Luxury vs High Street: Why the Same Size Feels Different

1. Sizing Standards Are Not Universal

There is no industry-wide standard for clothing sizes. Each brand—whether luxury or high street—creates its own pattern blocks, which leads to size variation.

✅ High Street Brands:

Often use vanity sizing—their size 12 might measure more like a traditional size 14.
Prioritise mass market appeal, so cuts are designed for broader body types.
Tend to offer more stretch or elasticated fabrics, making the sizes feel more generous.

✅ Luxury Brands:

Often run smaller, particularly European designer houses like Celine, Dior, or Saint Laurent.
Use rigid, high-quality materials (like raw silk, cashmere, wool suiting), which don’t stretch.
Fit is based on traditional tailoring or couture ideals—not general population data.

Examples of Luxury vs High Street Size Comparison

Brand	UK Size 10 Equivalent (approx)	Fit Tendency
Zara	UK 10	True to small
H&M	UK 10	True to size
Mango	UK 10	True to small
COS	UK 10	Slightly oversized
Reiss	UK 10	Slim fitting
Massimo Dutti	UK 10	Tailored fit
Saint Laurent	UK 8–10	Very small
Gucci	UK 8–10	Slim and structured
Chanel	UK 8	Petite fit
Max Mara	UK 10	Accurate but structured
The Row	UK 10	Relaxed cut, but exact
Victoria Beckham	UK 8–10	Neat, slim fit

Why Do Luxury Brands Run Small?

Luxury brands are often rooted in couture traditions, where tailoring and silhouettes are precise, minimal, and closer to body measurements. They don’t rely on stretch or vanity metrics, so:

Sizes are less forgiving.
Fits can vary across collections.
They are typically cut for narrower frames unless the item is specifically designed as oversized.

In contrast, high street brands:

Often accommodate more body diversity.
Include more stretch panels, elastics, and forgiving cuts.
Adjust sizes frequently based on consumer buying habits.

What Should You Do?

Know Your Measurements
- Use a tape measure or get one for free at Tellar.co.uk
- Note your bust, waist, and hip in cm or inches
Never Rely on Size Labels
- A Medium in COS is not the same as a Medium in Gucci
Use a Sizing Tool
- Go to Tellar.co.uk
- Enter your measurements once
- Instantly find your correct size across luxury and high street brands
Don’t Guess
- If you’re shopping for investment pieces, knowing your size before ordering can save you time and costly returns

How Tellar.co.uk Solves the Problem

Tellar.co.uk compares your measurements with over 1,500+ brands—both luxury and high street—to give you a personalised size recommendation in seconds.

Features:

Side-by-side brand comparison
Options for both cm and inches
Supports both men’s and women’s wear
Works with brands like Zara, COS, Reiss, Mango, The Row, Max Mara, and more

🔗 Try the Store Size Lookup Tool
🔗 Create Your Free Profile

Conclusion

There’s no “one size fits all” when comparing luxury to high street. If you’re investing in designer clothes, it’s essential to know how your size translates across brands.

Avoid the guesswork and make better buying decisions—whether it’s a £40 shirt from Zara or a £900 dress from Max Mara.

Check your size before you buy. Real-time, accurate, free.
Start now at www.Tellar.co.uk

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Luxury vs High Street: Why the Same Size Feels Different