Everything in the Kingdom Wear UK store is made specifically for you when you order it. That means it is fresh, it has not been sitting in a warehouse, and nobody else has worn it. It also means that because it is made to your order, we are not able to offer refunds unless there is a fault with the garment itself. So getting the size right before you order is not just helpful, it is essential. I want to make sure you have everything you need to do that with confidence.
The method I recommend is this. Before you order anything, go to your wardrobe and find a garment you already own that fits you well and is a similar style to what you want to buy. Not something that almost fits. Something that genuinely fits the way you like. Then you measure that garment, not your body, the garment itself, and you compare those measurements to the size chart in the product listing. That's it. That is the whole idea, but let me walk you through it properly because the details matter.
What you will need
A tape measure is the main thing, the kind used for sewing rather than the rigid metal kind used for DIY. A flat surface to lay the garment on. A pen and a piece of paper, or your phone if you prefer to type notes. And a few minutes of quiet to do this without rushing.
How to measure, garment by garment
Each type of garment in the store has its own size chart, and the measurements in each chart are slightly different from one another. So here is exactly what to measure depending on what you are buying.
Sweatshirts and hoodies
The chart gives three measurements: half chest, body length, and sleeve length. For the half chest, lay the garment flat and measure straight across the chest from one side seam to the other, just under the armpits. Do not double it, the chart uses the half chest figure, so one side seam to the other is the number you want. For the body length, measure from the highest point of the shoulder seam down to the hem. For the sleeve length, measure from the centre back of the neck, along the top of the shoulder seam and down to the cuff.
Fleeces
The fleece chart gives two chest measurements: chest to fit and chest actual. Chest to fit is your body measurement, the measurement of your chest itself. Chest actual is the measurement of the finished garment. The difference between the two is the ease, the extra room built in so you can move comfortably. To use this chart, measure your own chest, or measure a similar well-fitting fleece at the fullest point, laid flat and doubled. Then find the size where your body measurement matches the chest to fit column, and check the chest actual figure to confirm the garment will give you the fit you want.
Polo shirts
The polo shirt chart gives the chest measurement in inches rather than centimetres. Lay your comparison garment flat, measure from one side seam to the other across the chest just under the armpits, and double it to get the full chest. If your tape measure reads in centimetres, divide by 2.54 to convert to inches, or 40cm is roughly 15.75 inches if that helps you get your bearings.
T-shirts
The T-shirt chart gives three measurements, all in centimetres: width, body length, and sleeve length measured from the sleeve hem to the centre back. For the width, lay the garment flat and measure from side seam to side seam. This is not doubled, it is the flat width as it lies. For the body length, measure from the shoulder seam down to the hem. For the sleeve, measure from the end of the cuff up and across to the centre back of the neckline, following the seam.
If your measurements fall between two sizes
The question to ask yourself is where you want the extra room. For something you want to wear close to the body, go with the smaller size. For something you want to wear more loosely, go up. If you are in any doubt, contact me before you order and I can talk it through with you.
And if you are genuinely not sure, please contact me before you order. I mean that. Because these garments are made specifically for you, I cannot offer a refund if the size is wrong, only if there is a fault in the making. So it is far better to take an extra ten minutes to check, or to send me a message and ask, than to end up with something that doesn't fit. I would rather spend time helping you get it right than have either of us dealing with a disappointment.
Why this matters more than you might think
I spent years second-guessing my size because I was comparing my body to a number on a label, and numbers on labels are not consistent. They never have been and they are not going to become consistent any time soon. When I started measuring garments instead of trying to decode what a size 14 or a size 16 meant in any given shop or brand, something shifted. I stopped feeling like the problem and started solving the problem. That is what I want for you too.
Because everything here is made to order, I want you to feel genuinely confident before you click buy. Your wardrobe already contains the information you need. You just need to know where to look. And if after reading this you are still unsure, my contact details are on the website. Use them.