Style guide · Shalwar and trousers
Sharara Designs for Eid and Gatherings
Quick answer
A sharara is a very wide trouser that flares from the waist or hip all the way to the floor, so each leg swings like a skirt. It’s a favourite for Eid, dawats and family gatherings, worn with a short kurti or peplum top. It needs a lot of fabric, around 4 to 5 metres, so a standard trouser piece is rarely enough on its own.
What it is
Each leg of a sharara is cut with a wide flare, often from several panels, so that when you stand still it looks almost like a skirt. The difference from a gharara is where the flare starts: a sharara is wide from the top, while a gharara fits closely to around the knee and flares below a seam there.
Names are used loosely, and some brands call any wide, floor-length trouser a sharara, so a reference photo is the clearest way to show what you mean.
Who and what it suits
- Short kurti, hip to mid-thigh: the classic pairing, and the most balanced for most heights.
- Peplum top: a fitted waist over a full trouser looks modern and neat. See our peplum and short kurti guide.
- Knee-length kameez: works over a soft sharara, though it hides more of the flare.
- Eid, dawats and gatherings: dressy without being bridal. Our Eid ideas have more.
- Dupatta: a light chiffon or organza dupatta keeps the look airy.
Fabric and how much you need
Chiffon and georgette are fluid and graceful, lined for coverage. Cotton silk, raw silk and jacquard have more body, so the flare stands out. Lawn and cotton are cooler and far easier to wash for a summer Eid.
As a rough guide, a sharara takes around 4 to 5 metres of 45 inch (114 cm) fabric, depending on the fullness and your height. The trouser piece in a standard unstitched suit is usually around 2.5 metres, so extra fabric is almost always needed. A plain fabric in a colour from the kurti often looks better than stretching the print; see what to do if your suit is short of fabric.
Length and comfort
Length matters most. The hem should just clear the floor in the shoes you’ll wear: too long and you tread on it on the stairs, too short and the effect is lost. Measure your trouser length from the natural waist in those shoes, and give your waist and hip. A full sharara is heavy, especially when lined, so an elastic or drawstring waist with a flat front is usually most comfortable.
How to ask for it
Choose “Sharara” under trouser style on the stitching quote form, say how full you want it and whether it should be lined, and add a reference photo. If you’re sending your own fabric for Stitching Only, include the extra fabric in your photos so we can check the quantity before cutting.
Common questions
What is the difference between a sharara and a gharara?
A sharara is wide from the waist or hip all the way down, while a gharara is fitted to around the knee and flares out below a seam there. The gharara’s knee seam is usually covered with a band of lace, gota or embroidery.
Is the trouser piece in my unstitched suit enough for a sharara?
Usually not on its own. A sharara takes around 4 to 5 metres, while most trouser pieces are around 2.5 metres. Send photos of your fabric and we check what’s possible before cutting.
Last reviewed 30 September 2026.
