How to Measure for a Suit: A Size Guide for Stitched and Unstitched Suits

Buying a suit online is easy until the parcel arrives and the shirt is too tight across the shoulders or too short for your taste. Most sizing disappointments come from the same few mistakes, and almost all of them can be avoided with ten minutes and a tape measure. This guide shows two reliable ways to measure, explains why your body measurements are not the same as the measurements of a finished suit, and gives you a simple way to choose between sizes.

It matters more than usual with online orders. As at many Pakistani stores, we do not offer change-of-mind returns, which means a suit cannot be returned only because it does not fit. You can read the details in our Return & Refund Policy. The good news is that a careful measurement before you order solves most of the problem.

What you need

• A soft measuring tape, ideally one that shows both inches and centimetres. A metal builder’s tape will not work.
• Light clothing, such as a thin t-shirt. Thick sweaters add extra centimetres.
• A mirror or a helper, so the tape stays level.
• A notebook or your phone, to write each measurement down straight away.
• A suit that already fits you well, for the second method below.

Method 1: measure your body

Stand straight, relax your shoulders and breathe normally. Keep the tape snug but not tight; you should be able to slip a finger under it. Take each measurement twice to be sure.

1. Bust: wrap the tape around the fullest part of your chest and across your back. Make sure it stays level all the way round.
2. Waist: measure around the narrowest part of your waist, without pulling your stomach in.
3. Hips: measure around the fullest part of your hips, again keeping the tape level.
4. Shoulder: measure from the edge of one shoulder to the edge of the other across your back.
5. Sleeve length: measure from the edge of your shoulder to where you want the sleeve to end, usually the wrist.
6. Shirt (kameez) length: measure from the highest point of your shoulder, next to your neck, down to where you want the hem to fall. Do this while standing straight.
7. Trouser length: measure from your waist down the outside of your leg to the ankle.

Method 2: copy a suit that already fits

This method is often more reliable when you are buying a stitched suit, because you are comparing a garment with a garment. Pick a kameez that you like the fit of, and lay it flat on a table or bed with the front facing up. Smooth out any creases.

• Chest: measure straight across the shirt about an inch below the armhole, then double the number to get the full circumference.
• Waist: measure across at the narrowest part of the shirt and double it.
• Hem: measure straight across the bottom and double it.
• Length: measure from the highest point of the shoulder to the hem.
• Sleeve: measure from the shoulder seam to the end of the sleeve.

Write these numbers next to the label of the size you wore. Next time you shop, you can compare them with any size chart or ask the seller for the measurements of the design you want.

Body measurements are not garment measurements

This is the most common source of confusion. Your body measurement is the size of you. A garment measurement is the size of the finished suit, and it is deliberately larger so that you can breathe, sit and move. Kameez are rarely cut skin-tight, so the shirt’s chest measurement is usually bigger than your bust measurement.

The rule is simple: compare like with like. If a size chart lists body measurements, compare it with Method 1. If it lists garment measurements, compare it with Method 2. Never compare your body measurement directly with a garment measurement, or you will almost always choose a size that is too small.

Choosing between S, M, L and XL

Our stitched suits come in sizes S to XL, and each product page shows which sizes are available for that design. Sizing can differ from brand to brand, so avoid choosing a size just because it is what you wear elsewhere. If you cannot find the numbers you need on the product page, send us a message on WhatsApp from the contact page. We can share the measurements of any design.

What if you are between two sizes?

Lawn, cotton and khaddar are woven fabrics with very little stretch, so they do not give much if the fit is tight. If you are between two sizes and you like a relaxed fit, go for the larger one. A tailor can usually take a suit in more easily than let it out, because there is only a limited amount of extra fabric inside the seams. If you prefer a close fit and you are confident in your measurements, the smaller size may suit you better.

Think about the dupatta and trouser too

The kameez gets most of the attention, but trouser and shalwar fit matters just as much for comfort. If you are particularly tall or short, check the trouser length against your own measurement before ordering, and keep in mind that you can usually shorten a trouser but cannot lengthen it.

Measuring for an unstitched suit

If you buy an unstitched suit, you give the fabric to a tailor, so your measurements go to them rather than to a size chart. Most tailors will measure you themselves, but it still helps to know your numbers, and to know whether the fabric is long enough for the kameez length and sleeves you want.

• Check the product page for the fabric lengths included in the set, and compare them with the measurements you need.
• Ask your tailor how much fabric they need for your preferred length, sleeve style and neckline.
• If you plan to wash the fabric before stitching, tell your tailor so they can allow for any shrinkage.
• Where a product offers custom stitching, this is shown on its product page.

Browse our unstitched suits if you would rather choose your own cut, or stitched suits if you want a ready-to-wear fit.

Common measuring mistakes

• Measuring over thick clothing, which adds extra centimetres.
• Pulling the tape too tight, or letting it slip so it is no longer level.
• Measuring shirt length from the base of the neck instead of the highest point of the shoulder.
• Ignoring the sleeve and shoulder measurements, which are the hardest to fix after stitching.
• Mixing up body measurements with garment measurements.
• Assuming that a size in one brand is the same in another.

Quick checklist before you order

1. Measure your body twice, and write the numbers down.
2. Measure a suit that fits well, using the flat method.
3. Check the measurements for the design on the product page, or ask us for them.
4. Compare body to body and garment to garment.
5. If you are between sizes, think about whether you want a relaxed or close fit.
6. Choose your payment method. You can pay by Cash on Delivery, JazzCash, EasyPaisa or bank transfer.

Our size guide has a short version of these steps that you can keep handy. Delivery in Karachi is free, and it is Rs. 400 to the rest of Pakistan.