Friday, April 4, 2008

Get the Right Size Salwar Kameez

The Salwar Kameez is not our typical Western costume, with tight and snug fits meant to accentuate the contours of our bodies. The appeal of Salwar Kameez lies in its comfort achieved through a loose and graceful fitting. The Kameez is the long tunic-like shirt which is worn like a T-shirt and slips down elegantly typically up to our knees. The Salwar is the loose and baggy pants tied at the waist typically using a drawstring. No need to suck in tummies for the hooks to clasp or buttons to go through the button-holes.

Consequently, when purchasing a Salwar Kameez the correct sizing is quite important. Typically, one should purchase the Kameez which is 5 inches more than your actual size at the chest and the hips. The folks at ShopIndia.com refer to it as the Comfort Margin. Remember, the costume has to be worn loose. So don't be scared about ending up with oversized clothes. Usually good sites have some measurement tips, explaining how to purchase the Salwar Kameez on their sites. What has worked for me is the sizing chart on this link. I usually get many Plus Size Salwar Kameez. Notice on the link page above how the comfort allowance is necessary even for Plus Size Salwar Kameez. The key measurements are Bust and Hip. You may find a sizing link on other sites too like indiaplaza.com.

Once you have added the comfort margin to your actual measurements, you can then purchase the Salwar Kameez in the size format that we are accustomed to - Small, Medium, XL, Plus 1X, etc. Get the right size and enjoy your Salwar Kameez.