Which Luxury Brands Run Large and Which Run Small? A Sizing Guide for Smarter Shopping

Shopping luxury fashion should be a seamless experience—yet for many, it's riddled with uncertainty around fit and sizing. Unlike high street retailers that often adopt standardised UK sizing ranges, luxury labels use proprietary sizing frameworks, different country origins (French, Italian, American), and bespoke tailoring philosophies. The result?

You could be a size 38 in one designer, a 42 in another, and a Medium elsewhere—all without changing body shape.

This guide explores which luxury brands tend to run small or large, why these discrepancies exist, and how tellar.co.uk helps you navigate these fit inconsistencies with confidence.

Why Sizing Differs in Luxury Fashion

Luxury brands operate differently from mass-market brands in several ways:

• Heritage and origin: French and Italian sizing tends to run smaller than UK or US equivalents.

• Target demographic: Slimmer fit models and tailored silhouettes dominate the luxury space.

• Design intent: Many luxury brands prioritise form-fitting or fashion-forward silhouettes, not necessarily comfort or mass-market fit.

• Lack of vanity sizing: Unlike high street fashion, luxury brands rarely inflate garment dimensions to flatter consumers.

These factors make fit knowledge essential before investing in premium pieces—especially when shopping online.

How to Interpret Sizing (UK vs EU vs US)

Before diving into individual brands, it’s important to understand general size conversions:

However, these conversions are merely theoretical. Actual fit differs by brand—which is why a size 40 in Dior may not fit the same as a 40 in The Row or Gucci.

Luxury Brands That Run SMALL

The following luxury brands are known to cut smaller than standard UK sizing. If you are in between sizes or prefer a more relaxed fit, consider sizing up.

1. Jacquemus

• Origin: France

• Fit notes: Tailored, architectural, and tight-fitting—particularly in blazers and dresses

• Recommendation: Size up in tops and dresses; skirts and trousers are especially narrow at the waist

2. Isabel Marant

• Origin: France

• Fit notes: Slim through the shoulders and arms; trousers can be cropped and fitted

• Recommendation: Size up, especially for jackets and coats

3. Balenciaga (pre-2018 collections)

• Origin: France/Spain

• Fit notes: Earlier collections ran tight and tailored. Current lines are oversized, but tailoring still skews small

• Recommendation: Size up in any classic tailoring, down in oversized casualwear

4. Dior

• Origin: France

• Fit notes: Highly tailored, especially in suits and dresses. Waist and bust cuts are narrow

• Recommendation: Size up in most garments, especially in rigid materials

5. Maje

• Origin: France

• Fit notes: Youthful silhouettes, often body-skimming or fitted

• Recommendation: Size up for a comfortable fit or if purchasing jackets/blazers

6. Sandro

• Origin: France

• Fit notes: Very fitted through bust and waist; tops often cut short

• Recommendation: Size up, especially in structured garments

7. Acne Studios

• Origin: Sweden

• Fit notes: Scandinavian minimalism with tight cuts on trousers and tops

• Recommendation: Size up in trousers and jeans; tops may vary by season

Luxury Brands That Run TRUE TO SIZE

These brands align more closely with standard UK or EU sizing charts and often don’t require size adjustments unless between sizes.

1. The Row

• Origin: USA

• Fit notes: Premium tailoring, minimalist cuts, consistent sizing

• Recommendation: Take your normal size; check inseam length in trousers

2. Chloé

• Origin: France

• Fit notes: Feminine cuts that cater well to UK size curves

• Recommendation: Take true size in most styles

3. Celine (Hedi Slimane Era)

• Origin: France

• Fit notes: Slimmer lines, but consistent sizing

• Recommendation: True to size in dresses and blouses; consider size up in trousers

4. Victoria Beckham

• Origin: UK

• Fit notes: Designed for UK sizing standards

• Recommendation: Runs true, though fitted; size up only if between sizes

5. Max Mara

• Origin: Italy

• Fit notes: Generous and forgiving cuts in coats and trousers

• Recommendation: Stay true to size; size down in oversized knitwear

Luxury Brands That Run LARGE

Some luxury brands intentionally cut generously or favour relaxed silhouettes. If you’re between sizes or prefer a snug fit, consider sizing down.

1. Loro Piana

• Origin: Italy

• Fit notes: Luxurious fabrics with generous draping

• Recommendation: Size down in sweaters and coats unless layering heavily

2. Brunello Cucinelli

• Origin: Italy

• Fit notes: Soft tailoring and relaxed fits, particularly in knitwear and trousers

• Recommendation: Size down in knitwear; true to size in tailored garments

3. Totême

• Origin: Sweden

• Fit notes: Known for oversized, boxy cuts

• Recommendation: Size down in tops, coats, and some trousers

4. Jil Sander

• Origin: Germany

• Fit notes: Minimalist but often oversized; garments are cut for a relaxed fit

• Recommendation: Size down for fitted silhouette

5. Dries Van Noten

• Origin: Belgium

• Fit notes: Artistic, loose tailoring and voluminous construction

• Recommendation: Size down for structure; stay true to size for intended styling

Get It Right: Use tellar.co.uk for Brand-Specific Size Recommendations

Luxury sizing is complex—and labels rarely disclose whether garments run large or small. That’s where tellar.co.uk comes in.

How it works:

• You enter your bust, waist and hip measurements (in CM or inches)

• Tellar matches you to the correct size across 1,500+ brands, including luxury labels

• You get garment-specific advice: “This blazer runs small in the shoulders” or “Trousers are true to size at the waist but long in the leg”

Why Tellar is Unique:

• Covers both luxury and high street brands

• Includes fabric and fit analysis by garment type

• Offers a free printable measuring tape for accurate self-measurement

• Works with just a one-time login, no app or purchase history required

👉 Create your size profile today

👉 Download Tellar’s free measuring tape

Additional Considerations When Shopping Luxury

1. Fabric matters

• Non-stretch silk, wool, and cotton blends will fit tighter than garments with elastane or viscose.

• Structured tailoring typically runs smaller than draped knitwear.

2. Garment category

• Blazers and trousers tend to have less sizing flexibility than t-shirts or dresses.

• Eveningwear is often more fitted than daywear collections.

3. Country of manufacture

• Italian and French sizes are often smaller by default than UK sizing.

• US brands tend to allow for slightly more ease through the hip and bust.

4. Style intent

• Consider whether the designer intended a piece to be body-conscious or relaxed.

• Oversized tailoring may look too big on a hanger but fit exactly as designed when worn.

Final Thoughts: Luxury Sizing Isn’t Standard—But It Can Be Decoded

In the luxury sector, no size chart tells the full story. Each designer approaches silhouette, construction, and target consumer differently—meaning fit will always vary across collections and seasons.

To make informed purchasing decisions—especially for investment pieces—knowing how each brand cuts its garments is crucial. And with platforms like tellar.co.uk, you no longer have to guess.

Tellar lets you shop luxury confidently—whether you’re browsing Maje, sizing up in Dior, or selecting a Totême coat.

👉 Find your size across 1,500+ brands in real-time – it’s free and easy

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