Anarkali flare (ghera): what 3, 5 or 8 metres means

Measuring the flare of a frock you own

The easiest way to choose a number is to measure something you already like. Our guide to measuring clothes that fit you covers the other garment measurements; for the flare, follow these steps.

• Lay the frock on a large flat surface, a bed or the floor, front facing up.
• Spread the hem out smoothly without stretching it, so the gathers or pleats open flat.
• Measure along the hem edge from one side seam to the other, following the curve rather than going straight across.
• Turn it over and do the same for the back, then add the two numbers.
• If it is made of equal panels (kalis), you can measure the hem of one panel and multiply by the number of panels.

What each figure looks like when worn

These descriptions assume a calf-length frock in a medium-weight fabric. Lighter or stiffer cloth shifts each one, which the next section explains.

• Under 2 metres (about 80 inches): an A-line kameez rather than a frock. It skims the hips and moves a little as you walk.
• About 3 metres: a gentle frock. Soft folds that hang fairly close when you stand still and open when you move. A comfortable everyday anarkali.
• About 5 metres: clearly full. Deep folds all round and a skirt that swings when you turn. A festive, dressier look.
• 8 metres and more: very full, with a lot of volume and noticeable weight. It spreads out when you sit and needs room around you. Usually kept for formal evenings.

Why the same number can look different

Length is the first reason. The same hem width on a shorter frock means the fabric spreads out over a shorter drop, so a 5 metre flare looks fuller at knee length than at the floor. Where the skirt starts matters too: a flare that begins under the bust, on an empire line, looks fuller than one that starts at the waist.

Fabric is the second. Chiffon and georgette fall into soft, narrow folds, while organza, net and crisp cotton hold the fabric away from the body and make the same flare look bigger. Our guide to how fabric changes fit and drape goes into this. A lining usually has less flare than the outer layer, which keeps the shape slimmer close to the body. Our kalidar frock page shows how panelled skirts are built.

Choosing and stating your flare

More flare means more fabric, more weight and more to press, so pick the fullness for how and where you will wear it. In your order, give the figure as a total round the hem, for example “flare about 4 metres”, and add a photo of a frock you like. Our Send Your Design service takes reference pictures alongside your notes through the design quote form. The flare, and the fabric it needs, is confirmed in your written quote before cutting.