Getting the fit right matters more with festive wear than almost anything else in your wardrobe — you're usually wearing it for a full day or evening, in photographs that last forever. Here's how we'd walk you through sizing for a CartAdda piece before you order.
How To Measure Yourself At Home
You'll need a soft measuring tape and, ideally, someone to help. Three measurements matter most: bust (around the fullest part, tape parallel to the ground), waist (around your natural waistline, roughly at your belly button, not sucked in), and hip (around the fullest part, usually 7–8 inches below the waist). Take each measurement over the undergarments you'd actually wear with the outfit, and keep the tape snug but not tight — you should be able to slide a finger under it.
Reading Our XS–XXL Chart
Each product page lists the exact sizes available for that piece, from XS (34) through to XXL (44) depending on the style — the number alongside each size label is the bust measurement in inches, which is the anchor measurement for most of our sets. If your bust measurement falls between two labelled sizes, size up rather than down — it's much easier to have a piece taken in slightly by a local tailor than to have one let out, and crop tops in particular have very little seam allowance to let out.
What If I'm Between Two Sizes?
This is genuinely common, especially if your bust and waist measurements point to different sizes on the chart. Our general rule: size for your bust on crop-top and jacket styles (since that's the most fitted, least adjustable part), and size for your waist or hip on Anarkali and palazzo styles (since those are fuller-cut and easier for a tailor to take in at the waist if needed). If you're still unsure, send us your three measurements on WhatsApp before you order — we compare them against the actual garment measurements for that specific product, not just the generic size label.
Crop Tops vs. Full-Length Fit
Crop tops are the most fitted piece in any Indowestern set and the one place we'd encourage you to be most precise about sizing — there's limited fabric to alter later. Anarkalis and palazzos, being fuller silhouettes by design, are far more forgiving, and a half-size difference rarely affects how the finished look sits.
Palazzo & Flare Fit Notes
Our palazzos are made free-size with a drawstring or elastic waist, so they adjust to a fairly wide range of waist measurements on their own — the main thing to check is length, since palazzo length is measured for an average height and can be hemmed shorter by a local tailor in a day if you're petite. Anarkali gown length is listed on each product page; if you're below 5'2" or above 5'8", a quick note to us before ordering helps us flag if hemming or a length adjustment is worth planning for.
Still Unsure? Ask Us
Sizing questions are the single most common message we get, and we'd always rather answer one before you order than handle an exchange after. Message your bust/waist/hip measurements and the product you're looking at to WhatsApp, and we'll tell you exactly which size to pick.