The United States is our biggest market outside Pakistan, and most US orders so far have been lehenga choli, pieces from our Ishq Naama collection, and pishwas. Everything is made in our Lahore atelier after you order, then shipped free by DHL or SkyNet to your US address.
This guide is for US customers. It covers the timeline, the customs change that hit every US parcel in 2025, how your card is charged, and how our sizes map to US sizes.
What our US customers say
"I've never ordered before from Waqas Shah, so I was a bit skeptical about the quality of the dress and worried it wouldn't come in time for an event. However, they went above and beyond. I couldn't be happier with the dress, it's exactly as pictured on the website and they customized it to the measurements I sent them. They also immediately shipped it out the next day so I would receive it on time. The representative from Waqas Shah answered all of my questions on WhatsApp and I received the package in 4 days from Pakistan to US. The service and quality is exceptional! Highly recommend."
— Hanna Osmani, United States, reviewed on Google
"Absolutely loved the outfits received! The quality is beautiful and the fit and craftsmanship is exactly as shown in pictures. Customer service was prompt and responsive. I had no problems with my order although I'm an international client and had my outfits delivered to California! Received so many compliments on each outfit I wore — definitely ordering more!"
— Sarah Qazi, California, United States, reviewed on Google
"I Love My Dresses. I ordered from USA. Got delivered on time and looked perfect as in their profile. 100% recommended. Appreciate their professionalism."
— Manahil Sheikh, United States, reviewed on Google
How long a US order takes
Two clocks run one after the other: the making, then the shipping.
- Ready to Ship: leaves Lahore within 24 to 48 hours.
- Luxury Pret: about 4 weeks.
- Luxury Formals: 5 to 6 weeks.
- Bridals: 10 to 12 weeks, delivery included.
After dispatch, delivery takes 4 to 11 days to reach most US addresses, and you get the tracking number the day the parcel leaves us. Shipping is free on every order. If you are working back from a wedding date, count from the bridal timeline and add a margin for customs, which now applies to every parcel (see below).
Customs duty on US orders — what changed in 2025
This is the part most sites have not updated, so it is worth being direct about.
Until August 2025, packages entering the United States under $800 cleared customs duty-free under the de minimis exemption. That exemption ended on 29 August 2025 for all countries, and in June 2026 US Customs made the suspension permanent by regulation.
What this means in practice: every parcel entering the USA now goes through full customs entry and is subject to duty, whatever its value. Your order is shipped DDU — delivered duty unpaid — so the duty is payable by you, not by us.
How it works for you: The courier clears the parcel through US customs and contacts you directly before delivery to collect any duty and clearance fees owed. You pay the courier, not us, and the parcel is released once that is settled.
We cannot tell you the exact amount in advance. It depends on the fabric composition of your piece, its declared value, and the tariff rates in force at the time your parcel arrives — and those rates have moved several times since 2025. Any brand that quotes you a fixed percentage is guessing.
What we can do is declare your order accurately and give you the documentation the courier needs, so clearance is as quick as possible.
Paying from a US card
Browse from the US and the site shows dollar prices, worked out from today's rate. The checkout itself charges your card in Pakistani rupees, because Shopify Payments is not available in Pakistan and our gateway settles in rupees.
Your bank does the conversion, so the dollar figure on your statement is your bank's, not ours. Check whether your card adds a foreign transaction fee (often 1 to 3%); many travel cards charge none. If you want the dollar total agreed before you pay, ask us on WhatsApp.
US sizing
We cut in XXS to XL, and anything outside that is made to measure. In US sizes:
XXS — US 00
XS — US 0–2
S — US 4–6
M — US 8–10
L — US 12–14
XL — US 16–18
Measurements in inches
Most US customers measure in inches, and that is fine: send them as you take them. Most designs are made to your measurements at no extra charge, including sleeve length, neckline and waist.
Lahore is 9 hours ahead of New York and 12 hours ahead of California during US daylight time. Message us in your evening and the reply is usually there when you wake up. WhatsApp +92 310 0001250.
If this is your first couture order from abroad, The Waqas Shah Experience walks you through every step, from the first video call to the tracking number.
Wearing it to an Indian wedding
Many of our US brides and guests are going to Indian weddings, not Pakistani ones. A lehenga choli, gharara or sharara works at both: a mehendi and a mehndi are the same evening with a different spelling, and the colours overlap almost completely.
The difference is emphasis. Indian mehendi dressing leans towards lehengas and sarees; Pakistani mehndi leans towards gharara and sharara. We make all three, and our pishwas, which is also called an anarkali, works just as well if the invitation asks for one. We keep a small saree range too.
Where US customers start
Bridal Lehenga Choli
Ishq Naama
Pishwas and Anarkali
Mehndi Dresses
Ready to Ship
Guides for our other markets: The UK · Canada · Australia · The UAE · Europe · All guides for brides abroad
Talk to us first
Ordering couture from the other side of the world is a big step, so ask before you pay: WhatsApp +92 310 0001250 or email waqasshahofficial@gmail.com. The full terms are in our Shipping Policy and Refund Policy.