Pakistani Clothing Size Guide: How to Measure and Choose
Size letters are close to meaningless across brands. A medium in one label is a large in another, and both are honest — they're cut for different bodies. Measurements are the only thing that carries from one brand to the next.
Measure yourself once, write the numbers down, and you can buy from anyone.
How to measure
You need a soft tape measure and, ideally, someone else to read the numbers. Measure over close-fitting clothing or underwear, not over a kameez.
Bust — around the fullest part, tape level all the way round, snug but not compressing. Breathe normally and don't hold the tape tight.
Waist — the narrowest part of your torso, usually just above the navel. Don't pull your stomach in; you'll buy something that doesn't fit when you stop.
Hip — the fullest part, usually 18–20 cm below the waist. Feet together.
Shoulder — from the bone at the edge of one shoulder, across the back, to the same point on the other side. This is the measurement that decides whether a kameez hangs properly, and the one most people skip.
Kameez length — from the shoulder seam at the neck, straight down, to where you want the hem. Measure an existing kameez you like rather than guessing on your body.
Sleeve length — from the shoulder point down the outside of a slightly bent arm to where you want the cuff.
Trouser length — from the natural waist to the ankle bone, or wherever you want the hem to sit.
A typical size chart
Brands vary, so treat this as orientation rather than gospel — always check the specific chart on the product you're buying.
| Size | Bust (in) | Waist (in) | Hip (in) | Shoulder (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 32–33 | 26–27 | 35–36 | 13.5 |
| S | 34–35 | 28–29 | 37–38 | 14 |
| M | 36–37 | 30–31 | 39–40 | 14.5 |
| L | 38–40 | 32–34 | 41–43 | 15 |
| XL | 41–43 | 35–37 | 44–46 | 15.5 |
| XXL | 44–46 | 38–40 | 47–49 | 16 |
When you're between sizes
Size up if the difference is in bust or hip, if the fabric has no stretch — which is most Pakistani womenswear — if the cut is described as fitted, or if you plan to have it altered. Taking a garment in is straightforward; letting it out often isn't, because there may be no seam allowance.
Size down if the difference is in waist only, if the cut is described as relaxed, A-line or straight, or if it's a kaftan or co-ord set where the silhouette is loose anyway.
When in doubt, go by your largest measurement. A kameez that's roomy at the waist looks intentional. One that's tight across the bust or shoulder does not, and can't be fixed.
Reading a product page properly
Beyond East's product pages usually list two details that are worth more than the size chart:
The model's height. A kameez photographed on someone 5'8" sits differently on someone 5'2" — what looks like a mid-thigh hem in the photo may be at the knee on you.
The size the model is wearing. This tells you how much ease you're seeing. If she's 5'8" wearing a small and the fit looks relaxed, the cut runs generous.
Also check whether the trousers are included and in what fabric — a two-piece is shirt and trousers, a three-piece adds a dupatta.
Kameez lengths, in plain terms
- Short / shirt length — roughly 32–36 in, hitting at or just above the hip
- Standard — roughly 38–42 in, mid-thigh to just above the knee
- Long / maxi — 46 in and above, calf to ankle
Height matters more than size here. If you're under 5'3", a standard length on the chart will sit lower on you than on the model, and a "long" kameez may reach the floor.
Trouser styles
- Straight — same width from knee to ankle, the most forgiving
- Cigarette — narrow through the leg, fitted at the ankle, needs the hip measurement to be right
- Flared / bell — fitted through the thigh, widening below the knee
- Sharara / gharara — very wide, gathered; sizing here is about waist and length only
If you're buying unstitched instead
None of this applies in the same way — you give the tailor your measurements directly. What you do need to check is that the fabric piece is long enough for the kameez length you want, particularly if you're tall or want a maxi length. Unstitched pieces come in standard lengths and they're not generous.
Keep your numbers
Write down bust, waist, hip, shoulder, and your preferred kameez and sleeve lengths. Put them in your phone. Every future purchase — any brand, any country — becomes a matter of comparing six numbers to a chart rather than guessing at a letter.
Re-measure once a year. Bodies change, and a size chart doesn't know that.
Beyond East's pret sizing is listed on each product page at beyondeast.com.
