A Complete Guide to Toteme Sizing: How Does This Scandi Brand Really Fit?

Toteme sizing runs deliberately generous with an intentionally oversized, relaxed Scandinavian aesthetic—most people size down at least one size from their usual UK sizing, and if you're petite or prefer a fitted look, you'll often need to go down two sizes. I learned this the expensive way when I ordered my usual size medium in their iconic leather jacket and ended up drowning in it like I'd raided my boyfriend's wardrobe. At £1,200, that was a mistake I only made once!

Understanding Toteme's Oversized Philosophy

Right, let's get something straight from the start: Toteme isn't trying to fit you snugly. This Swedish brand is all about that effortlessly cool, slightly oversized, "I just threw this on and look chic" vibe. It's intentional, it's expensive, and it requires a complete mindset shift from how most British high street brands approach sizing.

Here's what you need to know about Toteme's approach:

• Generous proportions everywhere – shoulders, sleeves, body length all run long and roomy

• Designed for a tall, linear silhouette – if you're under 5'7", prepare for hemming

• Minimal waist definition – most pieces are cut quite straight and boxy

• Quality fabrics with structure – the oversized fit still looks polished, not sloppy

• European sizing – they use 34, 36, 38, 40 (roughly UK 6, 8, 10, 12) but don't trust the conversions

How Toteme Compares to Brands You Actually Know

This is where it gets interesting. Toteme plays by completely different rules than most brands in your wardrobe, so let's break down the comparisons properly.

Cos is probably the closest high street equivalent in aesthetic, but even Cos runs more fitted than Toteme. If you're a comfortable medium at Cos, you'll likely be a small or even XS in Toteme. Cos is brilliant for getting that Scandi minimalist look without the eye-watering price tag.

Arket (Cos's sister brand) sits somewhere between Cos and Toteme in terms of fit generosity. Their sizing is more predictable and they offer petite options, which Toteme absolutely doesn't.

Whistles is an interesting comparison—both brands do refined, contemporary pieces, but Whistles fits far more true to UK sizing. Your Whistles size 12 would translate to a Toteme 38 or possibly even 36, depending on the item.

Jigsaw offers similar quality and aesthetic sophistication but with a more accommodating British fit. If you're a UK 10 in Jigsaw, expect to be a Toteme 34 in most pieces.

Reiss does contemporary minimalism with structured tailoring—their sizing is far more fitted than Toteme. A Reiss 10 comfortably translates to a Toteme 34 or even 32 in some oversized styles.

The Iconic Pieces and How They Actually Fit

The Scarf Coat: This is Toteme's hero piece and it runs absolutely massive. I'm a UK 10-12 and wear a 34 in this. The sleeves are deliberately long, the body is meant to be enveloping. If you're under 5'6", you'll look swamped even sized down. It's designed for that "model off duty" aesthetic—basically, you need to be quite tall or comfortable with an oversized look to pull it off.

For more accessible alternatives with similar vibes, Massimo Dutti does excellent minimalist coats with more predictable sizing, whilst Mango often creates brilliant Toteme-inspired pieces at a fraction of the cost.

White shirts and blouses: These run long in the body and arms. The oversized fit is the whole point, but you'll still want to size down from your usual UK size. I'm typically a 10-12 and comfortably wear a 36 in their shirts. They're designed to be tucked, half-tucked, or worn loose over trousers.

Knitwear: Probably the most wearable category if you love oversized knits. Still size down, but the proportions work beautifully for that slouchy, expensive-looking aesthetic. The White Company and Mint Velvet both do gorgeous quality knits with similar minimal vibes but more forgiving, true-to-size fits.

Trousers and jeans: These are where Toteme genuinely excels. Their high-waisted, straight-leg cuts are absolutely beautiful, but they run long and quite roomy through the leg. Size down and budget for hemming unless you're genuinely tall.

The Petite Problem (And Solutions)

Let's be brutally honest: Toteme is not designed for petite women. At all. I'm 5'4" and even sized down, most Toteme pieces need significant alterations. The sleeves are too long, the body length is too long, the proportions assume you're 5'8" minimum.

That said, if you love the aesthetic, here's how to make it work:

• Factor in tailoring costs – add £30-60 for professional hemming to your budget

• Stick to knitwear – easier to style oversized without looking drowned

• Avoid the coats – unless you genuinely want that oversized look, they're nearly impossible to alter properly

• Focus on accessories and bags – Toteme's accessories fit everyone and capture the aesthetic perfectly

For petite-friendly Scandi minimalism, explore Filippa K (Swedish brand with slightly better proportions) or Ganni (Danish, more playful but offers better size range). On the high street, Me+Em does elevated basics with excellent petite options.

My Strategic Toteme Shopping Rules

Always, always size down. I cannot stress this enough. Unless you're specifically after an extremely oversized fit, go at least one full size down from your usual UK sizing. Most people I know who wear UK 10-12 comfortably wear Toteme 34 or 36.

Check the model's height and size in the product details. Toteme is quite good about listing this. If a 5'10" model is wearing a 36 and it looks oversized on her, and you're 5'5"? That's valuable information.

Understand the fabric. Their wool pieces have virtually no stretch, whilst some of their cotton knits have a bit more give. Factor this into your sizing decisions, especially for items you'll layer.

Use the Net-a-Porter reviews as your bible. Net-a-Porter stocks Toteme and their customers are incredibly detailed about fit. If forty people say "size down," you can trust it's not a conspiracy.

The Game-Changer: Actually Know Your Size Before You Splurge

Look, Toteme pieces start at around £300 and go up to several thousand pounds. At that price point, getting the sizing wrong isn't just annoying—it's financially painful. This is where Tellar.co.uk becomes absolutely invaluable.

Here's why it's brilliant: you measure yourself once—bust, waist, and hips—and Tellar matches your body exactly to over 1,500 brands instantly, including Toteme. No more gambling with expensive pieces. No more ordering multiple sizes and dealing with international returns that cost a fortune.

You simply use their Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in Toteme, then compare it to every other brand you shop—Cos, Whistles, Reiss, literally everything. It's always free, works straight in your browser with no downloads, and it's genuinely transformed how I approach investment shopping.

Their Fashion Hub is also packed with free posts from top stylists covering everything from trend forecasts to sizing guides across hundreds of brands. Properly researched, always honest, completely unbiased, and permanently free. When you're about to drop £800 on a coat, having access to this kind of expertise is absolutely essential.

Real-World Toteme Shopping Scenarios

Scenario 1: You want the iconic Scarf Coat. Measure yourself with Tellar first—this isn't a piece you can afford to get wrong. Compare the fit to similar styles at Cos or Acne Studios (another Swedish brand with slightly more predictable sizing). Budget for alterations if you're under 5'7".

Scenario 2: Building a capsule wardrobe on a budget. Use Toteme as inspiration but shop at Arket, Massimo Dutti, or even Mango for similar aesthetics with far more approachable sizing and prices. These brands often create Toteme-inspired pieces that are actually wearable for real people.

Scenario 3: You're petite but love the Scandi aesthetic. Skip Toteme's outerwear entirely. Instead, focus on The White Company (brilliant quality with petite options), Me+Em (elevated basics in petite), or Filippa K which offers slightly better proportions for shorter frames whilst maintaining that Swedish minimalist vibe.

The Bottom Line on Toteme Sizing

Right, let's bring this home with complete honesty. Toteme makes absolutely stunning, investment-quality pieces with that enviable Scandi cool-girl aesthetic. Their design philosophy is brilliant, their fabrication is exceptional, and their pieces genuinely do last for years.

But they're not easy to wear. The sizing is deliberately oversized, the proportions favour tall, linear body types, and the price point means you absolutely cannot afford to get it wrong. You need to know your measurements, understand how their sizing translates from European to UK, and be realistic about whether their aesthetic actually works for your height and body shape.

The absolute essential step is using tools like Tellar to remove the guesswork entirely. When you're investing hundreds or thousands of pounds in a single piece, having accurate sizing information isn't just helpful—it's essential. No more expensive mistakes, no more disappointing international returns, just clothes that actually fit.

For more comprehensive guides on navigating designer sizing and building an investment wardrobe, check out The Ultimate Clothing Sizing Guide. If you're planning your wardrobe for the season ahead, Jeans Trends 2026 is brilliant for understanding which styles work for different body types. And for building a versatile collection, The Ultimate Guide to Jackets covers everything from sizing to style.

Happy shopping, and remember: when it comes to Toteme, always size down, always check measurements, and always factor in tailoring costs!

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