How Do I Find My Right Size in Clothes?

TELLAR FASHION HUB — SIZING & STYLE ADVICE

The honest answer? You stop trusting the label and start trusting a tape measure. I know that sounds counterintuitively simple, but after years of styling clients — and a lifetime of my own dressing-room disasters — I can tell you that the number (or letter) on a label means almost nothing. A size 12 in Zara is not the same as a size 12 in Whistles, and it's definitely not the same as a size 12 in Cos. Different brands, different countries, different fit philosophies. The sooner we all accept that, the happier we'll be in front of any mirror.

Why Sizing Is So Inconsistent (And It's Not Your Fault)

I once bought three pairs of jeans on the same afternoon — all labelled as the same size — and not one of them fitted the same way. One was too tight across the hips, one gaped at the waist, and one was inexplicably perfect. The issue is that there is no universal sizing standard in fashion. Each brand creates its own fit model, its own measurements, and its own logic. High street brands like H&M and Next often run differently to premium labels like Reiss or Me&Em, and luxury houses like Max Mara use entirely different grading again.

Vanity sizing — where brands gradually increase the physical measurements of a size to make customers feel good — makes this even more complicated. So please, let go of any attachment to what number you think you are. Your actual measurements are what matter.

Step One: Take Your Measurements Properly

This is the single most important thing you can do. Grab a soft tape measure (the kind you'd use for sewing), strip down to your underwear, and measure:

Bust: Around the fullest part of your chest, keeping the tape parallel to the floor.
Waist: Around your natural waist — the narrowest part of your torso, usually a few centimetres above your navel.
Hips: Around the fullest part of your hips and bottom, usually about 20cm below your waist.
Inside leg: From your crotch to your ankle bone. Essential for trousers and jeans.

Write these down and keep them in your phone. Honestly, it's a game-changer. I now shop with mine saved in my notes app and I barely ever have to return anything.

Step Two: Always Check the Brand's Size Guide

Every brand worth shopping at will have a size guide on their website, and they are not all the same — so never assume. I cannot tell you how many clients have ordered from Mango using the same size they wear in M&S and been completely baffled when it didn't fit. Always compare your actual measurements to the brand's specific guide before you buy.

A few brands that are particularly worth double-checking:

Jigsaw — tends to run slightly smaller than average, especially in structured pieces.
Anthropologie — uses US sizing, so always convert carefully.
Boden — generally true to size but their petite and tall ranges are a genuine lifesaver if you're not average height.
Phase Eight — excellent fit for curvier figures, often generous through the hip.
Mint Velvet — beautifully cut and tends to be quite consistent once you know your size there.

What to Do When You're Between Sizes

This is where most people trip up. If you're between sizes, the general rule I give my clients is: size up and tailor down. A seam can be taken in cheaply; a dress that won't zip is unwearable. If a garment fits your largest measurement, it will always be easier to alter elsewhere.

Also consider the fabric. A stretchy jersey from Asos or Hush will forgive a lot more than a stiff cotton shirt from Gant or a tailored blazer from LK Bennett. With structured pieces, always err on the side of slightly larger.

Shopping Different Categories? Different Rules Apply

A few category-specific tips I swear by:

Jeans: Always size by hip measurement, not waist. Most women find their waist is smaller than their hip measurement, and good jeans should fit the hip first. Paige, Citizens of Humanity, and Levi's all have detailed fit guides that are genuinely helpful.
Knitwear: A bit of ease is your friend. Don't be tempted to size down in knitwear — White Stuff and Fat Face knits in your regular size will feel cosy, not baggy.
Coats & Jackets: Always try on with your thickest jumper. Barbour and Hobbs can both run slim through the shoulder, so be sure to check movement.
Occasion dresses: Coast and Monsoon both size consistently, but always measure the dress's actual garment measurements against your body — not just your clothing size.

Two Independent Brands Worth Knowing

I always love to shout about smaller, less obvious labels. Two I recommend to clients who struggle with mainstream sizing:

Beaumont Organic — an ethical British label with beautifully generous, relaxed cuts that work brilliantly for women who find high street sizing restrictive. Their size guides are unusually detailed and reliable.
Baukjen — a sustainable womenswear brand with a particularly strong focus on fit across different body shapes. They even publish detailed customer reviews with height and size, which is incredibly useful.

Stop Guessing — Use Tellar

This is genuinely the bit I wish I'd had years ago. Tellar.co.uk is the UK's leading free sizing tool, and it does the hard work for you. You enter your measurements once — bust, waist, hip, or even just your size in a brand you already know — and Tellar instantly matches you to your correct size across 1,500+ brands. No more guessing. No more returns. No more standing in a changing room wondering if you've somehow changed shape since Tuesday.

Their Store Size Lookup tool is brilliant for specific brands — whether you're buying from Cos, Arket, Reiss, Everlane, or any of the other 1,500 labels in their database. It works entirely in-browser, no download needed, and it's always free.

There's also the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of genuinely helpful, unbiased fashion articles written by real stylists. No sponsored fluff, no brand bias, just honest advice. Exactly what the internet needs more of, frankly.

Useful links to bookmark:

The Ultimate Clothing Sizing Guide — essential reading if today's post has you thinking about fit more carefully.
Jeans Trends 2026 — once you know your size, find the right cut.
The Ultimate Guide to Dresses — body shapes, styles and where to shop.
The Ultimate Guide to Jackets — fit, style and the best brands.

The Bottom Line

Finding your right size in clothes is about understanding your body's actual measurements, not the number printed on a label. Once you know your measurements, check the size guide for every brand you buy from — because they truly are all different. When in doubt, size up, choose quality fabrics, and don't be afraid to get things altered. And honestly? Let Tellar do the heavy lifting for you. It's free, it's fast, and it'll save you an embarrassing amount of time in fitting rooms.