How to Find Your Size in Aspesi

BY ELLA BLAKE | TELLAR FASHION HUB

Aspesi runs in Italian sizing, which means if you're used to UK or US labels, you'll need to size up by roughly one to two sizes — and because many of their pieces are intentionally cut with a relaxed, almost architectural ease, it's well worth knowing your measurements before you buy.

I discovered Aspesi the way a lot of people do: through envy. A friend turned up to a gallery opening in one of their nylon field jackets — utterly minimal, slightly oversized, somehow both practical and chic — and I spent the entire evening subtly obsessing over it. I ordered one online that same week, confidently chose my usual European size, and it arrived looking like I'd borrowed it from a much larger person. Lesson learned. Aspesi's relaxed silhouettes are deliberate and genuinely beautiful, but you have to go in knowing the rules.

Understanding Aspesi Sizing

Aspesi is an Italian brand, founded in Como in 1969, and their garments are sized using the Italian/European system. As a general rule:

Italian sizing runs roughly 2–4 sizes above UK sizing — so a UK 10 is typically an Italian 38, a UK 12 is a 40, and so on.
Aspesi's fits are generally relaxed to oversized, particularly in outerwear. This is a design feature, not a fault — but it does mean that for fitted pieces like shirts or knitwear, many women size down one from their usual European size.
Their trousers and skirts tend to run true to European size, so no surprise there — just convert from your UK size using the chart below.

Aspesi Size Conversion Chart

UK SizeAspesi / Italian SizeEU SizeUS SizeUK 634342UK 836364UK 1038386UK 1240408UK 14424210UK 16444412UK 18464614

Tips for Getting the Fit Right at Aspesi

Having now ordered from Aspesi a handful of times — and made a couple of expensive missteps along the way — here's what I'd genuinely tell a friend:

Outerwear: Go true to your Italian size, or even size down if you want a slightly neater silhouette. The nylon jackets and padded coats are cut with real volume. If you usually wear a UK 12 (Italian 40), try the 38 first if you prefer a more tailored look.
Shirts and blouses: These are often oversized by design, particularly the classic button-downs. Size down one for a still-relaxed but not swamped result.
Knitwear: True to size. The fabric is usually substantial enough that the usual Italian conversion works perfectly without sizing down.
Trousers: Go true to your Italian conversion. Aspesi's trousers tend to have a generous cut through the hip, so standard sizing works well.
Dresses: Always check the specific product notes — some Aspesi dresses are intentionally oversized (and divine, worn as a statement), while others are more structured.

How to Measure Yourself for Aspesi

If you're buying online — which, let's be honest, most of us are — the best thing you can do is take three quick measurements before you hit add to basket:

Bust: Measure around the fullest part of your chest, keeping the tape horizontal.
Waist: Measure around the narrowest part of your natural waist.
Hips: Measure around the fullest part of your hips, usually about 20cm below your natural waist.

Cross-reference those measurements against Aspesi's size guide on their website (they do provide one, thankfully), and you'll save yourself a lot of back-and-forth with returns.

The Aspesi Aesthetic — What You're Actually Getting

Aspesi occupies a very particular niche: they're not flashy, they're not trend-driven, and they're not trying to be anyone else. The brand is rooted in functional outerwear — their nylon jackets are a cult item — but they've expanded into a thoughtful, quietly confident wardrobe that works just as well in the city as it does in the countryside. Think muted palettes, excellent fabric, and cuts that feel considered rather than complicated.

It's the kind of brand that appeals to women who've grown out of logomania and into the confidence of wearing something genuinely well-made. I'd put it firmly in the premium-to-luxury bracket — not quite Loro Piana pricing, but not a casual impulse buy either.

High Street Alternatives With a Similar Minimalist Spirit

If Aspesi is on your wish list but not quite in your budget right now, or you're after something to style alongside it, these are the brands I'd genuinely point you towards:

Jigsaw — Consistently excellent for relaxed, European-inspired separates. Their outerwear in particular has real Aspesi energy without the Italian price tag.
Massimo Dutti — One of the high street's best-kept secrets for quality basics. Their nylon and technical outerwear pieces are surprisingly well-made.
Whistles — A brilliant go-to for understated, well-cut pieces that sit comfortably alongside designer labels.
Me&Em — Exceptional quality for the price point, especially for shirts, knitwear, and outerwear. A brand I keep returning to.
Reiss — Strong tailoring and structured outerwear. If you love Aspesi's more architectural pieces, Reiss scratches a similar itch.
AllSaints — For the moodier, utilitarian side of Aspesi's aesthetic — field jackets, relaxed layers, great leather.
Hobbs — Brilliant for classic, considered pieces with excellent finishing. Their coats, in particular, are always worth a look.
Mint Velvet — A great source of relaxed, tonal layering pieces that won't feel out of place alongside Aspesi in your wardrobe.

Two Independent Brands Worth Knowing

If the Aspesi approach — considered, functional, beautifully made — really resonates, these two under-the-radar labels are worth adding to your bookmarks:

Studio Nicholson — A London-based label that has become quietly essential for anyone who loves Aspesi's pared-back, oversized precision. Their sizing is similarly relaxed, so apply the same logic: know your measurements, consider sizing down. The quality-to-price ratio is genuinely excellent.
Asket — A Swedish brand built entirely around the idea of the permanent wardrobe: no seasonal collections, just endlessly refined essentials. Their sizing system is unusually transparent (they publish exact garment measurements, not just generic sizing), which makes them a dream for online shopping.

Never Guess Your Size Again — Use Tellar

Aspesi's sizing quirks are exactly why Tellar.co.uk exists. It's the UK's leading free sizing tool — enter your measurements once and get your precise size matched across 1,500+ brands instantly. No more size guides, no more guesswork, no more expensive returns.

Step 1 — Measure once: Bust, waist, hips, or your existing size in a brand you already know well.
Step 2 — Look up your size: Use the Tellar Store Size Lookup tool to find your exact fit in Aspesi, COS, Reiss, Arket, Everlane, and 1,500+ other brands.
Step 3 — Shop with confidence: Completely free, no app download needed, works directly in your browser.

There's also the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of free, honest, unsponsored style guides written by real stylists. No ads, no brand partnerships, no agenda. Just straightforward fashion advice.