Size guide

NEW INCLUSIVE SIZING BASED ON REAL POPULATION DATA

To enable you to benefit from the full potential of sewing by getting the best possible fit for your figure, we worked for several months to define what we felt was the best possible sizing system.

While it’s impossible to get a perfect fit for every body type out of the box, we did base our sizing on measurements of the real world population, and on a realistic morphology, far from the usual hourglass-shaped mannequins.

We did this using new-generation physical and virtual mannequins, designed on the basis of tens of thousands of scans of real women’s bodies. We also used several data sets provided by researchers and retail brands. The result: a fit that conforms more closely to the average female morphology, and two size charts below:

A simplified sizing chart for beginners

A very detailed sizing chart for experienced seamstresses

Videos:
Learn more about the French Poetry sizing process

How to take measurements

How to fit garments

Simplified measurements chart

Designed for novice seamstresses, this simplified measurement chart makes it easy to find your size in order to get a garment that is close to your ready-to-wear size.

However, ready-to-wear measurements vary from one brand to another: it is best to take your own measurements or compare with your favorite brand’s size chart to find the best French Poetry size for you.

If you are in between sizes, as with ready-to-wear, you may choose your size according to the style of the garment: if the design is fitted, take the next size up, and if it is loose-fitting, you may go with the smaller size. Sizing advice is provided for every pattern.

Comment prendre ses mensurations de base

CENTIMETERS

French Poetry size / US size 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26
UK/AU sizes 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30
FR / Spain / Portugal sizes 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58
Full Bust 75 to 78 78 to 82 82 to 86 86 to 90 90 to 94 94 to 98 98 to 102 102 to 108 108 to 114 114 to 120 120 to 126 126 to 132 132 to 138 138 to 144
Waist 59 to 63 63 to 67 67 to 71 71 to 75 75 to 79 79 to 83 83 to 87 87 to 93.5 93.5 to 100 100 to 106.5 106.5 to 113 113 to 119.5 119,5 to 126 126 to 132.5
Low Hip 80 to 84 84 to 88 88 to 92 92 to 96 96 to 100 100 to 104 104 to 108 108 to 114 114 to 120 120 to 126 126 to 132 132 to 138 138 to 144 144 to 150
Height 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168

INCHES

French Poetry size / US size 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26
UK/AU sizes 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30
FR / Spain / Portugal sizes 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58
Full Bust 29 1/2 to 30 5/8 30 5/8 to 32 1/4 32 1/4 to 33 3/4 33 3/4 to 35 3/8 35 3/8 to 37 37 to 38 1/2 38 1/2 to 40 1/8 40 1/8 to 42 1/2 42 1/2 to 44 7/8 44 7/8 to 47 1/8 47 1/8 to 49 1/2 49 1/2 to 51 7/8 51 7/8 to 54 1/4 54 1/4 to 56 5/8
Waist 23 1/8 to 24 3/4 24 3/4 to 26 3/8 26 3/8 to 27 7/8 27 7/8 to 29 1/2 29 1/2 to 31 31 to 32 5/8 32 5/8 to 34 1/4 34 1/4 to 36 3/4 36 3/4 to 39 1/4 39 1/4 to 41 7/8 41 7/8 to 44 3/8 44 3/8 to 47 47 to 49 1/2 49 1/2 to 52 1/8
Low Hip 31 3/8 to 33 33 to 34 5/8 34 5/8 to 36 1/8 36 1/8 to 37 3/4 37 3/4 to 39 1/4 39 1/4 to 40 7/8 40 7/8 to 42 1/2 42 1/2 to 44 7/8 44 7/8 to 47 1/8 47 1/8 to 49 1/2 49 1/2 to 51 7/8 51 7/8 to 54 1/4 54 1/4 to 56 5/8 56 5/8 to 59
Height 5’6” 5’6” 5’6” 5’6” 5’6” 5’6” 5’6” 5’6” 5’6” 5’6” 5’6” 5’6” 5’6” 5’6”

Simplified measurements chart

Designed for novice seamstresses, this simplified measurement chart makes it easy to find your size in order to get a garment that is close to your ready-to-wear size.

However, ready-to-wear measurements vary from one brand to another: it is best to take your own measurements or compare with your favorite brand’s size chart to find the best French Poetry size for you.

If you are in between sizes, as with ready-to-wear, you may choose your size according to the style of the garment: if the design is fitted, take the next size up, and if it is loose-fitting, you may go with the smaller size. Sizing advice is provided for every pattern.

CENTIMETERS

French Poetry size / US size UK / AU sizes FR / Spain / Portugal sizes Bust Waist Hips
0 4 32 75 to 78 59 to 63 80 to 84
2 6 34 78 to 82 63 to 67 84 to 88
4 8 36 82 to 86 67 to 71 88 to 92
6 10 38 86 to 90 71 to 75 92 to 96
8 12 40 90 to 94 75 to 79 96 to 100
10 14 42 94 to 98 79 to 83 100 to 104
12 16 44 98 to 102 83 to 87 104 to 108
14 18 46 102 to 108 87 to 93.5 108 to 114
16 20 48 108 to 114 93.5 to 100 114 to 120
18 22 50 114 to 120 100 to 106.5 120 to 126
20 24 52 120 to 126 106.5 to 113 126 to 132
22 26 54 126 to 132 113 to 119.5 132 to 138
24 28 56 132 to 138 119.5 to 126 138 to 144
26 30 58 138 to 144 126 to 132.5 144 to 150

All sizes are based on a height of 168cm.

INCHES

French Poetry size / US size UK / AU sizes FR / Spain / Portugal sizes Full Bust Waist Low Hip
0 4 32 29 1/2 to 30 5/8 23 1/8 to 24 3/4 31 3/8 to 33
2 6 34 30 5/8 to 32 1/4 24 3/4 to 26 3/8 33 to 34 5/8
4 8 36 32 1/4 to 33 3/4 26 3/8 to 27 7/8 34 5/8 to 36 1/8
6 10 38 33 3/4 to 35 3/8 27 7/8 to 29 1/2 36 1/8 to 37 3/4
8 12 40 35 3/8 to 37 29 1/2 to 31 37 3/4 to 39 1/4
10 14 42 37 to 38 1/2 31 to 32 5/8 39 1/4 to 40 7/8
12 16 44 38 1/2 to 40 1/8 32 5/8 to 34 1/4 40 7/8 to 42 1/2
14 18 46 40 1/8 to 42 1/2 34 1/4 to 36 3/4 42 1/2 to 44 7/8
16 20 48 42 1/2 to 44 7/8 36 3/4 to 39 1/4 44 7/8 to 47 1/8
18 22 50 44 7/8 to 47 1/8 39 1/4 to 41 7/8 47 1/8 to 49 1/2
20 24 52 47 1/8 to 49 1/2 41 7/8 to 44 3/8 49 1/2 to 51 7/8
22 26 54 49 1/2 to 51 7/8 44 3/8 to 47 51 7/8 to 54 1/4
24 28 56 51 7/8 to 54 1/4 47 to 49 1/2 54 1/4 to 56 5/8
26 30 58 54 1/4 to 56 5/8 49 1/2 to 52 1/8 56 5/8 to 59

All sizes are based on a height of 5’6”.

Detailed measurements chart

Here you’ll find detailed measurements for each of our sizes. These measurements are based on real data from samples containing tens of thousands of women: we’ve standardized them a little to bring the sizes into line, but you’ll notice that the gap from one size to the next varies from one end of the range to the other. The bust, for example, increases significantly more for larger sizes than for smaller ones.

Below is a detailed description of each measurement, showing how to take it correctly so you can compare your measurements with those on the chart, and explaining which type of adjustment might be right for you.

For the best experience, please read this table on a large screen (not on mobile).

CENTIMETERS

French Poetry size / US size 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26
UK/AU sizes 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30
FR / Spain / Portugal sizes 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58
Shoulder Length 11.25 11.5 11.75 12 12.25 12.5 12.75 13 13.25 13.5 13.75 14 14.25 14.5
Across Front 30 30.5 31 31.5 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39.5 41 42.5
Across Back 33 33.5 34 34.5 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44
Full Bust circ. 75 78 82 86 90 94 98 102 108 114 120 126 132 138
Under Bust circ. 62 65 68 71 75 78.5 82 85.5 90.5 96.5 102 107.5 113 118.5
Cup Size A A A B B B B B C C C C C C
Apex To Apex 17 17.5 18 18.5 19 19.5 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Bust Length (from neck base) 20.5 21 21.5 22 22.5 23 23.5 24 25.5 26 26.5 27 27.5 28
Waist circ. 59 63 67 71 75 79 83 87 93.5 100 106.5 113 119.5 126
Center Front Neck To Waist 36.5 36.5 36.75 36.75 37 37 37.25 37.5 37.75 38 38.5 39 39.5 40
Center Back Neck To Waist 41 41 41 41 41 41 41.25 41.25 41.5 41.5 42 42 42.5 42.5
High Hip circ. 72.5 76.5 80.5 84.5 88.5 92.5 96.5 100.5 107.5 113.5 119.5 125.5 131.5 137.5
Low Hip circ. 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 114 120 126 132 138 144
Waist To High Hip 10.25 10.25 10.25 10.25 10.25 10.25 10.25 10.25 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.5
Waist To Low Hip 20.25 20.25 20.25 20.25 20.25 20.5 20.75 21 21.25 21.5 22 22.5 23 23.5
Arm Length 58 58 58.5 58.5 59 59 59.5 59.5 60 60 60 60 60 60
Bicep circ. 25 25.5 26.5 27.5 29 30 31 32 34 36 38 40 42 44
Elbow circ. 22.5 23 23.5 24 24.5 25 25.5 26 26.5 27 28 29 30 31
Wrist circ. 14.5 14.75 15 15.25 15.5 15.75 16 16.25 16.5 16.75 17 17.25 17.5 17.75
Total Height 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168 168
Waist To Knee 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60.5 60.5 60.5 60.5 60.5

INCHES

French Poetry size / US size 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26
UK/AU sizes 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30
FR / Spain / Portugal sizes 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58
Shoulder Length 4 3/8 4 1/2 4 5/8 4 5/8 4 3/4 4 7/8 5 5 5 1/8 5 1/4 5 3/8 5 1/2 5 1/2 5 5/8
Across Front 11 3/4 12 12 1/8 12 3/8 12 1/2 12 7/8 13 3/8 13 3/4 14 1/8 14 1/2 14 7/8 15 1/2 16 1/8 16 5/8
Across Back 12 7/8 13 1/8 13 3/8 13 1/2 13 3/4 14 1/8 14 1/2 14 7/8 15 1/4 15 5/8 16 1/8 16 1/2 16 7/8 17 1/4
Full Bust circ. 29 1/2 30 5/8 32 1/4 33 3/4 35 3/8 37 38 1/2 40 1/8 42 1/2 44 7/8 47 1/8 49 1/2 51 7/8 54 1/4
Under Bust circ. 24 3/8 25 1/2 26 3/4 27 7/8 29 1/2 30 7/8 32 1/4 33 5/8 35 5/8 37 7/8 40 1/8 42 1/4 44 3/8 46 5/8
Cup Size A A A B B B B B C C C C C C
Apex To Apex 6 5/8 6 7/8 7 7 1/4 7 3/8 7 5/8 7 3/4 8 1/4 8 5/8 9 9 3/8 9 3/4 10 1/8 10 5/8
Bust Length (from neck base) 8 8 1/4 8 3/8 8 5/8 8 3/4 9 9 1/4 9 3/8 10 10 1/8 10 3/8 10 5/8 10 3/4 11
Waist circ. 23 1/8 24 3/4 26 3/8 27 7/8 29 1/2 31 32 5/8 34 1/4 36 3/4 39 1/4 41 7/8 44 3/8 47 49 1/2
Center Front Neck To Waist 14 1/4 14 1/4 14 3/8 14 3/8 14 1/2 14 1/2 14 5/8 14 3/4 14 3/4 14 7/8 15 1/8 15 1/4 15 1/2 15 5/8
Center Back Neck To Waist 16 1/8 16 1/8 16 1/8 16 1/8 16 1/8 16 1/8 16 1/8 16 1/8 16 1/4 16 1/4 16 1/2 16 1/2 16 5/8 16 5/8
High Hip circ. 28 1/2 30 31 5/8 33 1/4 34 3/4 36 3/8 37 7/8 39 1/2 42 1/4 44 5/8 47 49 3/8 51 3/4 54 1/8
Low Hip circ. 31 3/8 33 34 5/8 36 1/8 37 3/4 39 1/4 40 7/8 42 1/2 44 7/8 47 1/8 49 1/2 51 7/8 54 1/4 56 5/8
Waist To High Hip 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 1/8 4 1/8 4 1/8 4 1/8 4 1/8 4 1/8
Waist To Low Hip 7 7/8 7 7/8 7 7/8 7 7/8 7 7/8 8 8 1/8 8 1/4 8 1/4 8 3/8 8 5/8 8 3/4 9 9 1/4
Arm Length 22 3/4 22 3/4 23 23 23 1/8 23 1/8 23 3/8 23 3/8 23 1/2 23 1/2 23 1/2 23 1/2 23 1/2 23 1/2
Bicep circ. 9 3/4 10 10 3/8 10 3/4 11 3/8 11 3/4 12 1/8 12 1/2 13 3/8 14 1/8 14 7/8 15 5/8 16 1/2 17 1/4
Elbow circ. 8 3/4 9 9 1/4 9 3/8 9 5/8 9 3/4 10 10 1/8 10 3/8 10 5/8 11 11 3/8 11 3/4 12 1/8
Wrist circ. 5 5/8 5 3/4 5 7/8 6 6 6 1/8 6 1/4 6 3/8 6 3/8 6 1/2 6 5/8 6 3/4 6 7/8 6 7/8
Total Height 66 1/8 66 1/8 66 1/8 66 1/8 66 1/8 66 1/8 66 1/8 66 1/8 66 1/8 66 1/8 66 1/8 66 1/8 66 1/8 66 1/8
Waist to knee length 23 1/2 23 1/2 23 1/2 23 1/2 23 1/2 23 1/2 23 1/2 23 1/2 23 1/2 23 3/4 23 3/4 23 3/4 24 24