Sizing
How to measure a child for a shalwar kameez
Four measurements, five minutes and a soft tape: how to measure a child’s chest, kameez length and shalwar length for a kurta, kameez or shalwar kameez that fits.
Before you start
Use a soft tape measure and measure over a thin vest or T-shirt, not over a jumper. Keep the tape level and snug but never tight. If your child won’t stand still, measure a garment that fits them well instead: lay it flat and measure the chest from armpit to armpit (then double it) and the length from the shoulder to the hem.
The four measurements
Height
Stand your child straight against a wall without shoes and measure from the floor to the top of the head.
Chest
Measure around the fullest part of the chest, under the arms, with the tape level and comfortably loose. Ask them to breathe normally.
Kameez or kurta length
Measure from the top of the shoulder, next to the neck, straight down to where the hem should sit: just above the knee for a kurta, mid-thigh to knee for a kameez.
Shalwar or trouser length
Measure from the natural waist down the outside of the leg to the ankle bone.
For made-to-order pieces
When we make a lehenga, sherwani or custom outfit, we ask for the same four measurements plus the shoulder width (seam to seam across the back) and the sleeve length (shoulder to wrist). We check them with you before cutting anything, so a rough measurement now is fine.
Quick answers
Do I measure over clothes?
Measure over a thin vest or T-shirt. Take jumpers and coats off, and keep the tape comfortably loose.
How much room should a kurta have?
About 5–8 cm (2–3 inches) more than the chest measurement. A kurta that matches the chest exactly will feel tight when they sit.