Learn how to take measurements to know your female figure

By Sissy Clara

Taking measurements may seem trivial, almost technical. However, it's a wonderful way to better understand your body and learn how to enhance it. Knowing your body shape helps you choose clothes that fit properly, refine your style, and, most importantly, create harmony between what you feel inside and what you show the world.

This isn't about striving for perfection or conforming to a model. It's simply about listening to your body, paying it a little attention, and having fun with the shapes it creates. These few figures, far from being cold, are in fact tender benchmarks that can accompany you in your feminine exploration.

In this article, I'll gently guide you step by step. Together, we'll transform this step into a gentle, almost intimate ritual that will bring you a little closer to the version of yourself you want to embody.

Ready to unroll your ribbon and discover what your body has to tell you?

Prepare this little ritual: atmosphere, equipment and state of mind

Before you begin taking your measurements, take a moment to set the mood that will make you feel comfortable. This isn't just an exercise in front of a mirror—it's a moment for you, just for you. A moment of tenderness, almost a rendezvous with your femininity.

Here's what you'll need :

• A soft tape measure (the one used by dressmakers is perfect),
  
  

• A full-length mirror if possible, or at least one where you can see yourself clearly,
  
  

• A notebook or sheet of paper to write down your measurements,
  
  

• A pen or pencil ,
  
  

• And if you wish, a trusted person to help you, especially with the shoulders.
  
  

And for the ambiance? I invite you to choose an outfit that makes you feel pretty and light: soft panties, a bralette, or even nothing at all if you're alone and comfortable. Put on some music you like, light a scented candle, or spray a little of your favorite mist.

Breathe. Smile at yourself. Let go of all tension.

You don't have to prove anything to anyone. This moment is yours alone. It's a beautiful milestone, not a test.

Setting this mood allows you to transform a simple gesture into a caring ritual. And the more relaxed you are, the more accurate your measurements will be.

The vocabulary of women's measurements

Before you get out the tape measure, let's take a moment to understand exactly what we're measuring. These terms can seem a little vague at first, especially if you've never learned to talk about your body in feminine terms. But don't worry, we'll get to grips with them together.

Shoulders

This is the width from shoulder to shoulder , in a straight line, across the back. This is often easier to measure with someone's help, but you can also do it yourself and take your time. This measurement affects how tops, dresses, or jackets will fit on you.

Chest (or bust)

This is to measure your bust circumference by wrapping the tape measure around your chest, at the fullest part of your bust. If you wear a padded bra or silicone forms, measure with and without for better comparison. This is a key measurement for dresses, fitted tops, and lingerie.

Size

This is often the measurement that affects us the most: the natural waist , where your body slightly curves when you lean to one side. No need to tighten—just gently wrap around this area. It's what defines your curves and creates that "hourglass" effect we love so much.

Hips

Here, we're measuring the widest part of your lower body, including your buttocks. Take the time to swing the tape measure around yourself and make sure it's straight.

🫶 Learning these terms also means reclaiming your body with gentle, nonjudgmental words. You don't have a "body to fix," you have a silhouette to reveal.

How to take your measurements, step by step

Are you ready? Perfect. Keep your notebook handy, your tape measure unrolled, and your breathing steady. We're going to take these measurements calmly, listening to your body and caring for you like we would a precious flower.

The shoulders

1. Stand up straight, relaxed, arms at your sides.
    

2. Pass the tape measure across your back , from one end of your shoulder to the other, following the natural curve.
    

3. If you are alone, do it in front of a mirror or use a string that you then measure.

👉 Note the width in centimeters. This is an often overlooked measurement, but it's valuable for jackets or tops with fitted sleeves.

The chest

1. Place the tape measure around the fullest part of your chest, keeping it horizontal.
   
   

2. Breathe normally, don't suck in your stomach.
   
   

3. Don't squeeze too tightly: the tape measure should rest gently on your skin.

💡 If you use silicone forms or a push-up, measure with and without to help you adapt your clothing choices according to the situation.

The size

1. Lean gently to one side: the place where your body naturally bends is your natural waist .
   
   

2. It is often a few centimeters above the navel.
   
   

3. Gently wrap the tape measure around this point, without tightening it.

💡  Trick : Tie a small ribbon to your waist once measured. This will help you visualize where this point is when trying on outfits.

The hips

1. Slightly raise your feet one by one to relax your pelvis.
   
   

2. Wrap the tape measure around the widest part of your hips and buttocks.
   
   

3. Keep the tape measure straight, parallel to the ground.

💫 Take your time to adjust, look in the mirror, and write down this measurement.

Determining your female silhouette

Now that you have all your measurements carefully noted, a new horizon opens up to you: that of your feminine silhouette. By simply basing yourself on the proportions between your shoulders, your waist, and your hips, you will be able to discover the overall shape of your body. And through this, understand which lines flatter you, which clothes naturally enhance your figure, and which cuts harmoniously complement your structure.

Some silhouettes are shaped like an A, with hips wider than the shoulders, creating a stable, sensual, earthy look. Others are shaped like a V, where the shoulders dominate, creating a strong, sometimes majestic presence. And then there are the X-shaped, also known as the "hourglass," with a narrow waist separating balanced shoulders and hips—a body shape often associated with classic, harmonious femininity.

You can also have an H-shaped silhouette, straight, fluid, almost androgynous, where shoulders, waist, and hips align in elegant simplicity. Or an O-shaped silhouette, rounder, softer, with full, enveloping curves, centered around the chest or stomach.

These aren't boxes, nor labels. They're just benchmarks. Guides to help you know yourself better, to make choices that resonate with who you are, here and now. There isn't one silhouette to envy more than another. There's simply yours , which you're slowly, gracefully taming.

You don't have to force anything. Observe. Feel. Allow yourself the right to redefine yourself over time. This body you inhabit is alive, changing, and always worthy of love.

Finding your muses: celebrities who share your body shape

Once you've identified your body type, it's often very inspiring to see how other women—especially celebrities—play with similar silhouettes. Not to copy their style or compare yourself to it, but to discover what it looks like... in real life. How they dress, style their hair, and what effects they enhance or soften.

You can simply do a quick online search. Type in "celebrities with A-line shapes," for example, or "stars with hourglass figures," and let yourself be guided. You might discover that Beyoncé shares your curvy hips, Scarlett Johansson has the same defined waistline, or Cameron Diaz showcases a straight, chic look like yours. Sometimes it's surprising. We don't expect to see ourselves in a famous woman—and yet, we recognize ourselves.

This mirror game is gentle, fun, and often very reassuring. It helps you visualize style ideas, to better understand why some cuts work perfectly… and others less so. Choose five celebrities you really like, not because of their fame, but because their energy speaks to you, because you find them beautiful in their own way. Write down their names in

Let yourself be immersed, but keep your freedom. You're not here to reproduce. You're here to reveal the muse you already are, while having fun with those who accompany you.

What these measures will change for you

You might think these are just numbers in a notebook. But in reality, it's much more than that.

Knowing your measurements gives you the opportunity to make informed choices : choosing clothes that respect your curves, enhance your figure, and help you feel comfortable, feminine, and confident. It also helps you avoid impulse purchases that end up at the bottom of a drawer because "it doesn't fit like the picture."

You'll be able to spot the cuts that flatter you and understand why certain pieces don't work on you, even if they look amazing on a model. You'll slowly but surely become your own stylist.

🎀 And beyond style, there's posture . When you know you're wearing something that fits your shape just right, you hold your head a little straighter. You breathe better. You dare more.

I, Clara, stopped fighting against what I wasn't. And I started playing with what I am. And believe me, this little change of perspective... it changes everything.

So keep these measurements preciously, and use them as keys. Not to define you, but to reveal you 💫

What your body is trying to tell you

Your body never asked you to be perfect. It just asked you to be present , to listen .

Through this little ritual of measuring, you didn't just discover centimeters, you demonstrated courage, gentleness, and curiosity. You dared to take a sincere and kind look at yourself. And that is magnificent.

Your body, even if it doesn't quite resemble the ideal you imagine, is already a work in progress , a material to be loved, not corrected. It is your accomplice, your field of expression, and sometimes, your refuge.

Come back to him regularly, even for a few minutes. Take your measurements every 3 to 6 months, like you would make an appointment with yourself. Not to control, but to stay connected to your transformation.

Darling, your body isn't holding you back. It's gently calling you towards what you're already becoming 🌷