How to Measure Your Torso for Tuxedo Rental

Whether it's for a wedding, a prom or just a night on the town, dressing in a tuxedo adds a lot of class to any event. But if you've ever tried to figure out exactly what size you are, it can be a bit tricky. Here are some tips on how you can take torso measurements to determine what size you'll need for your tuxedo.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure

Instructions

1. Measure around the thickest part of the chest. Raise your arms slightly and allow the tailor to wrap the tape measure around you. Make sure the tape measure is snug, and then read the measurement. The size of the chest determines the size of your coat. For instance, a 42-inch chest would take a size 42 in most cases.

2. Perform an over-arm measurement. Because everyone is not a carbon copy of one another, an over-arm measurement is also a good idea. Stand with your arms at your side and have the tailor wrap the tape measure around you and again take the reading in front of your chest. Obviously, this measurement will be several inches larger. This will help the tailor determine if you need to go up or down a size from the previous measurement.

3. Mention your height to the tailor so they can determine the length of the tuxedo coat you will need. The rule of thumb is that people under 5 feet 8 inches use a "short" coat, people 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet use a regular coat and people over 6 feet use a long coat. Mentioning this along with the other torso measurements will allow the tailor to select the correct coat for you.

Tips & Warnings

• Check your closet to see if you have a coat that fits. If you do, read the size on the inside pocket. This will allow you to skip the torso measurements for your tuxedo altogether.