Fear of God Sizing: Does It Really Run That Big?

By Ella Blake – Fashion Stylist | Tellar Fashion Hub – Always honest, unbiased & unsponsored

Yes, Fear of God runs big — deliberately, unapologetically, and as a core part of its entire identity. This is not a brand where you order your usual size and hope for the best. The oversized, boxy silhouette is the whole point. Once you understand that, sizing it correctly becomes a lot less stressful.

I've been obsessed with Jerry Lorenzo's Fear of God universe for years, and I'll be honest — my first Fear of God Essentials hoodie was a disaster. I ordered a medium (my usual size), thought it had arrived in the wrong size, and very nearly sent it back. Reader, I kept it. And it turned out to be one of the best things in my wardrobe. But that moment of panic is incredibly common, and it all comes down to understanding what this brand is actually doing with its sizing.

The Fear of God Philosophy: Oversized by Design

Fear of God is a Los Angeles luxury streetwear label founded by Jerry Lorenzo in 2013. The mainline collection sits firmly in the designer space — think beautifully constructed trousers, elongated shirts, and those iconic loafers. The Essentials sublabel, launched as a more accessible diffusion line, is where most of us are shopping. Both share the same core aesthetic: relaxed, boxy, neutral, and architectural in the way pieces hang off the body.

The key thing to hold onto is this: the oversized fit is not a sizing mistake. The dropped shoulders (falling at roughly mid-bicep), the wide chest, the controlled hip length — all of it is deliberate. When you understand that, you stop fighting the fit and start working with it.

Fear of God Essentials Sizing for Women

The Essentials line runs largely as unisex sizing based on a men's template. For women, this means you'll almost always need to size down from your usual women's size. Here's how I'd break it down:

For the full oversized, slouchy, lookbook-worthy fit — size down one from your normal women's size.
For a more relaxed but structured look — size down two.
Never size down more than two. At that point you lose the drop-shoulder effect entirely and the proportions simply stop working.

Fear of God does now offer a dedicated women's line with its own sizing, so if you're shopping the women's-specific pieces (rather than the unisex Essentials), always check those women's measurements independently — they're cut differently and will fit more intuitively.

Sizing by Garment Type

The sizing rules aren't identical across every piece, so it's worth knowing the differences before you hit checkout.

Hoodies & SweatshirtsThe hoodies are the most talked-about pieces in the collection. They have a particularly wide chest, that signature dropped shoulder, and a body that sits at hip level — not a longline. Size down one for a slightly cleaner silhouette; go true to size (within the unisex template) if you want the full boxy effect. Note that crew neck styles tend to run slightly looser than the hoodies, so bear that in mind if you're comparing the two.

T-Shirts & Long SleevesSame principle — they run oversized. Size down one for a standard relaxed fit that still reads intentional. Size down two for something more fitted. The mock neck tees are a little less dramatic in their proportions than the hoodies, which I personally find makes them easier to style.

Sweatpants & JoggersThe sweatpants have a loose, oversized cut with legs that run slightly longer than most comparable brands. The calves are slimmer, which creates a tapered effect even at relaxed sizes. Size down one for a true-to-size feel that still reads relaxed.

ShortsThese have a vintage basketball shorts feel — deliberately oversized. Size down one for an oversized look; two if you want something less voluminous.

A Note on the Mainline vs. Essentials

If you're shopping the mainline Fear of God collection rather than Essentials, you're in a different territory. The mainline pieces are constructed at a luxury level and have a more architectural, tailored quality despite still being relaxed in silhouette. I'd always recommend checking the individual size guide on each piece and measuring yourself properly before buying — these are investment prices and you want to get it right.

My Top Tip for Getting It Right

Measure your chest first. The chest width on Fear of God pieces runs significantly wider than a labelled equivalent from most brands — so your usual size on paper won't match up. If you measure your actual bust and compare it to the brand's size chart (available on their website), you'll nail the fit first time and avoid that "did I order the wrong thing?" moment I had.

Alternatives to Fear of God: Similar Aesthetic, Easier Sizing

Love the look but want something that doesn't require a sizing masterclass? These brands deliver a similar relaxed, minimalist, neutral-toned aesthetic with more straightforward sizing:

COS – The spiritual home of the oversized-but-intentional aesthetic on the UK high street. Consistently excellent for relaxed, architectural basics.
Urban Outfitters – Great for affordable oversized sweatshirts and hoodies that nod to the streetwear aesthetic without the Fear of God price point.
All Saints – For that moody, relaxed, monochrome energy in slightly smarter pieces. Their oversized tees and washed basics are brilliant.
Zara – Reliably strong seasonal drops of boxy co-ords and relaxed separates in the neutral palette Fear of God fans will love.
Mango – Excellent for elevated basics with a minimalist European finish. Their loungewear and knitwear lines particularly hit the mark.
Calvin Klein – The closest high street parallel to the Fear of God Essentials aesthetic — neutral, clean, quality-feeling basics at accessible prices.
Levi's – For the relaxed denim pieces that complete the Fear of God-adjacent wardrobe. The baggy jeans and sweat sets are spot on.
Sweaty Betty – If you love the sweatpants and jogger shapes from Essentials, Sweaty Betty offers a premium-feel alternative with better sizing clarity for women.

For something a little more independent and under the radar, I love Studio Nicholson — a London-based label that shares the same relaxed, elongated, luxury-meets-utility DNA as Fear of God but at a slightly more accessible luxury price point, and with genuinely excellent women's sizing. And Entireworld is worth knowing about too — a New York basics label doing exceptional quality heavyweight sweatshirts and tees in minimal colourways, very much in the Essentials spirit.

Never Guess Your Size in Fear of God Again

Fear of God's sizing is notoriously tricky — but that's exactly what Tellar is here for. Tellar.co.uk is the UK's leading free sizing tool, matching your exact measurements to 1,500+ brands instantly. No more size charts, no more guesswork.

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Plus, explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of free, honest, unsponsored style advice from our in-house stylists. No ads. No affiliate bias. Just straight-talking fashion content.

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