What Is Sizing Like at Naeem Khan?

Naeem Khan runs largely true to size, but everything is cut close and built to hold its shape — so if you sit between sizes, carry your weight through the hips, or you’re buying one of his fitted gowns, I’d size up rather than risk it. This is precision eveningwear, not forgiving jersey, and the difference matters the moment you do up the zip.

I’ve dressed clients for galas, weddings and one very memorable 60th in Naeem Khan, and the brand has a reputation among stylists for being beautifully made and quietly demanding. Get the size right and you look like a million pounds. Get it wrong and you’re holding your breath all night. So let me talk you through exactly what to expect.

First, who is Naeem Khan?

Naeem Khan is the Indian-American designer behind some of the most photographed gowns of the last twenty years — think red-carpet beading, hand-embroidered florals and silk caftans worn by everyone from royalty to first ladies. The label launched in 2003 and sits firmly in the luxury occasion and bridal space. You’ll find it at Saks, Neiman Marcus and Net-a-Porter, and almost every piece is handworked, which is exactly why fit is so unforgiving.

So what’s the sizing actually like?

Here’s the honest breakdown from someone who has zipped a lot of clients into these dresses:

True to size — mostly. Take your normal US designer size as a starting point. Khan uses standard US numeric sizing (typically 0–14), so a UK 10 generally lands around a US 6.
Fitted through the waist and midsection. Many styles have built-in boning and a sculpted waist. Lovely on the body, but there’s no give, so don’t buy for the size you hope to be.
Cut straight at the hip. The gowns are designed long and lean. If you’re curvier below the waist, size up and take the waist in — that’s far easier than letting hips out.
Long lengths. Most gowns are designed for around 5’6”–5’9” in heels. Petites will almost always need a hem; tall women should check the drop before falling in love.

The fabrics don’t forgive — and why that’s the whole story

This is the bit people miss. Khan works in silk gazar, beaded tulle, organza and heavy embroidery — gorgeous, structured fabrics with essentially zero stretch. That means:

Your usual “I’ll squeeze in” trick simply won’t work.
Beaded and embellished pieces sit slightly heavier and can read a touch snugger than the measurements suggest.
Many gowns are best worn with a NuBra or nothing — the necklines and backs are cut for it.

My rule with any non-stretch luxury piece: buy for your largest measurement and tailor the rest. A good seamstress can nip a waist in an afternoon. Nobody can magic fabric that isn’t there.

A quick confession (a styling fail and a win)

Early in my career I let a client order a Khan column gown in her “usual” size because the measurements technically fit. They did — standing still. The second she sat down at dinner the boning dug in and she spent the speeches perched like a meerkat. Lesson learned. The win came a year later: same client, same designer, sized up by one, waist taken in by half an inch. She looked sensational and actually ate her pudding. That half-inch is everything.

If you love the look but want more options

Khan is a serious investment, so here’s where I’d send clients chasing that same hand-finished, occasion-ready glamour at every budget.

On the high street

Coast — the UK’s go-to for embellished and beaded occasion dresses; brilliant for that red-carpet feeling without the price tag.
Phase Eight — sequinned and beaded eveningwear with proper mother-of-the-bride polish.
Monsoon — genuinely lovely hand-embellished pieces; their beadwork punches well above its price.
Hobbs — British tailoring done well, ideal if you want structure and a cleaner line.
Reiss — sleek, modern evening dresses for the woman who wants minimal over maximal.
Ted Baker — feminine florals and embellished cocktail dresses with a playful edge.
LK Bennett — refined, grown-up occasionwear; the duchess-approved choice for weddings.
Whistles — pared-back, elegant occasion pieces when you don’t want fuss.

Premium

Ghost — fluid, bias-cut dresses with a vintage romance that flatters almost everyone.
Sandro — Parisian polish; their lace and embellished cocktail pieces feel far more than their price.
Cefinn — Samantha Cameron’s label, all clean lines and clever occasion dressing for real life.
The Fold — London tailoring with serious structure; superb if you want sculpted rather than floaty.

Luxury & designer peers

Marchesa — ethereal, embellished red-carpet gowns; the closest cousin to Khan’s romance.
Monique Lhuillier — beaded eveningwear and bridal with the same dreamy hand-finish.
Elie Saab — couture-level embroidery if your budget stretches to true showstopper.
Oscar de la Renta — opulent floral eveningwear with that grand, garden-party glamour.

And two left-field independents I love

Taller Marmo — the Italian independent making metallic, fringed kaftans and column dresses. If you adore Khan’s caftans, this is your brand. Mostly cut as a relaxed one-size, so a refreshing break from fitted gowns.
Markarian — a small New York atelier hand-finishing made-to-order occasionwear (they famously dressed Dr Jill Biden). Beautiful for something nobody else will be wearing.

The easiest way to get your Naeem Khan size right

Because Khan sales are usually final and the fabrics don’t budge, I never guess. This is exactly what Tellar.co.uk is built for.

Never look at a size guide again

Tellar is the UK’s leading sizing tool — your body matched exactly to 1,500+ brands instantly. Measure once using your bust, waist and hip, or just your existing size in a brand you know, and we do the rest. Always honest, always unbiased, always free — no downloads, works straight in your browser.

Use our Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.

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More from the Tellar Fashion Hub

Our Fashion Hub is a library stacked with free posts from our top stylists — honest, unbiased, independent and always free. Style advice, top picks and best brands for every occasion. A few you might like:

Buy the size your body actually is, tailor the details, and let the gown do the rest. With Khan, that’s the whole secret.

— Ella Blake, Senior Stylist at Tellar