How to Find Your Perfect Fit at American Vintage

By Ella Blake  |  Tellar Fashion Hub

American Vintage runs small — often a full size smaller than standard UK sizing — so if you're ordering online for the first time, the golden rule is to size up. Their clothes are cut in a deliberately relaxed, French way: not oversized, not tight, just that effortlessly soft, slightly-slouchy fit that makes them so addictive. Get the size right and you'll wear these pieces to death. Get it wrong and even the most gorgeous sweatshirt will look off.

I discovered American Vintage during one of those dangerous lunchtime browsing sessions a few years back and promptly spent an embarrassing amount of money on what is essentially a grey T-shirt. In my defence, it is the best grey T-shirt I have ever owned — and I've been obsessed with the brand ever since. The sizing confusion, though, is real. I ordered my usual size on that first purchase and it was noticeably too tight across the shoulders. Lesson learned.

How American Vintage Sizing Actually Works

American Vintage is a French brand, founded in Marseille in 2005, and like most French labels, their sizing skews small compared to the UK high street. Here's the key information you need:

• T-shirts, sweatshirts and tops: If you're normally a UK 10 (EU 38), order a size S. If you're a UK 12 (EU 40), go for M. If you hover between sizes, always go up — the relaxed cut is part of the brand's DNA and you want that ease across the shoulders and chest.

• Dresses and midi skirts: These are cut generously in length but slim through the body. If you have a fuller bust or broader shoulders, size up one. The jersey fabric has a lovely drape but not much stretch, so don't rely on it to compensate.

• Knitwear: American Vintage knitwear — particularly their Razpark and Vitow styles — runs true to their usual sizing (i.e., still smaller than UK standard). Their knits are intentionally boxy and oversized in places, but check the product description to see whether a style is described as "relaxed" or "fitted" — this varies.

• Jeans and trousers: These are where it gets trickiest. American Vintage jeans use US sizing (24, 25, 26 etc. for the waist). A US 27 equates roughly to a UK 10; a US 28 to a UK 12. But their jeans have minimal stretch, so if you're between sizes, go up.

The Fabric Is Everything — And It Affects Fit

What sets American Vintage apart — and what justifies the price tag — is the fabric. They're genuinely obsessive about their jersey: it's heavy, beautifully soft, and has a slight structure that means their T-shirts actually hold their shape wash after wash. The weight of the fabric means it sits and drapes differently to a thinner high street jersey.

This matters for fit because heavier fabric doesn't skim the body the way a thin jersey does — it falls. So if you're petite or slim-framed, you might find that sizing up gives you that gorgeous effortless look; if you're curvier, standard sizing often works perfectly because the weight of the fabric provides coverage and shape without clinging. I'm a UK 10 and I wear a Small in their tops, which gives me exactly the right amount of relaxed ease without looking like I'm swimming in it.

American Vintage vs. Similar Brands — How Does the Sizing Compare?

If you already shop certain brands, here's a useful reference to calibrate against:

• COS — Probably the closest high street comparison in terms of cut philosophy: clean, relaxed, slightly oversized. COS runs true to EU sizing and is a useful benchmark. If you're a COS S, you're likely an American Vintage S too.

• Whistles — Runs slightly larger than American Vintage. If you're a Whistles 10, you might be a Small or Medium in American Vintage depending on the style. Whistles jersey basics are a good high street alternative if the price point is a stretch.

• Anthropologie — Another brand with a similar relaxed, feminine aesthetic. Anthropologie sizing is generally UK-standard and slightly more generous than American Vintage, so if you're a 10 at Anthropologie, size up to a Medium in American Vintage.

• Mango — French-adjacent in its aesthetic and similarly slim in cut. Mango sizing and American Vintage sizing are quite comparable — if you wear a Mango S, American Vintage S should work.

• All Saints — Runs slightly more generously, especially in their jersey pieces. An All Saints Small could be an American Vintage Small or Medium depending on your shape.

• Hush — Their loungewear and jersey basics are a brilliant mid-price alternative. Hush is very consistent in sizing and runs true to UK standard, so a Hush 10 = American Vintage Small as a rule of thumb.

• Me&Em — Premium, beautifully made basics with a similar philosophy. Me&Em runs true to UK sizing and is a touch more generous through the body — great reference point if you know your Me&Em size well.

Two Independent Brands Worth Discovering

If you love American Vintage's aesthetic — quality jersey, considered basics, that effortlessly French feel — but want to explore beyond the obvious, here are two independent brands I'd point you towards:

• Colorful Standard — A Danish brand producing beautifully heavy organic cotton basics in the most stunning colour palette I've ever seen in this category. Their sizing is EU-standard and consistent; their sweatshirts and T-shirts have a similar weight and drape to American Vintage at a slightly lower price point. A genuine hidden gem.

• Lady White Co. — An American brand (available online in the UK) that takes the same obsessive approach to jersey fabric. Their tees and sweatshirts are extraordinary quality, sustainably made, and sized in XS–XL with a consistent, slightly relaxed fit. If you're serious about your wardrobe basics, it's worth looking up.

My Tips for Getting American Vintage Right Every Time

• Always check whether the product description says "fitted" or "relaxed" — it genuinely varies by style within the same brand.

• Measure your chest and shoulders before ordering, not just your waist — American Vintage cuts can be narrow across the shoulder on their fitted styles.

• For jeans, use your waist measurement in inches and compare to their size chart directly — don't just go off what you wear in UK high street denim.

• If you're buying as a gift, always size up. American Vintage gifting fails are extremely common for this reason.

• Read the customer reviews on their website — the fit notes left by real customers are genuinely useful and the brand has a loyal, detail-oriented following who tend to leave thorough feedback.

Stop Guessing Your Size — Let Tellar Do It For You

French sizing, EU sizing, US denim sizing — is it any wonder shopping American Vintage online can feel like a bit of a lottery? This is exactly the problem that Tellar.co.uk was built to solve. It's the UK's leading free sizing tool, covering over 1,500 brands — including American Vintage — so you can shop with genuine confidence.

Here's all you need to do:

• Measure once — bust, waist and hips — and you're set for life.

• Use the Store Size Lookup tool to instantly find your precise size in American Vintage and over 1,500 other brands — no more returns, no more guesswork.

• It's completely free, works in your browser, and requires absolutely no downloads or sign-ups.

And while you're there, explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — a free library of honest, independent style guides written by real stylists with zero brand sponsorship or hidden agendas. Whether you want to nail your ultimate clothing sizing guide, discover the best jean trends for 2026, or find your perfect dress with the ultimate guide to dresses and best buys — it's all there, completely free.

👉 Visit Tellar.co.uk and find your perfect fit in American Vintage — and every other brand you love.