The most common mistake men make is assuming their western wear size translates directly to ethnic wear. It doesn't — and the difference can be significant. A man who wears a size L in western shirts may wear XL in kurtas, or vice versa, depending on the brand and cut.

Western shirts are cut for a close, tailored fit. Kurtas are traditionally cut with more ease — room to move, room to breathe, room to sit cross-legged at a puja. This means the chest measurement that determines your western shirt size needs to be cross-referenced against the brand's actual kurta size chart, not assumed to match.