How Do I Find My Size in Skinny Jeans?

By Ella Blake, Tellar Stylist  |  Tellar Fashion Hub

To find your size in skinny jeans, you need two measurements: your waist (the narrowest part of your torso) and your hips (the fullest part, usually about 8 inches below the waist) — then size to whichever is larger and check the specific brand's size chart, because I promise you, no two brands are measuring the same way.

I say that from personal experience. A few years ago I bought a pair of Levi's 721 High Rise Skinny jeans in my "usual" size, confidently ordered without checking a single measurement — and spent the next ten minutes horizontal on the bed trying to get them past my hips. Meanwhile, a pair of Mango skinnies in the same size slid on effortlessly with room to spare. Same size label. Completely different fit. That's the reality of jean shopping, and it's why knowing your actual measurements is non-negotiable.

Step 1: Take Your Measurements Properly

You'll need a soft tape measure (the kind you'd use for sewing — not a hardware tape measure, please, I've seen it happen). Here's what to measure:

• Waist: Measure at the narrowest part of your torso, usually just above your belly button. Don't suck it in. Breathe normally.

• Hips: Stand with feet together and measure around the fullest part of your bottom and hips. This is crucial for skinnies — it's where most of us run into trouble.

• Inside leg / inseam: From your crotch to your ankle bone. This one determines whether you're petite, regular or long in leg length.

Write them down. In centimetres or inches — both are used across different brands and you'll want to be able to cross-reference quickly.

Step 2: Understand Skinny Jean Sizing on the High Street

Here's the thing about skinnies specifically: because they're cut close to the body throughout the leg, the hip measurement is your most important number. A looser-cut jean can disguise a slightly snug hip — a skinny jean cannot. If in doubt, size up on hip and take in the waist (a tailor can do this easily and cheaply), not the other way around.

A few brands I'd steer you towards if you're trying to nail the skinny fit:

• Paige — genuinely one of the best for a flattering, body-skimming skinny. The Hoxton is a cult classic and the sizing is consistent. Premium price point, but worth every penny for the stretch-recovery alone.

• Citizens of Humanity — another premium denim brand that gets the hip-to-waist ratio right. Their Rocket skinny is brilliant for curvier figures.

• Reiss — their slim and skinny fits run true to size and the quality is excellent for the mid-range price.

• M&S — don't sleep on Marks & Spencer for skinnies. Their Magic Shaping range in particular has a brilliant stretch waistband that irons out the dreaded waist gap.

• Whistles — consistently well-cut, great for tall and straight-up-and-down body shapes. The denim is substantial without being stiff.

• Topshop (now via ASOS) — the Jamie jeans remain iconic. If you were a Jamie devotee pre-2020, the good news is they're still available and the sizing hasn't changed.

• Abercrombie & Fitch — I was late to this party but their Curve Love range is genuinely game-changing if you have a bigger difference between your waist and hip measurements. They build in extra hip room without making the waist baggy. Worth trying if you've always struggled to find skinnies that fit both at once.

Step 3: Don't Ignore the Rise

Skinny jeans come in three rises — low, mid and high — and getting this wrong can make even a perfectly-sized pair look off.

• High rise (usually 10–12 inches from crotch to waistband): Most flattering for the majority of body types. Holds everything in, creates a defined waist. This is my go-to recommendation for 90% of people.

• Mid rise (8–10 inches): A classic that suits most proportions. Less dramatic than high rise but still flattering.

• Low rise: Back in fashion for 2025/26, but requires real confidence and a very specific body type to carry off well. Size up here — they are unforgiving around the hip.

Step 4: Check Each Brand's Specific Size Guide

I know — it's annoying. But it really does matter. Next runs slightly generous in their skinnies, while Zara tends to run small (especially in the hip). H&M can vary wildly between ranges. Cos is consistently European-sized, which runs about a size smaller than UK high street.

Two independent brands worth knowing for brilliant skinny denim: Boyish Jeans — a sustainable LA brand with an excellent size range and very consistent fit (available online in the UK) — and Agolde, a premium indie denim label that's become a cult favourite for its precise, flattering cuts. Both are worth the search if you want something outside the usual high street options.

What If I'm Between Sizes?

Always size up on skinnies. You can add a belt if the waist is slightly loose, but you cannot magic extra room into a pair that's tight across the hips. Sitting down in a pair that's too small in the hip is its own special kind of misery — and it also distorts the denim and shortens the lifespan of the jeans considerably.

Also: try them sitting down in the changing room. Bend your knees. Crouch if you can manage it without the shop assistant judging you (they won't — they've seen everything). If you can't sit comfortably, they don't fit.

Never Guess Your Size Again — Use Tellar

This is exactly why I built Tellar.co.uk — the UK's leading free sizing tool. You enter your measurements once, and Tellar instantly matches your body to the right size across 1,500+ brands. No more guessing, no more returns, no more lying on the bed trying to wrestle on your jeans.

Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size for specific brands — whether that's Paige, Whistles, Reiss or any of your favourites. It works in-browser, no downloads needed, and it's completely free.

If you want to go deeper on denim, the Jeans Trends 2026 guide is a great read — and if sizing across all your wardrobe categories has ever confused you, our Ultimate Clothing Sizing Guide breaks it all down properly.

The Tellar Fashion Hub is stacked with free, honest, unsponsored style content from our team of stylists — no ads, no affiliate bias, just genuinely useful advice. It's always independent, always free.

Ella Blake is a stylist and founder of Tellar.co.uk, the UK's leading free clothing sizing platform covering 1,500+ brands.