how sizing works with European brands
If I had a pound for every direct message I've had about sizing at these brands we'd all be reading this from a villa in the Bahamas.
For Brits, I hope this is useful. For people further afield, consider this post one to bookmark or send to friends who like to shop with European brands online. We’re a complex bunch - we don’t love being grouped together. When Americans say “that’s so European” we literally have no idea what you are talking about. Even writing “European brands” for this post feels bizarre to me.
To give you a few pointers:
There isn’t even really a “British” look anymore, in our view.
I am certain Scotland, Wales and NI do not want to be grouped in with that.
The differences between the North and South of England are equal parts imaginary as they are starkly visible. For some people there should be a border.
At a stretch (and in a comedic, over stereotyped way) there is a London “way,” a countryside “way”, a coastal “way” and a lot of other cities have distinct styles.
Even that doesn’t really work because I could tell you which area of London a person lives by their outfit choice (potentially also by their drink order). Then there are the “bridge and tunnel” looks… please make me stop here before I get cancelled...
Each European country will feel the same way about the mix of looks within their borders. We are a multilingual, multicultural and multi-heritage bunch and happy for it.
Then there are the views each region and country have on each other… please do not make me go there too much but I will say something I was told by a Frenchman, “Parisians hate the French and the French hate Parisians…” par exemple. … My Italian friend will tell you the Milanese have a certain way. My Spanish friend explains every piece of behaviour our other Spanish friend exhibits with “Yes, but she is from Barcelona.”
As a reference point; imagine us calling someone wearing cowboy boots “so American.” It does and does not work with varied - equally valid - viewpoints.
the sizing methods
Within all that you the have sizing, which can be a minefield. What is grossly unhelpful is that some sizing is measured in Imperial (inches) and some in metric (centimetres). This may not sound too difficult but when it comes to things like European shoe sizings it could mean your feet are not the conversion that’s listed on a website - as your exact size falls into a different size grouping. Capiche?
Generally speaking you can live by these rules:
A US 8 would be a UK 12 and European 40.
There is an exception: Danish brands run a size smaller so a EUR 40 is a EUR 38 (this is particularly applicable for Ganni but also sometimes the case for H&M group clothing).
Small tends to mean UK 8/10, medium 12/14, large 16/18 - however - now we’ve entered the worlds of XXS and XXL and 2XL it can really, really vary.
Not all “European” shoe sizes were born equal. Sometimes Italian sizing means you take the number down (ie: a smaller numerate size).
British made brands account for curves more than continental brands (particularly the French, Spanish and most definitely the Italians).
German and Scandinavian brands are usually the safest on shape but often come up long (because they are all lithe, beautiful Vikings, you see?).
Now, lets do a more detailed “brand by brand” take on things, highlighting their bestselling pieces…
me+em
I noticed in New York that more and more people are wearing ME+EM. I get why, particularly in NYC; the brand nail the “work-ish clothing that nods to you being on trend.'“ I did a much deeper take on this brand because I was continuously being asked for it, here.
I find this brand pretty bang on sizing wise - except - their trousers are really long. their founder, Claire is very tall which makes me think she is their sizing model? I’m joking but also feel like if I was making a brand I’d want to make clothes I could wear so fair play. I’d say they’re made to fit a 5 foot 8 (172cm) woman as standard.
The brand first came to be known for their multipurpose ponte trousers; you can fly, work and play in them. They next came up with a pull-on smart trouser that I could not be without. The clever thing with the brand is that everything fits together - the shirts are designed to fit perfectly under the blazers and layering pieces. The jackets and coats are sized with the idea of wearing two of their layers underneath. They have cotton tops that just have the cuffs and collars of a shirt - here. It’s clever!
Next came their cashmere which is very, very good - in particular their zip up cashmere. The cashmere shrunken baby tee is slowly becoming one of the most coveted things with the Instagram elite (and therefore rarely in stock). If women have one thing from them though, it could well be their tailored cargo pants. Somehow these bad boys look as good with a blazer as they do with a sweater.
Tailoring is very strong from them and long lasting - the cropped jacket is another hallmark piece from them (and somehow works with all bust sizes). Their footwear is made in Italy and beautiful, you are essentially buying a designer shoe (same with their accessories). They always have a sale on, here, which is always worth a look.
aligne
This brand seems to be taking over at the moment, or perhaps it’s my own Instagram feed? Although they burst onto the scene the summer before with this dress (which isn’t my thing as I don’t love zips) it was the Daphne blazer or the Leo waistcoat that seemed to get them stratospheric levels of attention. Seen a tailored blazer on the high street? It’s an Aligne dupe.
Sizing. We should probably start with the aforementioned hero pieces; both the Leo and the Daphne come up true to size for a B/C cup size chest. Any larger than that you may want to size up and you can adjust the waist on the back without it looking weird. I’d say the same thing with their knitwear, I take a 12 in the Daphne knit but only because of my chest.
Trousers wise they are generous everywhere except the waist on me - my Markus jeans are looser on the bum and thighs to be able to get them around my middle. And the coats come up big, size down. Even sized down my trench coat is roomy. On everything else - dressed, tops etc I’d say take your regular size.
Their recent move into achingly cool bridal will be worn by every bride who claims not to care too much about their outfit.
sezane
The one I see in Substack chats the most; Sezane sizing. Many moons ago I did a wider post on the quality of this French fancy, here. It includes a take on quality - all of which I still stand by. I think everything is largely good but find a lot of their knitwear scratchy and as we’re here to talking about sizing; absolutely massive.
I don’t know how the sizing comes up on the American version of the website but just in case - an American 6 would be a 38, an 8 would be a 40. The French aren’t particularly good at size inclusivity but Sezane are better than most. A lot stop at a 42 or 44, which is mad.
Generally speaking French brands come up small, so it took me a while to gather the coverage to try anything other than tops with Sezane. I was pleasantly surprised; my Clara trousers are my usual size and do not protest over my bum and thighs… This gave me some confidence to try more from the brand. To make this as useful as possible I’m going to give info on the bestsellers.
Max Shirt - unless you are very, very busty size down. They come up huge.
Clyde Trench - As the website says if you are between sizes, size down. Or if you plan to wear very thick jumpers under it, take your regular size.
Will Jacket - I would say they run as the “small” being a size US 6-8. For all textures including suede.
Gaspard Cardigan - Like most of their knitwear it comes up very big. I wear a small in this and could do an XS if I really wanted to.
Only other insight is I find their footwear can run quite small, by maybe half a size? this works really well for me as I am a European 36.5 so can wear a 37 - but could be annoying for others.
hush
This brand has undergone a major facelift and in it’s current form is really good. It didn’t used to be, a past life saw it as a sort of safe, dumpy option for women who didn’t know where else to shop. Remove that impression from your mind if that is the case - it’s now not a regular mom, it’s a cool mom.
Three things of particular note:
the cashmere chunky-necked knit that got The Row fans in a fluster
their handbags; sign up to their newsletter to be in with a chance of the second drop of their suede bowling bag
the Nessa jean; nothing Barry Island about these beauties, stunning fit and true to size. They hang as well as much more expensive denim.
But sizing? It’s stayed true its (potentially deliberate) ego flattering fit of the past - it comes up big in tops. For example, whereas in French brands I may fall into a medium or even a large - here I am almost always a small. As someone perpetually between a 10 and a 12 I am always a 10 in their trousers. Tops I am a 10 or potentially even an 8 if they are oversize - so yeah, big. Exception to this is jeans where I would say they are true to size waist wise.
lets go into some other brands; toast, arket, boden, M&S and & other stories…
toast
I had absolutely no idea that Toast existed in the US but walked past their West Village store last week! One of my favourite UK exports - a firm favourite of the linen-loving, easy-life contingent here in Blighty! My only comment here is their clothing comes up large - take for example their famous cotton trousers, I am always a small in them, whereas in other brands I might go into a medium. Side note: I cannot recommend those pants more!
arket
Although part of the H&M group, the sizing is actually quite good here (see my disdain for & Other Stories below). That said, their S/M/L sizing comes up quite big. A small is probably a 10/12 whereas industry wise it would be 8/10.
For tailored things (like this linen blazer everyone is after) take your typical European size unless you are very busty in which case size up. When they say things like “oversize” or “barrel leg” they really mean it, so I’d often size down just to reduce the balloon-ness, ha!
I should note, it is a real shame that they only go up to a European 44. I hope they will be more inclusive in the future because so many of their shapes would look amazing on a full frame!
boden
This brand had somewhat of a revival a few years ago - having seen their Spring/Summer I do think it is going a little backwards towards it’s original customer - however - they are still some really good pieces in the mix.
Generally speaking I think they come up true to size - I do find their breton shirts come up small so would size up there. The Holly cardigan (they repeat this style every year) comes up a little small too, I would wear a medium in this. Trousers wise, I’d say their size 12 comes up as a 29 waist which is arguably a little smaller than others.
At the time of writing the brand are in a 40% sale here. A particular mention should go to this Oxford shirt because it looks so good for the (full) price but is now 60% off, and this blazer is half pricd.
marks & spencer
I wish everyone would stop saying that M&S comes up big - it does not. The reality is 95% of their clothing have elastic at the waist so you can get away with sizing down. When their stuff is tailored, it comes up true to size.
Footwear is always true to size too, except for sandals where I find I need to go down half a size. I also find their denim comes up very short in the leg. I am only 5 foot 4 and need a regular leg by a long way - the short leg would be like capri pants on me!
Their website can take a bit of sorting so here are some fast links:
the suedette trench everyone is after
M&S brand footwear.
M&S Collection clothing.
& other stories
So this brand baffles me.
Truthfully I’d question if I’d feel confident enough to shop online with them at all. Whenever I go into store it is a totally lottery as to what my size will be. For a start they worked like H&M - so where a US 8/UK 12 should be a EUR 40 - for them on most things you’d be a 38. But not on everything! My only explanation is that they use different suppliers in different countries who do different sizes for this.
Where you can, do things my waist measurement which is always accurate. So it won’t be as a simple as being a certain size in say, denim - You’ll need to try different jeans on to know your sizing I am afraid!
Oh this is great, thank you. Going to be bookmarking this and coming back to it over and over. Sézane is all enormous on me, agree re Me&Em trouser length (which is why I LOVE their “Short wide leg trousers” which have a more standard inside leg length!), and good to re Arket and Aligne as have my eye on some bits there. Thank you!