Petite or tall in the UK: kameez lengths made for you

Petite: keeping the proportions in scale

Petite is about height and frame, not size. These are the points that make the biggest difference.

• Kameez length: a long, ankle-skimming kameez can swamp a petite frame; just below the knee or mid-calf is often more balanced.
• Slit height: side slits that start too high or too low change where the eye stops; ask for them in proportion to your new length.
• Sleeve length: ready-made sleeves are often several centimetres too long; give your own arm length.
• Waist position: for a fitted or flared kameez, a raised waist line that matches your body stops the shape sitting too low.
• Trousers: ankle-length straight trousers or cigarette pants add height; very wide palazzos need a heel or a shorter kameez.
• Pattern scale: a very large print or a deep border can overwhelm; consider placing it carefully or choosing a smaller repeat.

Tall: when pret stops at the shin

Tall women often find that a ready-made long kameez reaches the knee, sleeves stop above the wrist bone, and trousers flap around the ankle. Made to measure fixes all three, but the fabric has to be long enough too.

• Kameez length: decide where you want the hem to fall and measure from the high point of your shoulder to that spot.
• Sleeves: measure with your arm slightly bent, so the cuff still reaches your wrist when you reach forward.
• Trouser length and rise: a longer inside leg and a longer rise keep straight trousers and shalwars comfortable.
• Dupatta: a standard dupatta can look short on a tall frame; if you are buying fabric, look for a longer one.

Reading a design photo for your height

Catalogue and social media photos are usually styled on models of a particular height. When you send a picture, describe the look relative to your own body rather than asking for “the same length”: for example, “hem at mid-calf on me”, “sleeve to the wrist bone” or “trousers just touching my ankle”. That gives us something precise to agree in writing.

The hemline styles and sleeve styles pages show the options, and you can name the ones you like in your notes.

Unstitched packs and length

An unstitched pack’s shirt piece has a fixed length. For tall customers, that may limit how long a kameez can be, especially with a printed border along the bottom. For petite customers, a border may need to be placed higher or shortened. Our guide to reading an unstitched suit label explains the piece lengths, and we confirm what your pack allows before you post it.

If the pack is too short for the length you want, Fabric + Stitching lets us supply fabric for your design instead.

Ordering your lengths from the UK

Kameez length, sleeves and trouser style are among the changes you can ask for on our own designs, so if you like something on the designs page but need it longer or shorter, see the UK customisation page and start a customisation quote. The UK page covers delivery and the quote in pounds.