Why Women’s Suits Needed a New System
For a long time, women’s suits have used a sizing system that was never designed for structured garments. Most clothing uses 0–20 sizes, but suits do not adapt well to that format. Jackets and trousers require precision, balance, and structure, and a single number cannot account for differences in height, proportions, or personal fit preferences.
When we created mea, we knew we wanted to build something better. Our goal was to give women access to a more custom-like experience without requiring full bespoke measurements from day one. We wanted customers to start with a standard size that already reflected their body shape and preferences, while still leaving room for flexibility and refinement.
This is where our Size Finder tool comes in.
How the Size Finder Works
The Size Finder walks you through taking five simple body measurements and asks for general length and width preferences for both your jacket and pants. These preferences reflect how you usually feel in your clothes. Whether you like your jackets longer or shorter, feel that you have longer legs or a shorter torso, or prefer a slimmer or wider fit, the tool uses this information to guide your sizing.
Once you submit your measurements and preferences, the tool provides a recommended size. From there, you can review and fine-tune it using our full size chart.
You can click between short, regular, and tall options, adjust fit preferences, and see exactly how the measurements change. This gives you clarity before ordering and helps you understand how your preferences affect the final garment.
Reading Between the Numbers: Jackets, Pants, and Personal Adjustments
Once you have your recommended size, the next step is understanding what the measurements actually mean. This is where the size chart becomes a practical tool rather than just a list of numbers.
Jacket Measurements
The jacket length measures from the top of the shoulder seam at the base of the neck down to the front hem. This determines how long the body of the jacket is.
The chest is measured around the jacket just under the armpits.
The waist is measured at the narrowest point where the jacket buttons.
The hip is measured about an inch above the bottom hem.
The shoulder measures from one shoulder point across the back of the neck to the other.
The sleeve runs from the shoulder seam to the cuff.
The bicep is measured high on the sleeve near the armpit.
Several of these measurements include what is called an allowance. Allowance is extra fabric added on top of your body measurements so the jacket is comfortable, movable, and properly structured. It prevents the suit from feeling tight or restrictive.
Your length preference affects the jacket body and sleeve. Your width preference affects the chest, waist, hip, shoulder, and bicep.
Once you understand this, you can compare the chart to your own measurements or to jackets you already love. This helps you anticipate how the suit will feel before it arrives. For example, if your chest measures 38.5 inches and the jacket measures 41 inches, that extra space is your comfort allowance. If your waist measurement is very close to the jacket waist, it may feel snug. If there is more room, it may feel relaxed.
These comparisons allow you to decide whether you want a slim, regular, or looser fit.
Pants Measurements
The waist is the circumference of the waistband and does not change with fit.
The hip measures the widest part of the seat.
The rise shows how high the pants sit on your body. All mea pants are cut to a traditional mid-rise, but this can be customized to a low-rise or high-rise after your first suit based on feedback.
The thigh is measured at the highest point under the crotch.
The leg opening is the width at the bottom hem.
The length is measured along the outseam from waistband to hem.
As with jackets, you can measure pants you already own and compare them to the chart. This helps confirm whether the fit will feel familiar and comfortable.
Requesting Custom Adjustments on Your First Suit
One of the most important features of the mea system is that you are not limited to your recommended size. If you review the chart and feel that one or two measurements need adjusting, you can request a custom size on your first suit.
For example, you might love your recommended 38 Regular Regular jacket, but want:
- A slightly wider bicep
- A slimmer waist
- A longer sleeve
- A different thigh width
- A higher or lower rise
- A wider or narrower leg opening
In this case, you can write to our team and explain exactly what you would like changed. For instance, you might say:
“I’d like a 38 Regular Regular jacket, but with a 14-inch bicep instead of 13.5,”
or
“I’d like this size, but with a slightly looser thigh.”
Our team will review your measurements, preferences, and request, and help create a personalized size based on your feedback.
This means that even your very first mea suit can be partially customized to your body, rather than forcing you into a rigid standard size.
Built on Transparency: Our Approach to Fit
At mea, our size chart is not just about helping you choose a number.
Many brands hide their measurements and expect you to guess. This often leads to frustration, returns, and poorly fitting garments. We believe you deserve better.
That is why we show you exactly how every suit is built. We explain what each measurement means. We encourage you to take your own measurements. We give you the tools to compare, adjust, and refine.
After your first suit, you can give feedback. Maybe you want slightly more room in the hips, shorter sleeves, or a slimmer leg. We save this information and use it to improve every future order.
With each suit, your custom size becomes more precise.
Our goal is to figure out what your perfect custom size is so that you know, with 100% confidence that every suit you order will fit just how you like.