Why Folkloric Attire Doesn’t Follow Standard Clothing Sizes
If you order a folkloric dress based on your regular clothing size, you’re guessing — and the margin for error is larger than most people expect. Folkloric attire is built to regional specifications: skirts are measured by waist and hem length, blouses by bust and shoulder width, and charro suits by chest, waist, and inseam. U.S. small, medium, and large mean nothing in this context. Mi Lindo Folklor, based in San Diego, California, ships folkloric attire to dancers and school programs across the United States, and incorrect measurements are the single most common reason for size exchanges. This guide eliminates that problem.
Take your time with these measurements. Getting them right once saves a week of back-and-forth on an order that needs to arrive before a performance date.
What You Need Before You Start
You need a soft fabric measuring tape — the kind used for sewing, not a rigid construction tape. A rigid tape does not conform to the body correctly and will produce inaccurate measurements. If you don’t have a soft tape, a piece of string and a ruler will work: wrap the string around the measurement point, mark where it meets, then lay it flat against a ruler.
Measure in fitted but not restrictive clothing — a T-shirt and leggings, not a heavy sweater. For children, measure while they’re standing straight with arms at their sides. For all measurements, take them twice and use the larger reading if they differ slightly. According to standard garment sizing practices, body measurements should always be taken at the fullest point of each area to avoid undersizing a fitted piece.
Measuring for a Folkloric Skirt
A folkloric skirt requires three measurements: waist circumference, hip circumference, and length from waist to desired hem.
For the waist, measure at the narrowest point of the torso, typically an inch or two above the navel. Pull the tape snug but not tight — you should be able to fit one finger under it. For the hip, measure at the fullest point of the hips and seat, typically 7–9 inches below the waist. This is often the most critical measurement for folkloric skirts, as the skirt needs enough circumference to sit correctly at the hip and move freely during a full spin.
For the length, measure from the waist straight down to the point where you want the hem. Most adult folkloric skirts run floor-length for performance. For children, leave a 1–2 inch hem allowance for growth — kids gain height between purchase and performance dates, and a skirt that’s too short on stage is far more visible than one that needed a small hem adjustment. Explore Mi Lindo Folklor’s women’s folkloric skirts and size charts to match your measurements to the right option.
Measuring for Folkloric Blouses and Tops
Folkloric blouses are structured more like traditional garments than modern dancewear, which means standard stretch sizing doesn’t apply. You need bust, waist, and shoulder measurements at minimum.
For the bust, measure around the fullest part of the chest, keeping the tape parallel to the floor. For the waist, use the same point as your skirt waist measurement. For the shoulder, measure from the edge of one shoulder across the back to the other — this determines whether the blouse will fit correctly through the sleeve and arm opening. Some embroidered Veracruz and Oaxacan blouses have fitted bodies that require all three measurements to size correctly. For a Jalisco blouse with more relaxed shaping, bust alone often suffices, but providing all three measurements to Mi Lindo Folklor when placing an order removes any ambiguity. See our full women’s attire collection for size chart details specific to each style.
Mi Lindo Folklor accepts custom measurement orders for programs that need precise fits across a range of sizes — contact us before your deadline to discuss timelines.
Measuring for Men’s and Boys’ Charro Suits
A charro jacket that doesn’t fit correctly is immediately visible — the embroidered front panel gaps, the sleeve length is wrong, and the visual line of the entire look is off. Getting these measurements right is worth the extra five minutes.
For the chest, measure around the fullest part of the chest, under the arms, with the tape horizontal and snug. For the waist, measure at the natural waist. For the inseam, measure from the crotch to the floor along the inside of the leg — this determines trouser length. For the jacket length, measure from the base of the neck to the desired jacket hem. For shoulders, measure across the back from shoulder point to shoulder point. Charro suits typically have limited stretch in the fabric, so err toward sizing up rather than down on any measurement that’s between sizes. For boys’ sizing specifically, allow extra room through the chest and inseam — Mi Lindo Folklor’s charro outfit guide covers construction details that affect fit decisions.
Measuring Kids for Folkloric Attire
Children’s folkloric attire follows the same measurement points as adult attire — waist, hip, length, bust/chest — but with a few practical adjustments. First, measure while the child is wearing what they’ll wear under the costume, not over heavy clothing. Second, add 1–2 inches of growing room to length measurements. Third, measure the day you’re placing the order, not based on a size the child wore three months ago.
School programs with multiple children ordering at once should have all measurements taken the same week and submitted together. Mixing measurements taken weeks apart on growing children is the fastest way to end up with a set of pieces that don’t fit consistently. Mi Lindo Folklor’s kids’ folkloric attire includes size charts specific to each style — check these against your measurements rather than using the age ranges as the primary guide. For Jalisco dress specifically for younger dancers, see our parent’s guide to kids’ Jalisco dresses.
Confirming Measurements Before You Order
Once you have all your measurements, compare them against the size chart for the specific product before placing your order. If your measurements fall between sizes, size up — it’s far easier to take in a garment that’s slightly large than to let out one that’s slightly small, and most folkloric pieces don’t have enough seam allowance for significant alterations.
If you’re ordering for a group of 10 or more, allow 6–8 weeks before your performance date. This accounts for any size exchange that’s needed after pieces arrive. Mi Lindo Folklor ships nationwide from San Diego and accepts custom-measurement orders for programs with specific fit requirements — contact the team with your measurement sheet and timeline before placing a large group order.
Frequently Asked Questions About Folkloric Attire Sizing
What if my measurements fall between two sizes?
Always size up when between sizes for folkloric attire. Garments that are slightly too large can be adjusted by a tailor without major alterations. Garments that are too small typically cannot be let out sufficiently, particularly embroidered pieces where seam allowances are limited. The only exception is a skirt with an elastic waistband, where one size down is workable if the waist is the only measurement that’s between sizes.
Can I use my regular dress size for a folkloric blouse?
No. Folkloric blouses are sized by body measurements, not by U.S. standard clothing sizes. A woman who wears a U.S. size medium in regular clothing may need a different size in a folkloric blouse depending on her specific bust, waist, and shoulder measurements. Always convert to body measurements before ordering.
How should I measure a child who won’t stand still?
Take the measurements while the child is standing against a wall. The wall provides a consistent reference point and keeps them in position long enough to get accurate readings. For the inseam, have them stand with feet slightly apart and measure from the floor straight up to the crotch. It helps to have a second person hold the tape in place at the top while you read it at the floor.
Does Mi Lindo Folklor offer help with sizing before I order?
Yes. Contact us directly with your measurements and the style you’re considering and we’ll confirm the right size before you place the order. For group orders, we can review a full measurement sheet and flag any potential fit issues before the order ships. Reach us at milindofolklor.com/contact or call (619) 341-1202.
Ready to Order? Get the Size Right the First Time.
Send Mi Lindo Folklor your measurements before you order and we’ll confirm the right size for your specific style — no guesswork, no size exchanges.
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