A
fitting model (sometimes
fit model) is a person who is used by a
fashion designer or
clothing manufacturer to check the fit, drape and visual appearance of a design on a 'real' human being, effectively acting as a live
mannequin. A person is selected to work as a fitting model primarily on criteria matching the desired measurement specifications of the designer or manufacturer. These specifications generally consist of height,
bust-waist-hip circumference, arm and leg length, shoulder width, and a myriad other measurements as indicated by the garment type. This is the case whether the garments are for women or men of any size; the
grading of construction patterns is often tested on a variety of fitting models to be sure that increases in size are translated accurately and evenly across the range.