How to Choose Your Moroccan Clothing Size

The single most reliable way to choose your size in Moroccan clothing is to take your own body measurements and compare them against the measurements listed on the specific item you want, not against the letter size on the label. Moroccan pieces are cut loose by design, and letter sizing is not standardised between makers, so an S from one workshop can fit like an M from another. This guide explains how these garments are cut, how to measure yourself correctly, how each piece is meant to sit, and how to think about EU, UK, and US sizing without relying on a conversion chart that would not be accurate.

Moroccan clothing is generous by design. These garments grew out of a tradition of loose, flowing dress built for movement, modest coverage, and a hot-then-cold climate, so they carry far more ease through the body than fitted Western clothing. The shape is meant to drape rather than to cling.

Not every piece is cut to the same fullness. A caftan is usually cut more generously than a djellaba: it is occasion dress meant to fall in a soft, flowing line, often worn with a light belt that the wearer can tighten to taste, so the body of the garment is left roomy. A djellaba carries less built-in ease because it is an everyday outer robe worn over other clothes, so it sits closer to a familiar fit.

The practical effect is that the length of the garment matters as much as its width. Because the silhouette is loose, the measurement that most often decides whether a piece works on you is the total length, not how snug it is around the waist. Keep that in mind as you measure.

You only need a soft measuring tape and, ideally, a second person to help. Measure over light clothing or underwear, keep the tape level and snug but not tight, and stand relaxed rather than holding your breath. Write each number down so you can compare it against the measurements published on the item.

Five measurements cover almost every Moroccan garment. The table below describes what each one is and how to take it.

Each piece is meant to sit in its own way, so the same measurements can read as a different fit from one garment to the next.

A caftan is meant to fall loose and full from the shoulders to the ankle in one flowing line. It should clear the bust and hips with room to spare and can be drawn in at the waist with a belt if you want more shape. Choose for the shoulder and length first; the body is forgiving.

A djellaba is an outer robe worn over other clothes, so it should sit comfortably over a layer with the pointed hood hanging cleanly at the back. It carries less ease than a caftan, so it reads closer to a regular relaxed fit. Length should reach the ankle and the sleeves should cover the wrists.

A takchita is the two-piece ceremonial form: an inner dress (the tahtiya) under an open over-robe (the dfina) closed with a fitted belt (the mdamma). Because the belt defines the waist, the waist measurement matters more here than on a plain caftan, while the under-dress and over-robe stay loose and full.

A jabador is a tailored tunic worn over matching trousers. It is cut closer than a caftan and is meant to look neat rather than flowing, so the chest, shoulder, and trouser waist measurements all matter. A gandoura is a lighter, often sleeveless or short-sleeved one-piece tunic with no hood; it is relaxed and airy by nature, so the shoulder and length are the measurements to check.

There is no single accurate conversion from a EU, UK, or US size to a Moroccan size, and you should be cautious of any chart that promises one. Letter sizes such as S, M, and L are not standardised between Moroccan makers, and many pieces are tailored or made in small runs, so the same letter can mean different real measurements from one workshop to the next.

Two things follow from that. First, because Moroccan pieces run loose, the body of the garment will usually give you more room than your home-country size would suggest, especially for a caftan. Second, the only conversion that is reliable is the one you do yourself: take your measurements in centimetres or inches, then compare them directly against the measurements listed on the specific item.

So treat your usual EU, UK, or US size as a rough starting point for narrowing the options, never as the final answer. The measurements on the individual piece are what decide the fit.

If you fall between two sizes, size up. A garment that runs slightly large drapes the way Moroccan dress is meant to and can be belted or lightly altered, while one that is too tight cannot be let out. This is doubly true for ceremonial pieces, where you may be layering, sitting for long celebrations, and wanting full, flowing movement.

When you are still unsure, ask us before you order. Send us the measurements of a garment you already own and wear well, along with your body measurements, and we will help you choose the right size for the specific piece. The quickest way to reach us is on WhatsApp.