Does the Brand Chanel Run Big or Small on Clothes Sizing?

The Legacy of Chanel: Luxury Fashion with Precision Craftsmanship

Chanel is one of the most iconic names in luxury fashion. Known for its haute couture tailoring, bouclé jackets, and timeless French elegance, Chanel sets the standard for refined dressing. From ready-to-wear collections to accessories, everything Chanel produces is rooted in the maison’s heritage of precision and artistry.

But when it comes to sizing, things get more complicated.

Does Chanel clothing run big or small?

The truth is that Chanel sizing varies—especially across its RTW collections, boutique exclusives, and couture lines. Fit differences between US, UK, and EU sizes only add to the confusion. Below, we explore Chanel’s true sizing behaviour, and how Tellar.co.uk makes finding your size effortless.

Chanel Sizing Overview: Classic, Tailored — and Unforgiving

Chanel clothing tends to run small, especially compared to UK high-street brands. The brand follows French sizing standards, which are narrower in the bust, waist, and shoulders—particularly in tailored pieces like jackets, dresses, and skirts.

Key Sizing Summary:

Tailored garments: Often run small, especially in the bust and armholes
Knitwear: Slightly more forgiving, but still slim fit
Skirts and trousers: Cut for slender hips and high waists
Dresses: Typically true to French size, but may require sizing up for curvier body types

Chanel Fit by Garment Type

1. Jackets and Blazers

Chanel’s famous tweed jackets and structured blazers are among the most precisely tailored pieces in fashion.

Narrow shoulders and high armholes
Slim through the waist and chest
No stretch in traditional fabrics like tweed or bouclé

Sizing Tip: Many women need to size up once or even twice from their UK size for proper fit, especially in the arms and shoulders.

2. Dresses and Skirts

Chanel dresses — whether from the ready-to-wear line or boutique collections — feature clean seams, structured waists, and minimal give.

Designed for a straight silhouette
Slim through the bust and hips
Limited stretch unless cut in jersey

“A French 38 was too snug on the hips even though I’m a UK 10. I went for a 40 and the fit was perfect.” — Client review via MatchesFashion

3. Knitwear and Tops

Chanel’s knitwear line offers slightly more flexibility:

Ribbed knits and soft wool jumpers allow some ease
Cropped cardigans and cami tops are still cut slim
French sizes match typical designer sizing

Sizing Tip: Stick to your true French size for knitwear, size up for fitted silhouettes or if you have a larger bust.

4. Trousers and Tailored Pants

Waist-focused cuts (many sit above the natural waistline)
Hips are narrow and unlined fabrics limit stretch
Wide-leg and culotte styles may fit more generously in the leg but still run slim at the top

“I wear UK 12 but always size up to a 44 in Chanel trousers. Worth it for the tailoring, but not generous.” – Fashion forum user

Chanel Sizing Chart: French to UK & US Conversion

Chanel (FR)	UK Size	US Size	Bust (in)	Waist (in)	Hip (in)
34	6	2	31.5	24	34
36	8	4	32.5	25	35
38	10	6	34	27	37
40	12	8	36	29	39
42	14	10	38	31	41
44	16	12	40	33	43

Reminder: These are reference conversions — but real fit varies with fabric, tailoring, and collection. Always double-check measurements and fit notes.

Real Chanel Buyer Feedback

“I’m a UK 10 and found Chanel jackets in FR 38 way too tight in the arms. FR 40 worked better, especially layered over a blouse.”
— Net-a-Porter customer review

“Trousers are elegant but unforgiving. There’s no stretch at all.”
— Fashion community forum

“Sizing is consistent but on the small side. If you’re curvy, go up one full French size at minimum.”
— Trustpilot style reviewer

Why Chanel Sizing Still Confuses Shoppers

Luxury sizing isn’t standardised. With Chanel, you face:

French to UK size conversion confusion
Tailoring that leaves no room for error
Different sizing rules per garment
No simple way to compare to your other favourite brands

So how do you know your size in Chanel—without guessing?

That’s where Tellar.co.uk comes in.

Tellar.co.uk: Your Personal Chanel Size Finder

Tellar.co.uk is the UK’s most advanced (and completely free) clothing sizing platform, matching your measurements or known sizes to 1,500+ brands—including Chanel.

Why Tellar Works:

Understands Chanel’s exact fit tendencies
Matches based on your body, not generic charts
Cross-references sizing across brands you already wear
Works with both tailored couture and ready-to-wear lines

✅ Only takes 1 minute to set up

✅ Access anytime, anywhere — size recommendations are stored in your profile

✅ Comes with a free measuring tape so your profile is accurate from day one

Example: Using Tellar to Find Your Chanel Size

Let’s say you wear a UK 10 in Reiss and want to buy a structured Chanel tweed jacket.

On Tellar.co.uk:

Enter your bust, waist, hip measurements
Choose a brand you already fit well in (e.g. Reiss, Karen Millen, Zara)
Select “Chanel” and the item type (e.g. blazer)

Tellar recommends:

“French Size 40 in Chanel blazers for UK 10 with curvier build. Size 38 possible for slim fit.”

🔗 Use the Store Size Lookup Tool here

Want to Learn More About Luxury Sizing?

Check out related posts on the Tellar blog:

Final Verdict: Does Chanel Run Big or Small?

Category	Fit Behaviour	Sizing Advice
Tweed Jackets	Structured, tight	Size up one or two sizes
Blazers	Slim, narrow cut	Size up for shoulder or bust
Dresses (Woven)	No stretch	Size up for curvy figures
Knitwear	Slim fit, some give	True to French size or size up
Trousers & Skirts	High waist, narrow	Size up if between sizes

Try Tellar.co.uk – It’s Free, Fast & Foolproof

✅ Create your free profile

✅ Access your size instantly across Chanel & 1,500+ brands

✅ Keep it saved — use it whenever you shop

✅ Get your free measuring tape after sign-up

✅ No more returns, no more guessing

Follow Tellar.co.uk for Brand Sizing Tips, Fit Comparisons & Style Advice

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

Start here → https://www.tellar.co.uk