Style guide · Shalwar and trousers
Palazzo and Wide-Leg Trousers for Kurtas
Quick answer
Palazzo trousers are wide and flowing from the hip down, so they move like a skirt when you walk. They are cool, relaxed and look best with short and mid-length kurtas. Soft fabrics that drape suit them, and they take about 2.5 to 3 metres depending on how wide you want them.
What it is
A palazzo falls straight and wide from the hip to a hem that is often as wide as the hip itself. A less full version is usually called wide-leg trousers; the difference is one of degree, so tell us how wide you want the hem. Unlike a sharara, which flares dramatically and usually reaches the floor, a palazzo keeps a clean, straight line. The waist is usually full elastic, or elastic at the back with a flat front.
Who and what it suits
- Short and mid-length kurtas: hip to knee length, where the width balances the shorter top.
- Hot weather: the open leg lets air move, so a lawn palazzo is one of the coolest things to wear in summer.
- Co-ord sets: a kurta and palazzo in the same fabric look put together with little effort. Our co-ord sets guide has ideas.
- Everyday and weekends: relaxed enough for home and errands. See our everyday ideas.
- Long kameez: can look heavy over a full palazzo; slimmer trousers usually balance it better.
Fabric and how much you need
A palazzo needs drape. Soft lawn, cotton, viscose, crepe and georgette fall well. Stiff cambric and thick khaddar stand away from the body and can look boxy in a very wide cut, so a moderate wide leg works better in them. Sheer fabrics need lining.
As a rough guide, a palazzo takes about 2.5 to 3 metres of 45 inch (114 cm) fabric, depending on the width and your height. A standard trouser piece of around 2.5 metres often suits a moderate width; for a very full palazzo, we check from your photos whether there’s enough before cutting.
Measurements that matter
Trouser length matters most, because a wide hem shows every centimetre. Palazzos can go a little longer than other trousers, towards the top of the foot, especially with heels, so measure in the shoes you’ll wear. Tell us the trouser bottom you want, or measure a favourite pair laid flat and doubled, and give your hip so the width starts from the right place.
How to ask for it
Choose “Wide-leg” under trouser style on the stitching quote form, then say in the notes whether you want a full palazzo or a gentler wide leg, with the hem width if you know it. Add pockets, lining or a lace or border hem if you’d like them.
Common questions
What is the difference between palazzo and wide-leg trousers?
Mostly the width. A palazzo is very full and flowing from the hip, while wide-leg trousers are fuller than straight trousers but more structured. On our quote form both come under “Wide-leg”, and you tell us the width in the notes.
Which kurta length goes with a palazzo?
Hip to knee length usually looks most balanced. A very long kameez over a full palazzo can look heavy, so slimmer trousers suit a long kameez better.
Last reviewed 30 September 2026.
