Who gives a rib…cage?

I do. And so should everyone who has anything to do with ordering gowns in any way.
No designer asks for the ribcage measurement, but the size of women’s ribs can vary even for the same bust measurement. Some designers are notoriously cut narrow through the ribcage area: Jim Hjelm and Mori Lee are definitely in that category.

So, what can YOU do to make sure your rib cage doesn’t cause you any headaches? Here are a few things.

1) Know your body. As you try on dresses, if you notice that things that fit well in other areas are constricting you through the torso, your rib cage is probably relatively large for your frame.
2) If you know you have a large ribcage and/or you are looking at a designer that is cut narrow in that area, you’ll usually see that your waist measurement puts you up a size from your other measurements. Not always, but the waist measurement is usually the best indicator when your ribcage is an issue. So be aware of your waist measurement!
3) Remember that you can always take in, but it’s more difficult, and sometimes impossible, to let a dress out. So don’t take risks, plan to take it in.