How to Find Your Perfect Size in Bettter

By Ella Blake – fashion stylist | Tellar Fashion Hub – Always honest, unbiased, & unsponsored

Sizing at Bettter works differently to almost any other brand you'll shop — and that's not a warning, it's actually the whole point. Bettter uses S, M, L and XL sizing, but because every piece is reconstructed from upcycled deadstock menswear, the fit is architectural rather than conventional, and many styles are intentionally designed to work across a range of sizes. If you've been scratching your head wondering how to buy from this brand without getting it wrong, read on — this one genuinely requires a slightly different mindset.

So, What Exactly Is Bettter?

If you haven't come across Bettter yet, it's one of the most genuinely interesting labels operating right now. Founded by Julie Pelipas — former Fashion Director of Vogue Ukraine, LVMH Karl Lagerfeld Prize finalist, and someone with an eye that could stop traffic — the brand is built entirely on upcycling unsold menswear deadstock into fresh womenswear. No new fabric is produced from scratch. Everything starts as something that already existed.

The concept is brilliant: Bettter partners with established labels and takes their surplus stock — suits, trousers, shirts, outerwear — and reconstructs it into modern, often deconstructed womenswear. Think double-waistband trousers, blazer-coat hybrids, asymmetric shirts, ribbed skirts. Each piece comes with a "care passport" tracing the fabric's origins. I find the whole thing incredibly romantic, honestly. You're wearing something with a history.

The brand has collaborated with names including Zegna and Fila, and you'll find it stocked at Farfetch, Bergdorf Goodman, and select boutiques. It sits firmly in the designer space — pieces typically run from a few hundred to well over a thousand pounds — but the approach to sizing is anything but standard luxury.

How Does Bettter Size Their Clothes?

Bettter uses a simple S / M / L / XL system, which broadly maps to the following UK sizing:

S ≈ UK 8–10
M ≈ UK 10–12
L ≈ UK 12–14
XL ≈ UK 14–16

However — and this is the key thing to understand — Bettter's pieces are built from deconstructed men's tailoring, so the original garment construction plays a significant role in how things actually fit. Menswear is cut for a broader shoulder, a straighter torso, and more generous fabric. When reimagined for women, this translates into pieces with a slightly oversized, relaxed, or avant-garde silhouette. This isn't accidental — it's entirely intentional. Bettter pieces aren't supposed to be body-con. They're structured, considered, and architectural.

One particularly clever feature: some of Bettter's suiting pieces are designed with interior adjustments — including zip features — that allow the garment to adapt across multiple sizes. Think of it as built-in flexibility for real bodies that change.

✦ Ella's tip: Because the source material is menswear, shoulder width is the measurement that matters most when buying Bettter tailoring. If the shoulders fit, everything else can be styled around. If the shoulders are too wide even after adjustments, it's a harder fix.

How to Measure Yourself for Bettter

Take these measurements before you buy anything online — it takes two minutes and will save you a headache:

Shoulder width: Measure across the back from shoulder seam to shoulder seam. For Bettter tailoring especially, this is the most critical measurement.
Bust: Around the fullest part of your chest, tape parallel to the floor.
Waist: Around your natural waist — that narrowest point roughly an inch above your belly button.
Hips: Around the fullest part of your hips and seat, about 8–9 inches below the waist.

Cross-reference these with the specific product measurements listed on whichever retailer you're using — Farfetch in particular tends to list garment measurements (rather than body measurements) on Bettter listings, which is extremely useful for a brand like this where the silhouette is deliberately unconventional.

Which Pieces Are Most Forgiving on Sizing?

Not all Bettter pieces carry the same sizing risk. Here's a quick guide:

Reconstructed blazers and coats: Because the source is menswear, these tend to have broad shoulders and generous body. Most women find their usual size or even a size down works depending on how fitted vs. oversized you want the look. Check the listed shoulder measurement carefully.
Double-waistband trousers: These are designed with adjustment features, so there's more flex here than you'd expect. Measure your waist and hips and compare to the garment measurements listed.
Reconstructed shirts: Often layered or asymmetric in construction — these are designed to have volume, so they're generally more forgiving. Go with your bust measurement as the guide.
Ribbed knits and skirts: These tend to follow the body more closely than the tailoring pieces. Standard S/M/L conversions apply more reliably here.
Dresses: Depends enormously on the specific design. Always check the garment measurements on the product page rather than relying solely on S/M/L.

Styling Bettter by Body Shape

The great thing about a brand built on deconstructed menswear is that it genuinely suits a wide range of bodies — the silhouettes aren't trying to flatter in a conventional sense; they're trying to make a statement. That said, here's how I'd approach it:

Petite frames: The oversized tailoring can be stunning on petite women when worn with intention. Cropped or belted is your friend — cinching the waist over a big blazer is a power move. Avoid the longest, fullest pieces unless you're going for a very deliberate fashion-forward look.
Taller frames: You will absolutely nail this brand. The structured, elongated proportions are built for height. Wide-leg trousers and longline blazers will look incredible.
Curvier shapes: The reconstructed tailoring pieces often have more width through the shoulder and body than fitted womenswear. This can actually work brilliantly — lean into the structured, slightly oversized silhouette rather than trying to size down. The double-waistband trousers are particularly great if your waist-to-hip ratio is more dramatic.
Straight or boyish frames: Honestly, this is where Bettter was born. The menswear proportions translate most directly here. The blazers, suits, and straight-leg trousers will fit beautifully.

Where to Buy Bettter in the UK

Bettter isn't widely available everywhere, but these are the most reliable stockists for UK shoppers:

Farfetch — the most comprehensive UK-friendly option, with detailed garment measurements on most listings
Browns Fashion — curated selection with editorial context; good for understanding how pieces are intended to be styled
Bettter.us — the brand's own site; worth checking for the full range and care passport details
Ssense — ships to the UK; good selection and strong imagery

Always check returns policies when ordering from international retailers — some charge for UK returns and it's worth knowing before you commit.

High Street & Premium Alternatives If You Love the Bettter Aesthetic

The deconstructed tailoring, menswear-inspired silhouettes, and sustainability credentials that define Bettter are genuinely distinctive — but there are brilliant alternatives across different price points if the designer spend isn't on the cards right now.

All Saints — excellent for the edgier, deconstructed end of womenswear. Strong on tailoring pieces with a slightly harder aesthetic edge, and very well priced for the quality.
Cos — probably the closest high street brand in terms of architectural, understated design philosophy. Their tailoring pieces in particular have a similar restrained intelligence to what Bettter does at a higher price point.
Zara — consistently picks up on the oversized-tailoring and menswear-borrowing trend quickly. Their blazer edits are worth watching each season.
Anthropologie — leans more romantic than Bettter but does deconstructed and artisanal-feeling pieces well; worth browsing if you like the idea of unconventional construction.
Whistles — grown-up, well-cut tailoring pieces that share Bettter's commitment to wearing well over time rather than trend-chasing.
Mango — their tailoring range has been genuinely impressive recently. Very solid on oversized blazers and wide-leg tailored trousers at accessible prices.
Urban Outfitters — if you want to try the vintage-meets-reconstructed tailoring look without the designer price tag, UO's vintage and own-brand tailoring is worth exploring.
Massimo Dutti — for when you want something genuinely well-made and structure-focused without going full designer. Their menswear-inspired womenswear is consistently good.

For independent alternatives with a similar sustainability-first ethos, I'd point you towards Paloma Wool — the Spanish label doing beautiful, artisan-feeling pieces with a deconstructed quality — and Bite Studios, a Swedish brand focused on sustainable luxury womenswear with a similar quiet, intelligent aesthetic to Bettter. Both are genuinely worth knowing about.

Stop Guessing Your Size — Use Tellar

Bettter is a perfect example of why a standard size guide just doesn't cut it. When a brand rebuilds garments from deadstock menswear, the construction is unique to each piece — and that's exactly the kind of sizing complexity that Tellar.co.uk is built to solve.

Tellar is the UK's leading free sizing tool, instantly matching your body measurements to over 1,500 brands. No guesswork. No returns faff. Just the right size, first time.

📏 Measure once — enter your bust, waist, hip, or an existing brand size you know fits
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And while you're there, explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — an honest, unsponsored library of style advice from real stylists. No brand deals. No ads. Just good, independent fashion guidance, always free.