US size labels decoded: juniors, misses, petite, W and X

The department labels

US shops sort women’s clothing into departments, each drafted for a different set of proportions. The letters and the odd or even numbers tell you which one a garment came from.

• Juniors (odd numbers: 1, 3, 5 up to about 15): drafted for a younger, straighter figure, with less difference between bust, waist and hips. A juniors 5 does not equal a misses 4 or 6.
• Misses (even numbers: 0 or 2 up to about 16 or 18): the standard range, drafted for average height and proportions.
• Petite (P, as in 8P or PS): the same widths as misses, but shorter in the torso, sleeves and legs, usually for women about 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) and under. Petite means height, not slimness.
• Tall (T, as in 12T): the opposite, with longer bodies, sleeves and legs, usually for women about 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) and over.
• Women’s (W, or 1X to 3X and up): fuller proportions throughout, with more room at the upper arm and often a longer rise in trousers.
• Combinations: petite plus (16WP) and tall plus exist too, mixing a women’s width with shorter or longer lengths.

What your label says about your measurements

Your usual department is a useful clue to which measurements matter most for a kameez. It tells us nothing exact, which is why our form asks for the measurements themselves, in inches or centimetres; the size guide shows where each one goes.

• If you buy juniors: check that your bust and hips are both measured accurately, since straighter cuts often fit one and not the other.
• If you buy petite: kameez length, sleeve length, armhole and front neck depth matter most. Our guide to petite shalwar kameez in the US explains why.
• If you buy tall: the same lengths, the other way; see custom lengths for tall women.
• If you buy W or X sizes: add your upper arm measurement, an optional field on our form, and read our guide to plus-size Pakistani suits in the US.

Ordering from the US

Because we cut to your numbers, the department question disappears once you have measured: a petite plus body gets petite plus lengths and widths without needing a label for it. Our article on US sizes vs Pakistani size charts covers the S, M and L charts you may see on ready-made suits.

Customers in the US choose a quote in USD, EUR or GBP. The USA page covers delivery, Send Your Design in the USA explains ordering from your own picture, and you can request a quote with your measurements in inches.