How to Find Your Perfect Fit at Alanui

By Ella Blake | Tellar Fashion Hub

Alanui sizes generously — intentionally so — which means if you buy your usual size, you may end up swimming in it. The Italian luxury knitwear brand is famous for its oversized, bohemian cardigans and cashmere-blend pieces, and their sizing runs large by design. As a rule of thumb: size down at least one, sometimes two sizes from your usual UK fit.

I learned this the hard way. I'd been coveting an Alanui Field Jacket cardigan for what felt like forever, finally took the plunge, ordered my usual medium — and when it arrived I looked like I'd borrowed something from a very stylish giant. Back it went. Size XS? Perfect. Lesson: very much learned.

What Is Alanui and Why Does the Fit Feel So Different?

Alanui is an Italian brand founded by siblings Luca and Lucia Romanelli in 2015. If you've ever spotted someone draped in a fringed, patterned cardigan that looks effortlessly expensive and just a little bit rock-and-roll, there's a good chance that was Alanui. They make most of their pieces from cashmere-wool blends, with a distinctly nomadic, free-spirited aesthetic — think paisley, tribal motifs, and rich earthy tones.

Their signature "Field Jacket" cardigan has become one of fashion's most recognisable pieces, worn by everyone from off-duty models to editors at Paris Fashion Week. But the thing about Alanui is that the entire brand identity is built around relaxed, enveloping, oversized luxury. This is not structured tailoring. These are pieces meant to drape, wrap, and cocoon you — which is brilliant, but it does make finding your right size feel a bit like a guessing game the first time around.

How Alanui Sizing Works

Alanui uses Italian sizing — XS, S, M, L, XL — but the proportions are deliberately cut very large. Here's a rough guide to how their sizes translate:

Alanui SizeUK Size Equivalent (typical starting point)XSUK 8–12SUK 10–14MUK 14–18LUK 16–20

What makes this tricky is that these ranges overlap considerably. Someone who is a UK 10 might wear an XS for a fitted look or an S for the classic Alanui draped effect. There's no single right answer — it really comes down to how you want the piece to sit on you.

The Two Ways to Wear Alanui

Before you size, think about your preferred silhouette:

• The classic Alanui look: Very oversized, falling off the shoulder slightly, with the cardigan worn open over simple basics. If this is your goal, you might stick with your usual size or even go up.

• A more wearable everyday fit: Still relaxed, but the shoulder seams sit on your actual shoulders and the length doesn't overwhelm. For this, size down one or even two sizes from your normal.

Personally, I think the second approach works best for everyday dressing — it still looks luxurious and effortless, but you don't need a bodyguard just to get through a doorway.

Key Measurements to Check

If you can, always check the specific garment measurements rather than relying on the size label alone. Alanui's proportions can vary slightly across styles. The measurements to focus on are:

• Chest/bust width: Measure across the chest of the flat garment and double it — compare this to your actual bust measurement plus however much ease you want

• Sleeve length: Alanui sleeves tend to run long; useful to know if you're petite

• Total length: Many Alanui cardigans are hip-to-knee length and beyond — consider your height and proportions

If you're petite (under 5'4"), I'd strongly recommend going down to an XS regardless of your width measurements, as the length on an S or M can be overwhelming. If you're tall, the length will work in your favour — lucky you.

Where to Buy Alanui in the UK

Alanui isn't widely stocked on the high street, so you'll mostly be shopping via their own website, or through luxury multi-brand retailers. For buying pre-loved (which, given the prices, makes a lot of sense), platforms like Vestiaire Collective and Hardly Ever Worn It often have excellent condition pieces at significantly reduced prices.

When buying second-hand, be especially careful to check measurements rather than size labels — previous owners may have washed the piece or styled it differently, and cashmere blends can soften and drop slightly over time.

High Street Alternatives That Get the Sizing Right

Look, not everyone can (or wants to) drop £1,000+ on a cardigan. I get it. The good news is that the oversized, textured knitwear look that Alanui has made so covetable is absolutely achievable at other price points — you just need to know where to look.

For that enveloping, luxe-feel knit at a fraction of the cost:

• Anthropologie — genuinely brilliant for boho-adjacent knitwear with interesting textures and patterns. Their sizing can also run large, so the same "size down" principle can apply.

• Cos — for minimal, oversized knits in quality fabrics. Very different aesthetic to Alanui but the relaxed silhouette is there. Sizing is generally consistent and their size guide is reliable.

• Massimo Dutti — excellent cashmere-blend knits with a more polished feel. Sizes run true to European sizing so check their guide carefully.

• Me&Em — probably the closest in spirit to Alanui on the British high street. Beautiful textured knits, considered sizing, and their customer service team is genuinely helpful on fit queries.

• Mint Velvet — great for relaxed, slightly bohemian knitwear that won't break the bank. Tends to run true to UK sizing.

• Reiss — for when you want something a bit more structured. Their knitwear is consistently well-cut and their online size guide is one of the more accurate ones on the market.

• Zara — always worth checking for on-trend knit pieces. Just be aware that Zara sizing can be erratic, so if you're buying online, always cross-reference with their measurements tab rather than going by size label alone.

For something a little more left-field, two independent brands worth bookmarking: Mipounet (a Spanish label with a distinctly artisanal, boho-luxe feel — not dissimilar to Alanui's spirit) and Colville (a cult London-based knitwear label with bold patterns and impeccable construction, beloved by the fashion-insider crowd).

A Note on Caring for Your Alanui Piece

One final thing worth mentioning: cashmere-wool blends can shift over time if not cared for properly, which affects fit. Always hand wash in cold water or use a specialist dry cleaner, and never hang to dry — lay flat on a towel. If your Alanui does stretch slightly, a careful steam can help it return to shape. Treat it well and it will last you genuinely decades.

Never Guess Your Size Again — Try Tellar

If sizing confusion across luxury and high street brands is driving you mad (and honestly, it drives all of us mad), Tellar.co.uk is the tool you need in your life. It's the UK's leading free sizing platform — you enter your measurements once, and it instantly matches you to your correct size across 1,500+ brands. No more ordering two sizes and hoping for the best.

Here's how it works:

• Measure once — bust, waist, hips, or your existing size in a brand you know fits well

• Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in any brand instantly — from Cos and Reiss to Me&Em, Arket, and beyond

• Completely free — no app download, no subscription, works in your browser

And if you want more guidance before you shop, the Tellar Fashion Hub is a library of free, honest, unbiased style guides written by real stylists. No sponsored content, no ads — just useful, straight-talking fashion advice whenever you need it.

A few posts worth reading while you're there:

• The Ultimate Clothing Sizing Guide — everything you need to know about navigating sizing across brands

• Jeans Trends 2026 — the cuts and styles worth investing in right now

• The Ultimate Guide to Dresses — styles, body shapes, and the best places to shop

• The Ultimate Guide to Jackets — because outerwear sizing is its own special kind of chaos

Alanui is one of those brands that genuinely rewards knowing your measurements — because once you've cracked the sizing code, you have access to some of the most beautiful knitwear on the planet. And with Tellar's Store Size Lookup taking the guesswork out of it entirely, there really is no reason to get it wrong twice.

Happy shopping — and if in doubt, always size down.