Italian, American, European sizes, size S is too small but size M is too big... Therefore, when you need to buy a sports garment for competitions or training, the choice of the size can become a real challenge!
The fit of sports garments must be perfect, because they must absolutely not interfere with the course of the exercise. For this reason competition outfits must be like a second skin for the athletes, this is why we usually prefer to customize them.
Whether you need to purchase a training or a personalized item, you will need to know your measurements: let's see together how the circumference and length measurements are taken, and how to carry out this procedure correctly.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE TAKING MEASUREMENTS
Before starting, we would like to give you some useful and necessary advice in order to take the measurements in a precise and correct way:
- wear lightweight, close-fitting garments to prevent adding extra centimeters to the measurement;
- use a plastic-coated tape measure, which is flexible, not rigid;
- keep the tape measure close to the body. If you are measuring a circumference (breast, waist, hips and torso), the tape should not be excessively tightened or kept too loose;
- in general, you should start by taking the measurements relating to the circumference, proceeding from the upper part of the body to the lower part;
- it is better to ask someone to help you when taking your own measures;
- when measuring the circumference, the tape must be perfectly parallel to the floor, while for measuring lengths it must be perpendicular to the ground with an angle of 90 °;
- in case of personalized garments it is very important to know the weight and height of the athlete as well.
Now get ready with a tape measure, paper and pen to note all the data; in our case we have used a common tape measure (which can be of any colour), the unit of measurement is in centimeters, and we have indicated the guide lines with a white tape placed on the body of the athlete in order to obtain more accurate measurements.
PRATICAL TUTORIAL: HOW TO TAKE MEASUREMENTS
1. CIRCUMFERENCE MEASURES
For measuring circumferences we recommend using three fabric ribbons to be pinned on the body as follows:
- one in the natural hollow of the waist or on the point where the torso narrows
- two in the maximum width points of hips and breast, as shown in the photos. The tape fixed on the circumference of the breast must successively be lowered (as shown in the photo on the right) in order to take the measurement of the under-breast circumference.
BREAST CIRCUMFERENCE
Place the tape on the most protruding part of the shoulder blades and starting from that point, pass it under the arms and over the most protruding part of the breast, therefore finishing near the armpit.
UNDER-BREAST CIRCUMFERENCE
Wrap the tape around the chest and under the breasts, in correspondence with the bra band which usually marks the exact point of this measurement.
WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE
Wrap the tape around the narrowest part of the waist that is usually located between the chest and the navel: it can be useful to lean forward or on the sides while standing to see where the body bends so as to find the exact point of the waist.
HIP CIRCUMFERENCE
Pass the tape around the hips in correspondence of the most protruding points of the buttocks and belly.
TOTAL TORSO “EGG-SHAPED” CIRCUMFERENCE
Place the tape on one shoulder, near the point where the neck begins. from this point, slide the tape along the body, making it pass over the most protruding part of the breast, pass between the legs and go up on the back, until you reach the same point which you started from. it is not necessary to make the tape adhere on the body. in this way the shape of the tape will look similar to an oval or an "egg".
ARM CIRCUMFERENCE
Wrap the tape around the upper part of the arm, at the height of the biceps which correspond to the widest point. The arm should be relaxed and stretched along the body.
ARMPIT CIRCUMFERENCE
Pass the tape under the armpit and join it above the shoulder, where the clavicle meets with the shoulder joint. Even in this case the arm must be relaxed and stretched along the body.
SHOULDER WIDTH ON THE BACK
Place the tape measure on the back and measure the distance between the two outer points of the shoulders. The back should be kept straight and the shoulders well open.
NECK CIRCUMFERENCE
Wrap the tape around the base of the neck.
2. LENGTH MEASUREMENTS
SLEEVE LENGTH
To measure the length of the arm it is necessary to keep it bent at an angle of 90 °. Place the starting end of the tape measure on the central part of the shoulder (the same point of the shoulder that we have taken as a reference earlier to measure the circumference of the arms) and slide it along the entire arm length following the bend of the elbow, until the desired point is reached. The reaching point will depend on the sleeve length.
INTERNAL LEG LENGTH
Place the tape at the groin and slide it downwards on the inside of the leg until you reach the desired point, which will depend on the length of the pants.
EXTERNAL LEG LENGTH
Place the starting part of the tape measure on the side in correspondence with the point of the waist that we found before. Let the meter go downwards along the side until the desired point is reached. In this case it will also depend on the desired length of the skirt or pants.
Now that you know how to correctly acquire your body measurements, you can find your ideal Sagester size by consulting our practical size chart.
We remind you that we are always available for any clarifications regarding the sizes and fit of our garments, and to design custom-made outfits for every requirement and sports occasion.