How to Find Your Perfect Fit at Ashwood Leather

By Ella Blake | Tellar Fashion Hub

Finding your size at Ashwood Leather is straightforward once you know the brand's ethos: every piece is crafted in full-grain and vegetable-tanned leather, which means sizing is intentionally true-to-size and structured — there's very little stretch and absolutely no vanity sizing at play here. Whether you're shopping their leather jackets, fitted leather trousers, or their iconic leather bags, knowing your measurements and understanding Ashwood's cut will save you a return and, more importantly, help you actually wear the piece rather than just own it.

A Quick Note on Why Leather Sizing Matters More Than You Think

I learned this the hard way. A few years back I ordered a leather biker jacket online — convinced a Medium would be "roomy enough to layer." It arrived looking like a straitjacket. Full-grain leather doesn't give, it doesn't breathe the way jersey does, and it certainly doesn't magically expand after a few wears. With Ashwood, precision matters from the first try-on. So let's get into it properly.

How Ashwood Leather Sizes Their Garments

Ashwood Leather operates on standard UK sizing — so sizes run from UK 8 through to UK 18 on most of their womenswear lines. That said, their leather jackets and structured coats tend to cut slightly slim through the body and narrower across the shoulder compared to a typical high-street brand. If you're between sizes, go up. Every experienced leather stylist will tell you the same thing.

Key things to know before you buy:

Jackets & coats: Measure your bust and check against their size guide. If you plan to wear a thick jumper underneath, size up by one. Ashwood jackets are designed to sit close to the body — that's part of their clean, structured aesthetic.
Leather trousers: Go by your hip measurement, not your waist. Their trousers are cut with a mid-rise and a straight or slim leg — they are not forgiving around the hip if you size down.
Leather skirts: Tend to run true to size. The A-line styles give more room; the pencil cuts should be sized to your hip measurement.
Bags & accessories: These are sized by dimensions (cm), not clothing size. Always check the product page dimensions — a bag described as "medium" might still be more compact than you're expecting.

How to Take Your Measurements for Ashwood

If you haven't measured yourself in a while (and honestly, most of us haven't — I rediscovered I'd been shopping the wrong bra size for three years, so no judgement), here's what you need for Ashwood sizing:

Bust: Measure around the fullest part of your chest, keeping the tape parallel to the floor. Wear a well-fitted bra.
Waist: Measure at your natural waist — the narrowest point above your hips, not where your waistband sits.
Hips: Measure around the fullest point of your hips, usually about 20cm below your natural waist.
Shoulders (for jackets): Measure from shoulder point to shoulder point across your back. This is the number most people skip, and it's the one that matters most with structured leather.

Write these down. Seriously. Bookmark this page and come back to them next time you're shopping for any structured outerwear — not just leather.

Ashwood Leather Jackets: What to Expect from the Fit

Ashwood's biker and moto-style jackets have a tailored British cut — they're not oversized, they're not boxy, and they're designed to look intentional and polished rather than rock-and-roll slouchy. The sleeves tend to run slightly long (great for longer arms; those with shorter arms may want to factor in sleeve alteration costs). The shoulder seam should sit right at your shoulder point — not drooping down your arm, not cutting into your neck.

My honest advice? If you're near a stockist, try before you buy. A leather jacket is an investment, and Ashwood pieces are priced accordingly. If you're buying online, order two sizes and return the one that doesn't work.

High Street Leather Alternatives Worth Knowing

Not everyone is ready to commit to an Ashwood investment piece straight away — and that's completely fine. Here are some brilliant high-street options for dipping your toes into leather dressing, each with slightly different sizing notes:

All Saints — The gold standard for high-street leather. Their Balfern biker jacket has a cult following for a reason. Sizes slightly slim, so go up one if in doubt.
Massimo Dutti — Exceptional quality for the price point. Their leather trousers run true to size with a flattering straight-leg cut.
Reiss — Great for leather blazers and tailored leather jackets with a more corporate edge. Sizes run standard UK.
Mango — Brilliant for seasonal leather pieces like leather midi skirts and soft leather jackets. Tends to run slightly large — size down if between sizes.
Whistles — Understated and elegant leather options. Their leather coats are particularly well cut. True to size.
Me&Em — A great shout for leather trousers if you want something that looks expensive but sits in the premium rather than luxury bracket. Sizes true.
Zara — For trend-led leather pieces and genuine leather-look options. Sizing varies season to season — always check reviews before buying.
Ted Baker — Excellent for leather bags and leather accessories if you're not quite ready for full leather garments. Bags sized true to listed dimensions.

Two Independent Brands Worth Discovering

I always love to spotlight a couple of independent names that deserve more attention than they get:

Lakeland Leather — A British family-run brand with over 35 years in the business. Their leather jackets are genuinely exceptional quality and their sizing is reliable and detailed on the website. A proper hidden gem if you want heritage leather without the luxury price tag.
Hidepark Leather — Another British brand producing premium leather jackets and accessories. They offer a size guide with real model measurements, which makes online buying far less stressful. Sizing runs true to UK standard.

Leather Care = Longevity of Fit

One thing nobody tells you when you buy leather: the way you store and care for it affects the fit over time. Full-grain leather will gradually mould slightly to your body — a good thing — but if you let it dry out and crack, it can distort. Always condition your Ashwood pieces with a leather conditioner every few months, store on a wide hanger (never folded), and keep away from direct heat sources. A well-looked-after leather jacket can genuinely last decades. Mine's nearly eight years old and still gets compliments.

Never Guess Your Size Again — Use Tellar

If sizing anxiety is the thing that's been putting you off investing in leather — or any other piece — Tellar.co.uk is genuinely the tool you've been missing.

Tellar is the UK's leading free clothing sizing platform, matching your exact measurements to over 1,500 brands instantly. No more squinting at brand-specific size guides. No more ordering two sizes and hoping for the best.

Measure once — enter your bust, waist, hip, or existing brand size
Use the Store Size Lookup tool — get your precise size in any brand including premium leather labels, COS, Reiss, Arket and hundreds more
Always free — no downloads, no subscriptions, works instantly in your browser

And when you're done sizing up, head to the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of free, honest, unsponsored style guides written by real stylists. No ads, no affiliate bias, no fluff. Just genuinely useful fashion advice.