What agencies actually ask for
Most Australian agencies ask for a small, standard set of numbers on your application: height, bust or chest, waist, hips, and inside leg (inseam), plus shoe size and dress or suit size. Some briefs also want collar size for menswear or specific tailoring work.
You do not need a professional to take them. A soft measuring tape, a mirror, and five minutes will do the job.
How to measure each one
Height: stand barefoot against a wall, heels together, and mark the top of your head. Bust or chest: measure around the fullest part, keeping the tape level all the way around. Waist: find the narrowest part of your torso, usually just above the belly button. Hips: measure around the widest part of your seat.
Inside leg: measure from the top of your inner thigh down to the ankle bone. Shoe and dress or suit size are simply your usual Australian sizes. Measure over minimal or fitted clothing, keep the tape parallel to the floor, and let it sit flat against you without pulling it tight.
Tips for an accurate read
Use a cloth tape rather than a metal builder's tape, and record everything in centimetres, since that is what agencies here work in. It helps to have someone take the back measurements for you so the tape stays level.
Stand naturally. Don't suck in, puff out, or stretch up to add a centimetre. Bodies change over time, so re-measure every few months and update your stats rather than relying on a number from last year.
How agencies actually use the numbers
Your measurements are not a test you pass or fail. A booker uses them to match you to the right division and to specific client briefs - a swimwear casting, a bridal fitting, an e-commerce range that only samples in one size.
They are checking whether you fit the sample garments and the look a client has asked for, not whether you hit some universal ideal. That is exactly why there is no single 'right' set of numbers.
Why honesty beats fudging
It is tempting to round your waist down or your height up, but it works against you. If an agency wants to sign you, they will measure you in person anyway, and turning up to a fitting where the sample does not fit wastes everyone's time and can cost you the booking.
Accurate stats let a booker put you forward for work you will actually get. Honest numbers are the ones that get you hired.
There is no perfect number
Try not to read your measurements as a scorecard. Different divisions want different things, and the market has room for commercial, fitness, plus, petite, and mature work alongside fashion. The goal is an accurate snapshot of your frame today so an agency can place you well - not a set of numbers you feel you have to change. Measure honestly, submit, and let a scout tell you where you fit.
Key takeaways
- Agencies here ask for height, bust or chest, waist, hips, inside leg, shoe, and dress or suit size.
- Keep the tape parallel to the floor and flat against you - never pull it tight.
- Measure over minimal or fitted clothing and record everything in centimetres.
- Numbers are used to match you to divisions and client briefs, not to score you.
- Be honest - you get measured in person anyway, and accurate stats get you booked.
FAQ
Are there "standard" model measurements?
Do my measurements need to be exact?
What if I'm between sizes?
Measure honestly. Get scouted - it is free →