How to Measure

Every piece we make is cut by hand in Jaipur, which means we can cut it to you. Made to measure is free on every style — you just need five numbers, a soft measuring tape, and about three minutes.

Before you start: wear the undergarments you'd normally wear with the dress. Keep the tape snug but never tight — you should be able to slip a finger underneath. Keep it level all the way around, and don't hold your breath in. If someone can help you measure, the numbers will be more accurate than measuring yourself.

The five measurements we need

1. Bust

Measure around the fullest part of your bust, with the tape level across your back. Don't flatten or compress — measure how you actually are.

2. Waist

Your natural waist is the narrowest part of your torso, usually an inch or so above your belly button. Bend to one side — where your body creases is your natural waist. This is not where your jeans sit.

3. Hip

Measure around the fullest part of your hips and seat, roughly 20 cm below your natural waist, keeping the tape level.

4. Length — shoulder to hem

This is the one people get wrong most often. Start at the top of your shoulder, right beside your neck, and measure straight down the front of your body to exactly where you want the dress to end. Wear the shoes you'd pair it with — heels change this number by several centimetres.

5. Height

Your full height, without shoes. We use this to cross-check your length measurement. If the two don't make sense together, we'll email you before we cut — it's the step that catches most mistakes.

A few things worth knowing

Measure your body, not a dress you own. We build in the ease and drape ourselves. If you send us garment measurements, the finished piece will come out too large.

Round to the nearest half centimetre (or quarter inch). Precision beyond that doesn't survive hand-cutting anyway.

Tell us the unit. There's a dropdown for centimetres or inches — please set it. A bust of 92 means something very different in each.

Made-to-measure pieces take longer. Because your dress is cut individually rather than from our standard sizing, allow additional production time before dispatch. The exact window is shown when you select the made-to-measure option.

Returns on made-to-measure pieces

A garment cut to your measurements can't be resold, so made-to-measure orders can't be returned or exchanged for fit or change of mind. This is standard across the industry, and it's why we ask you to double-check your numbers before ordering.

If a piece arrives with a fault, or if it doesn't match the measurements you gave us, that's on us — contact us and we'll make it right.

Not sure about a measurement? Email support@threadsofgulab.com before you order. We'd much rather answer a question now than remake a dress later.

Prefer standard sizing? Our regular sizes run S through 4XL, with some styles to 5XL — see the Size Guide. Standard sizes remain fully returnable under our Refund Policy.