How to Find Your Size in Ballantyne

By Ella Blake — Fashion Stylist | Tellar Fashion Hub — Always honest, unbiased & unsponsored

Ballantyne uses Italian sizing, which runs slightly larger than UK sizing — so in most cases, you'll size down by one when shopping the brand. A Ballantyne 42 is roughly a UK 10, a 44 is a UK 12, and so on. That said, their knitwear is designed with a relaxed, generous fit in mind, so the sizing can feel more forgiving than you'd expect from an Italian luxury label. Here's everything you need to know before you buy.

Who Is Ballantyne?

If you're not already familiar with Ballantyne, let me fix that. Founded in 1967 in Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders — the heartland of fine knitwear production — Ballantyne has spent decades perfecting cashmere. The brand later came under Italian creative direction, which gave it that slightly more fashion-forward, continental edge it's known for today. Think: vivid argyle intarsias, chunky cable-knit pullovers in the most satisfying neutrals, and cashmere polo-necks so soft you'll wonder why you ever wore anything else.

It's the kind of brand that serious fashion people have always known about quietly. Not the loudest label in the room, but the one with the most substance. I've had a soft spot for Ballantyne since I tried on one of their heritage diamond-pattern cardigans at a sample sale years ago and nearly cried at how beautiful the cashmere was. I didn't buy it. It still haunts me.

Understanding Ballantyne's Sizing System

Ballantyne operates on Italian sizing conventions, which is the first thing to get your head around. The numbers — 38, 40, 42, 44 — refer to Italian sizes, not UK dress sizes. Here's how they translate:

Italian SizeUK SizeEU SizeBust (approx.)Waist (approx.)3663480cm62cm3883684cm66cm40103888cm70cm42124092cm74cm44144296cm78cm461644100cm82cm

Keep in mind these are guide measurements. Because knitwear inherently has more give than woven or structured pieces, Ballantyne's jumpers and cardigans often have extra ease built into the pattern. A style labelled 40 may comfortably fit someone who normally wears a UK 12 if they prefer a relaxed drape rather than a fitted silhouette. The key is knowing whether a particular piece is cut slim or oversized — the brand's product descriptions and stockist notes are your friend here.

Key Fit Tips Specific to Ballantyne

Check whether the style is fitted or relaxed — Ballantyne does both, and the difference in ease can be significant. Their classic crewnecks and polo-necks tend to be cut with a closer fit; chunky cable styles and outerwear knits are looser.
Shoulder seam placement matters with knitwear — if you're buying a finer gauge jumper or cardigan, make sure the shoulder seam sits right at the shoulder point. Too far in and the whole silhouette looks off.
Cashmere relaxes over time — high-quality cashmere like Ballantyne's will ease slightly with wear and gentle washing. If a piece feels fractionally snug in the shop, it may well settle to a perfect fit. If it's genuinely tight, that's a different matter.
For the argyle and intarsia pieces — these tend to be the more fitted styles in the range. Go by your actual bust measurement and match it closely to the size guide.
When buying from multi-brand retailers like Harrods or Net-a-Porter, check the detailed measurements tab rather than relying purely on the size label.
Sleeved pieces — sleeve length on Ballantyne's knitwear tends to be generous. If you're petite, this is worth bearing in mind, as you may want to check the sleeve length in the product measurements.

How to Style Ballantyne (Because the Fit Only Tells Half the Story)

Once you've nailed the size, here comes the fun part. Ballantyne's knitwear is built to be the centrepiece of an outfit, not a layer you throw on and forget about. Their bold argyle patterns look genuinely incredible tucked into wide-leg tailored trousers — it's that preppy-meets-luxe aesthetic that feels thoroughly modern right now. For the plainer cashmere pieces, try wearing a fine roll-neck under a sharp blazer for that polished, layered look that's been all over Vogue's autumn edits in recent seasons.

Don't overthink it. The quality of the knitwear does the work. Your job is just to make sure it fits.

Love the Ballantyne Aesthetic? Shop These Alternatives

Not everyone can or wants to spend on Ballantyne at full price, and honestly, that's completely reasonable — this is investment dressing. But the luxurious knitwear aesthetic is very much achievable at different price points. Here's where I'd head:

The White Company — genuinely excellent cashmere and merino at a fraction of the designer price. Their sizing is clear, generous and consistent, and the quality over-delivers for the price point. A brilliant first stop for Ballantyne-adjacent knitwear.
Jigsaw — one of the high street's strongest knitwear offerings. Their colour palette and cut feel genuinely premium, and their fine-gauge knits in particular have a quiet elegance that sits close to the Ballantyne spirit.
Whistles — great for elevated knitwear basics in interesting textures. Their cashmere blends are particularly strong and the fit tends to be well-considered across sizes.
Massimo Dutti — possibly the closest Zara Group brand to Ballantyne in terms of aesthetic. Their knitwear is reliably sophisticated, and they do some beautiful tonal pieces in merino and wool blends every season.
Cos — ideal if you want the relaxed, oversized knitwear look with real minimalist edge. Their knit structures are interesting and the sizing is straightforward.
Me&Em — a brilliant British brand that punches well above its price point for knitwear. Their merino and cashmere blend pieces are genuinely lovely, and the sizing is reliable and true.
Boden — underrated for knitwear. Their heritage-inflected patterns and robust wool pieces have a subtle nod to Ballantyne's Scottish roots, and they size very clearly with detailed fit guidance.
Hobbs — consistently strong for smart, polished knitwear that works beautifully for work or occasion dressing. A solid mid-market choice.

And two independents worth knowing about for serious knitwear lovers:

Kapital — a Japanese label with a cult following for their extraordinary knitwear. Unconventional, handcrafted and genuinely unlike anything on the high street. If you want something truly special, look them up.
Brora — a Scottish cashmere brand with deep roots in the same heritage territory as Ballantyne. Their cashmere is exceptional quality and they offer a wonderful range of classic and contemporary styles. Sizes clearly, runs true to UK sizing.

Stop Guessing Your Size in Luxury Brands

Italian sizing, UK sizing, EU sizing — luxury brands all do their own thing, and it's genuinely maddening when you're shopping online. Tellar.co.uk is the UK's leading free sizing tool, matching your exact measurements to over 1,500 brands in seconds. No faff, no subscription, no downloads needed.

Measure once — just your bust, waist, and hip. That's genuinely all you need.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size across any brand — from Ballantyne to Barbour, Reiss to Arket — instantly.
Always free — works in-browser, no account required.

And while you're there, explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of free, honest, unsponsored posts from our stylists covering everything from brand deep-dives to style guides and the best seasonal buys. Independent. Unbiased. Always free.

Find Your Size at Tellar →