How to read a Pakistani size chart when you live in the UK
Published
Measure a shirt you already own and like the fit of, then compare it with the brand’s chart. Most Pakistani charts list the garment, not your body, so matching your bust measurement to the chart will usually leave you a size too tight.
What the numbers on the chart mean
Most charts give chest, length and hip as half measurements, taken flat from armpit to armpit. A chart that says 20 for chest means a 40-inch garment. Some brands list the full figure. If the chest number is under 25, it is almost certainly a half measurement.
Measuring a shirt you own
Lay the shirt flat and button it. Measure straight across, one inch below the armholes. Measure length from the highest point of the shoulder to the hem. Write both down with the brand and size of that shirt.
Comparing brands
Sample Brand A and Sample Brand B both call a size M, but my tape put them 1.5 inches apart at the chest. The size guide lists every brand I have measured, with the date I measured it.
When to size up
Size up if your shirt measures between two sizes on the chart, or if the fabric is lawn or cotton and you plan to wash it hot. Every lawn shirt I have washed so far lost between a quarter and half an inch in length in the first wash.
