The short answer: the everyday Pakistani outfit is the shalwar kameez — a tunic (kameez) worn over trousers (shalwar) with a scarf (dupatta). Around that core sits a rich vocabulary: jora (outfit/set), lehenga, gharara, sharara, anarkali, maxi and more. Here is the complete beginner’s glossary, so you can shop and converse with confidence.
The essential glossary
| Term | What it is |
|---|---|
| Shalwar kameez | The national outfit: kameez (tunic) + shalwar (loose trousers). Worn by all genders, casual to formal. |
| Kameez | The tunic/top itself — lengths and cuts vary with fashion. |
| Shalwar | Classic loose, pleated trousers tapering at the ankle. |
| Dupatta | The long scarf completing an outfit — draped, styled or worn over the head. |
| Jora | Simply “outfit” — a jora set means the complete co-ordinated pieces. |
| Trouser variations | Churidar (gathered at ankle), cigarette pants (slim), palazzo (wide), culottes. |
| Anarkali | Frock-style gown, fitted at the bodice and flaring out — named for a Mughal-era legend. |
| Lehenga / lengha | Flared skirt + blouse (choli) + dupatta — the bridal classic. Two spellings, one garment; see the collection. |
| Gharara | Wide trousers flaring dramatically from the knee — heritage formal; see ghararas. |
| Sharara | Trousers flaring from the waist — the fluid sister; see shararas. |
| Farshi | Floor-sweeping, train-like grandeur — farshi lehengas. |
| Maxi | The modern floor-length embellished gown — walima favourite; see maxis. |
| Kurta | A straighter-cut tunic — the casual-to-smart workhorse. |
| Pret / luxury pret | Ready-to-wear; luxury pret is its elevated occasion tier. |
Shalwar kameez vs “salwar suit”
Same garment family, different romanisation and region: “shalwar kameez” is standard Pakistani usage; “salwar kameez/suit” dominates Indian English. If a listing says either, you are looking at the tunic-and-trouser outfit — the deeper style differences between the traditions are covered in Pakistani vs Indian clothes.
Using the vocabulary when you shop
Occasion words unlock the right rail fastest: search the event (mehndi, nikah, baraat, walima) or the silhouette, then refine by colour. New to it all? The silhouette guide and first-timer guest guide take you from vocabulary to outfit.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Pakistani dress called?
The everyday answer is shalwar kameez; formal occasions add lehengas, ghararas, shararas, anarkalis and maxis — each a distinct silhouette rather than one “dress.”
What is the scarf worn with Pakistani outfits called?
The dupatta — functional, decorative and deeply styled; every complete AÏNN London set includes one.
Is a kurta the same as a kameez?
Close cousins: kurta implies a straighter, often more casual cut; kameez is the general tunic term. Usage overlaps constantly.
What does “jora” mean on Pakistani fashion sites?
Outfit or set — typically the full kameez-bottoms-dupatta trio sold together, as all AÏNN London outfits are.
