: remote orders for clients at a distance or abroad, online consultations by video call, the first measuring stage of the made-to-measure process, and the onboarding of a new client — a professional impression from the very first meeting.
Measurements kept for life at Mon Amie
After the first session, all of your measurements and the notes on your build are kept by Mon Amie for life. For later commissions you need only tell us if your weight has changed — no measuring from scratch, and orders can be placed remotely with nearly the accuracy of measuring in person. Alongside that comes our alteration guarantee, so the suit keeps fitting as the years pass.
A word from Mon Amie's artisans
A good measurer reads more than the numbers on the tape; he reads the stance, the slope of the shoulder, the client's habit of putting his hands in his pockets. Numbers give you size; a trained eye gives you shape — and only together do they produce a suit that fits as though poured on. Measure true, cut true, fit perfectly.
We invite you to book an appointment to be measured by a Mon Amie artisan at one of our five showrooms in Ho Chi Minh City, or call the hotline 0888.111.118 if you need guidance measuring remotely. You may also read about the tailoring process to see where measuring sits in the making of a suit.