Weekend Max Mara Sizing: Does It Run Small? A Stylist's Honest Guide

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

Weekend Max Mara uses Italian sizing and runs noticeably small compared to standard UK sizing — as a rule, you'll need to go up one to two sizes from your usual UK size, and in some styles, potentially more. I learnt this the hard way when I confidently ordered a coat in what I thought was my size and spent the next week convincing myself it would somehow stretch. It didn't. Once you understand how Italian sizing works and how Weekend Max Mara specifically cuts its pieces, shopping the brand becomes a lot more enjoyable and a lot less expensive in returns.

Italian Sizing — What You Actually Need to Know

Weekend Max Mara is the diffusion line of the iconic Italian house Max Mara — think relaxed luxury, beautiful fabrics, and that effortlessly chic European sensibility we all aspire to on a Monday morning. Like all Italian brands, it sizes in the Italian convention, which runs smaller than UK sizing. The general conversion is roughly two sizes up from a UK size in most garments:

Golden rule: always go by your measurements rather than your UK size when ordering from Weekend Max Mara. If you're between sizes, size up — the cuts are often generous in length and the silhouettes tend to be relaxed and drapey, so the extra room usually works in your favour.

Coats & Outerwear — Their Signature Category

If you're buying Weekend Max Mara for the first time, there's a good chance it's for a coat. And honestly, this is where they absolutely shine. The camel coats, wool blends and oversized silhouettes are the stuff of style legend for a reason. A few things to bear in mind:

The brand's outerwear is often deliberately oversized in its design — this is intentional, not a sizing error. However, the base size is still Italian, so start from the correct conversion and then decide whether you want the full oversized effect or a slimmer layer.
If you plan to wear chunky knitwear underneath (very reasonable in a British winter), size up once more from your standard conversion.
Check the shoulder seam carefully — on Italian-cut coats, this is often where a wrong size reveals itself. The shoulder should sit cleanly at the edge of your shoulder, even in an oversized cut.
Their trench coats and belted styles fit slightly more true-to-Italian-size as they're designed with the belt doing some of the work.

Knitwear & Tops — More Forgiving, But Still Size Up

Weekend Max Mara's knitwear is genuinely lovely — relaxed, soft, and the kind of thing you find yourself reaching for three times a week. The good news is that knits are more forgiving than woven pieces. That said:

Fine-knit jumpers and cardigans still run small. Stick to your IT size conversion and you'll be fine — don't assume a knit gives you a free pass to stay in your UK size.
Boxy, oversized knits (a signature of the brand) can often be sized true to your IT conversion or even a size down if you want structure rather than volume.
Blouses and woven tops cut close to the body should be sized using bust measurement first — this is where the Italian cut makes the most difference.

Trousers & Skirts — Watch the Waist

Trousers are where many women run into trouble with Weekend Max Mara, and it's almost always the waist. The Italian cut tends to be narrower in the waist relative to the hip, which can make finding the right fit tricky if you have a more pronounced hip-to-waist ratio. My advice:

Measure your waist and hips and size to whichever measurement puts you in the larger IT size — then use a tailor if needed to adjust. A good tailor taking in a waistband is far cheaper than the wrong size languishing in your wardrobe.
Wide-leg trousers (a Weekend Max Mara staple) tend to be more accommodating — the relaxed silhouette gives you more room to play with.
Skirts with elasticated waists are the most forgiving category in the range, and they often look just as chic as the tailored styles.

Where Else to Shop for That Relaxed Italian-Influenced Aesthetic

Weekend Max Mara occupies a lovely space — it's premium without being prohibitive, elegant without being stuffy. If you're after the same energy at different price points, here's where I'd point you:

High Street & Accessible

COS — The closest high street equivalent to the Weekend Max Mara aesthetic. Clean lines, relaxed tailoring, quality fabrics and muted tones. Their sizing is consistent and runs true to UK size.
Jigsaw — A brilliant British brand that shares Weekend Max Mara's love of beautiful textures and unfussy silhouettes. Their coats in particular are excellent, and sizing is straightforward.
Whistles — Elegant, understated and very wearable. Great for tailored separates that complement a luxe aesthetic. Sizes true to UK.
Massimo Dutti — Zara's grown-up sister brand. Comparable Mediterranean sensibility, beautiful fabrics for the price point, and generally true-to-size with a European cut.
Me&Em — One of my favourite British brands for polished, wearable pieces. Their knitwear and coats are genuinely excellent and sizing is reliable and well-labelled.
Mint Velvet — Perfect for women who want a relaxed-luxe look without the designer price tag. Great layering pieces and their coats consistently get strong reviews.
Hobbs — Dependable, classic and well-made. A solid choice for occasion-appropriate tailoring and smart separates that share Weekend Max Mara's timeless sensibility.

Premium

Joseph — A London-based premium brand with serious Italian influence. Exceptional knitwear and tailoring at a price point sitting just below Weekend Max Mara. Worth every penny, and sizing tends to be consistent across collections.
Reiss — For sharp tailoring with a premium feel that won't quite stretch to designer. Their coats and trousers are genuinely well-cut and sizing is reliable.

Luxury & Designer

Max Mara (mainline) — The parent house and the aspirational step up. The 101801 coat is one of the great style icons of the modern wardrobe. Same Italian sizing applies.
Brunello Cucinelli — For the ultimate Italian luxury experience. Exceptional cashmere and knitwear, understated elegance, and similarly small Italian sizing. A treat for special occasions.

Independent & Under-the-Radar Picks

Envelope 1976 — A Swedish brand that has quietly built a cult following among women who love exactly the Weekend Max Mara aesthetic — relaxed, beautiful fabrics, easy silhouettes. Sizing runs European and their size guide is clear and reliable.
Aeron — A Central European brand (founded in Budapest) that's been getting serious attention in European style press. Beautifully cut, sophisticated pieces with great attention to fabric and drape. Two sizes I'd genuinely have in my own wardrobe.

Never Get Weekend Max Mara Sizing Wrong Again

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