How to Find Your Perfect Fit at Alex Max

BRAND SIZING GUIDE

Alex Max runs small — and once you know that, shopping with this beautiful French brand becomes a whole lot more enjoyable. Here's exactly what you need to know before you buy.

By Ella Blake | Tellar Fashion Hub

Let me be upfront with you: the first time I ordered from Alex Max, I sized up instinctively — and I still got it wrong. I went up one, should have gone up two, and ended up with a blouse I could barely breathe in. It was beautiful, it was French, and it absolutely did not fit. Sound familiar? Alex Max is one of those brands where understanding the sizing before you shop can genuinely save you a return trip and a lot of frustration.

So here's your no-nonsense guide to getting it right first time.

Who Is Alex Max, Exactly?

Alex Max is a French ready-to-wear label with a devoted following across Europe. Think fluid fabrics, feminine silhouettes, and that effortless Parisian aesthetic — wrap dresses, floaty blouses, tailored trousers with a relaxed drape. It's the kind of brand that looks incredibly simple but is actually very carefully designed. The quality-to-price ratio is genuinely excellent, and the prints are consistently gorgeous. It's also why I keep going back despite The Incident of 2023.

The label tends to be stocked via independent boutiques and European retailers, which can make sizing feel slightly mysterious if you're used to the big high street names. But once you understand how the brand cuts its clothes, it becomes much more straightforward.

How Does Alex Max Sizing Run?

The short answer: small to true-to-size, depending on the cut.

Fitted styles (wrap dresses, tailored blouses, structured jackets) — size up one full size from your usual French or European size.
Relaxed or draped styles (floaty maxi dresses, wide-leg trousers, oversized tunics) — these can run closer to true-to-size, or even slightly generous. Stick to your usual size here.
Knitwear — tend to be fine on sizing but check the fibre content; anything with a high viscose content will have less stretch.

For reference, many UK shoppers who usually wear a UK 12 (EU 40) find themselves reaching for a UK 14 (EU 42) at Alex Max. That's completely normal and nothing to feel strange about — it's just a different cut philosophy.

Where to Measure and What to Use

For Alex Max specifically, your bust measurement is going to be your most important number when sizing dresses and tops. The label tends to cut closer through the chest and shoulder, so if you're fuller busted, this is your priority measurement. For trousers, focus on the hips and thigh — the wide-leg cuts can look deceptively spacious but the hip seam is often quite fitted.

Bust: measure at the fullest point, tape parallel to the floor
Waist: at the natural waist (not where you want it to be — where it actually is)
Hips: 20cm below your natural waist, around the fullest part of your seat

Then cross-reference with the brand's own size guide — and know that their guides are written for the French market, which does tend to be cut slimmer through the shoulders and back than UK equivalents.

Alex Max vs. Similar Brands: How Does It Compare?

One of the most useful things you can do when shopping a new brand is benchmark it against labels you already know. Here's how Alex Max sizing tends to compare to other brands stocking similar feminine, European-inspired styles:

Mango — Alex Max runs slightly smaller than Mango. If you're a Mango 12, try a 14 at Alex Max.
Cos — COS cuts generously and minimally. Alex Max is considerably more fitted and feminine by comparison. A COS medium does not equal an Alex Max medium.
Reiss — Reiss and Alex Max size more similarly, though Alex Max can feel more snug through the torso. If you're between sizes at Reiss, go up at Alex Max.
Whistles — Whistles tends to be true-to-size and slightly relaxed. Alex Max fitted styles will feel noticeably smaller by comparison.
Me&Em — Me&Em is generous and confident in its sizing; Alex Max is not. Size up freely.
Massimo Dutti — A closer comparison than most: both run with a Continental European fit. Still, Alex Max tends to cut slightly slimmer.
Phase Eight — Phase Eight is designed specifically with a UK sizing in mind and runs true-to-size. Alex Max will feel smaller by at least one size for most UK shoppers.
LK Bennett — Similar price point and occasion wear territory. LK Bennett is more generous; Alex Max is more precise.

What About Returns?

This is where it gets a little tricky with Alex Max: depending on where you're buying, the returns policy varies enormously. If you're shopping via a UK boutique, check their policy carefully. Some smaller independents have limited return windows, which is another reason to get your measurements right before you order. Online retailers like Anthropologie (which stocks selected Alex Max pieces) and Oliver Bonas-style indie boutiques tend to be more flexible — always worth checking when buying a new-to-you brand.

For more confidence before you commit, I'd also suggest checking whether your retailer has a physical concession or stockist nearby where you can try before you buy. It makes a significant difference with this brand in particular.

My Favourite Alex Max Buys — and What Worked

Once I cracked the sizing, I've had some genuinely brilliant Alex Max pieces. Their printed wrap dresses are exceptional — I went up two sizes, the fabric draped perfectly, and I've worn it for everything from summer weddings to Friday dinner. The floral blouses are also worth the sizing faff; size up, tuck into a wide-leg trouser, and you'll feel entirely put-together with minimal effort. Very much the point.

Two independent labels I'd also point you towards if you love the Alex Max aesthetic: Atode Paris (a small French label with similar fluid, botanical prints, available online, sized very consistently) and Sézane (beloved for a reason — slightly more accessible sizing and an almost identical effortless-French-woman vibe, with the added bonus of a London boutique to try things on).

Never Guess Your Size Again — Use Tellar

If you've been burned by brand sizing before (and honestly, who hasn't?), this is the tool that changes everything. Tellar.co.uk is the UK's leading free sizing platform — and it takes the guesswork out of shopping new brands completely.

Here's how it works:

Measure once — just your bust, waist, and hips (or use your size in a brand you already know)
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your exact recommended size across 1,500+ brands instantly — no size guides, no guessing
Always free — no downloads, no subscriptions, works directly in your browser

It's genuinely brilliant for brands like Alex Max where the sizing doesn't follow standard UK conventions. You put your measurements in once, and Tellar does the translating for you across every brand on the platform.

And while you're there, explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — a free, independent library of style guides, brand reviews, and buying advice written by stylists (not sponsored, not biased, just useful). A few worth bookmarking:

Alex Max is one of those brands that rewards a little preparation. Get your measurements down, factor in the sizing quirks, and you'll end up with pieces that feel genuinely special. The French really do know what they're doing — you just have to know what size you are when you get there. — Ella Blake