Clothes Sizes: Making Sense of It All

Why it’s so confusing, how to fix it, and what you can do today

Clothing sizes should be simple. Small, medium, large. Or a UK 10. Or a size 30 waist. But anyone who’s shopped across different brands—or even just between countries—knows the truth:

Clothing sizes are chaotic.

Inconsistent. Confusing. Often designed more for branding than for real fit.

This post breaks it all down:

• Why clothes sizes are so inconsistent

• How vanity sizing and international differences add to the mess

• What you can do to avoid sizing mistakes

• And how Tellar.co.uk helps you get it right—every single time.

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Why Clothing Sizes Are So Inconsistent

Walk into a high street store in the UK, pick up three size 12s from three different brands, and you’ll likely get three completely different fits. That’s not your imagination. There’s a reason for the madness.

1. No Standard Sizing Across Brands

There is no legally enforced size chart in the UK. Each brand creates its own:

• M&S size 10 ≠ Zara size 10 ≠ H&M size 10

• A “medium” in one brand may fit like a large in another.

Brands base their sizes on their own fit models, customer demographics, and even marketing strategy.

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2. Vanity Sizing

Ever noticed you’re a size smaller in some luxury or high street stores? That’s vanity sizing—where brands size garments down to make customers feel better.

You might measure as a UK 14, but wear a UK 12 in one brand and a UK 16 in another. None of them are wrong—they’re just not standardised.

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3. Global Sizing Conversions

Trying to buy from international retailers? Things get even messier.

• A UK 10 ≠ US 10

• EU sizing often uses numbers like 38, 40, or 42

• Asian sizes often run 1–2 sizes smaller than UK sizing

And that’s before you even factor in men’s vs women’s sizing, fit style, fabric stretch, or cut.

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Real Talk: It’s Not You, It’s the System

Many people think they’ve gained or lost weight just because something doesn’t fit. But often, the truth is:

The sizing system is broken. Not your body.

That’s why Tellar.co.uk was created—to remove the guesswork, frustration, and returns caused by bad sizing info.

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Why Returns Are a Huge Problem

Sizing confusion doesn’t just frustrate customers. It’s a huge cost to retailers and the planet.

• Over 30% of online clothing purchases are returned

• The majority of these are due to wrong fit

• Returned clothing often isn’t resold—it’s incinerated or sent to landfill

At Tellar.co.uk, we’re changing that.

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How Tellar.co.uk Fixes Clothing Sizing

Tellar.co.uk is the UK’s Leading Free Sizing Tool. Instead of relying on arbitrary size labels, we use your real body measurements to tell you which size will fit you—for over 1,500 brands.

Here’s how it works:

1. You enter your chest, waist and hip measurements.

2. Tellar matches your data against real brand size charts.

3. You instantly see your best size in stores like Zara, Mango, Reiss, White Stuff, Massimo Dutti, and more.

🔗 Try it now – It’s 100% free.

No more returns. No more “this doesn’t fit”. No more guesswork.

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But What If I Don’t Know My Measurements?

That’s ok too.

At Tellar, you can:

• Use a free printable measuring tape provided on our site

• Or tell us what size fits you in one store, and we’ll estimate your measurements from that

Either way, you get an accurate size recommendation—fast.

🔗 Create your profile here

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Size Charts: Why You Shouldn’t Trust Them Blindly

Most websites include a “Size Guide” or “Size Chart”. But here’s the thing:

• They rarely reflect true-to-fit sizing

• They assume standard proportions that don’t apply to all bodies

• They don’t account for fabric stretch, cut, or fit type

Tellar.co.uk compares actual size charts AND factors in style, cut, and shape. It’s data-driven, not guess-driven.

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Women’s vs Men’s Sizing: Another Layer of Confusion

Women’s Sizes

• Usually listed as UK 6 to UK 18 (or XS to XL)

• Often vary wildly between brands

• Influenced heavily by vanity sizing

Men’s Sizes

• Use inches (e.g. 32 waist) or S–XL

• Can still vary in actual fit

• Fit types like Slim, Regular, and Relaxed can dramatically affect the result

Tellar supports both women’s and men’s clothing—so everyone gets an accurate fit.

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Country Conversion Cheatsheet

🔗 Check your size in real time here

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High Street Sizing Examples: What to Expect

Zara

Runs small. A UK 12 shopper may need a Large or even XL.

White Stuff

Runs slightly generous. Great for curvier fits.

Massimo Dutti

Tailored fit. Often closer to EU sizing.

Mango

Also on the slim-fitting side, especially in trousers and blouses.

Reiss

Smart tailoring, but sizing can vary by item.

The solution? Don’t guess. Use Tellar.co.uk to check before you buy.

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Say Goodbye to Size Stress

Sizing uncertainty affects confidence. It makes online shopping harder. It leads to unnecessary returns, waste, and disappointment.

With Tellar.co.uk, you’re empowered:

• To know your body

• To shop smarter

• To buy confidently across 1,500+ brands

🔗 Find your size now

🔗 Follow us on Instagram

🔗 Pinterest: TellarUK

🔗 Facebook: TellarSizing

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Final Word

Fashion sizing shouldn’t be a mystery. Yet it’s been confusing for decades. Whether you're shopping luxury labels or high street favourites, brand sizing is built around marketing—not your body.

Tellar.co.uk changes that.

We’re here to:

• Take the confusion out of sizing

• Help you shop with confidence

• Reduce returns and waste

• Match your exact body to your best size, in real time

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Ready to make sense of sizing—once and for all?

👉 Try Tellar.co.uk today.

Find your size in 1,500+ brands real-time. It’s free & easy.