Tailoring & Fitting
Dress Form
A dress form is a torso on a stand, adjustable at the bust, waist and hips, that lets you fit and pin a garment in three dimensions without the person wearing it. It is not a substitute for a fitting on the actual body — a form cannot raise an arm or slouch — but it is where you check a hem level, balance a shoulder and pin a dart, and it turns fit from an abstraction into something you can see.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Adjustment | Bust, waist, hip, sometimes back |
| Material | Foam-covered, fabric-covered |
| Height | Adjustable neck to hem |
| Stand | Four legs or a single pole |
| Size range | Petite to plus, check the range |
| Use | Fitting, pinning, draping, photography |
Technical parameters
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bust | Adjust with the dial or the panel |
| Waist | Match your natural waist, not your belt line |
| Hip | Match your fullest hip measurement |
| Shoulder | Often fixed; check it matches |
| Height | Set so the waist is at your height |
| Mark | Tape the waist and bust lines |
Safety
A dress form is a heavy object on a stand that can topple if pushed. Set it on a level floor, do not lean on it, and keep pins capped or in a cushion when not in use, since a form is usually covered in pins during a fitting.
What it is for
An adjustable torso for fitting and pinning without a body inside it. The difference between guessing at a fit and seeing it.
Compatible fabrics
Compatible stitches
Working notes
- Set the bust, waist and hip to your measurements and check the waist is at your height.
- Tape the bust and waist lines on the form so you can see them while you work.
- Pad the form out to match your body shape rather than only your measurements.
- Always do a final fitting on the body; a form cannot move.
Related tools
Measuring Tape
A flexible dual-scale tape. The tool that starts every project and checks every fit.
French Curve
A flat drafting template with the curves a body actually has, for drawing armholes, necklines and hips.
Tracing Wheel
A spiked wheel that transfers pattern markings through to the fabric below by pressing, not by drawing.