What Is Sizing Like at Armor-Lux?

Armor-Lux fits true to size with a classic, fairly straight cut. It's not sneakily small like a lot of fast fashion, and it's not slouchy-oversized like the Scandi labels. It's cut the way French workwear has been cut since the brand started up in Quimper back in 1938 — for men who actually needed to move, layer and work in the thing.

So does Armor-Lux run big or small?

Neither, mostly — but the silhouette catches people out more than the label. Here's how it breaks down by piece:

The Breton striped shirts (the marinière): true to size on the body, but cut straight through with a boat neck and a slight drop shoulder. That means the sleeve sits a touch long and the shoulder seam falls off the joint — that's intentional, it's the authentic look, so don't panic and return it. The heavyweight interlock cotton barely stretches, so if you're between sizes or want a cleaner line, that's the one time I'd consider sizing down. Broad lads: stay true and enjoy the proper drop-shoulder drape.
Fisherman's jumpers & knitwear: true to size, cut with a bit of room because they're designed to go over a shirt. Don't size up hoping for slouch — you'll drown.
Pea coats, reefer jackets & smocks: straight, boxy, built for layering over knitwear. True to size gives you room for a jumper underneath, which is the whole point of a pea coat. Size up only if you're a serious layerer.
Sizing system: tops run in letters (XS–2XL). As a rough guide, S is a 34–36" chest, M a 36–38", L a 38–41", XL a 42–45". If you're right on a boundary, the fabric weight means it's usually safer to take the smaller one on jersey and the larger on outerwear.

How I'd style it

The good news is a Breton is one of the easiest heritage pieces to wear — it does about half the work for you. My go-to formulas:

The everyday win: marinière + a straight or slim indigo jean + white leather trainers or deck shoes. Roll the cuff once. Done, and it works for coffee runs or a relaxed lunch.
Layer it: the stripe under an unlined chore jacket or a canvas overshirt is a look I put on clients constantly — the collar of the jacket frames the boat neck and it stops the stripe feeling too "costume".
Smarten it: a navy fisherman's jumper over an Oxford shirt, wool trousers, brown suede boots. Coastal-grandpa done properly, which is very much where menswear is right now.
Trend note: the whole maritime revival — Guernsey knits, smocks, deck jackets, wider stripes — is having a genuine moment. Armor-Lux is the real-deal source rather than a high-street tribute act, so you're buying the archive, not the trend.

What I'd buy first

Start with the classic long-sleeve marinière in navy/white. It's the piece that made the brand and it'll outlast most of your wardrobe.
Then a fisherman's jumper — the wool ones are proper cold-weather kit and quietly smart.
Then, if the budget stretches, a pea coat. Genuinely a buy-once-cry-once outer layer.

Brands to wear alongside Armor-Lux

If you love the Breton-and-heritage world, here's who else I'd point you towards across the price ladder — and crucially, how each one fits next to Armor-Lux.

High street

Seasalt Cornwall — the closest high-street match in spirit. It does its own coastal stripes with a relaxed, true-to-size cut very similar to Armor-Lux, so if you know your Armor-Lux size you'll know your Seasalt size. Softer, lighter fabrics though — less of that armour-plated jersey.
Joules — proper British coastal kit, cut a touch roomier than Armor-Lux. Great for the fisherman-jumper-and-cord end of the look, and easy on the wallet.

Independent & boutique

Saint James — the other great French Breton house, made in Normandy. Its cut is generous and classic like Armor-Lux, arguably even a hair boxier, so take your usual size. If you're a stripe obsessive, owning one of each is no bad thing.
Sunspel — British, beautifully made tees and knitwear. Cut noticeably slimmer and shorter than Armor-Lux, so if you find the French drop-shoulder too roomy, this is your fix.
Community Clothing — Blackburn-made, no-nonsense basics with honest pricing. True to size and cut fairly straight, so it slots in next to Armor-Lux without a fight.

Designer & luxury

A.P.C. — the French minimalist benchmark. Cut slimmer and a bit shorter than Armor-Lux, so those upgrading for a sharper line should consider their usual size rather than sizing down again.
Orlebar Brown — British resortwear with a tailored, closer fit. If Armor-Lux is the working boat, this is the yacht. Buy true but expect a trimmer silhouette.
Officine Générale — Parisian, elevated, cut clean and modern. Sizing is fairly true but the shoulders are neater than Armor-Lux's drop-shoulder, so it wears a full size sharper.

Not sure which Armor-Lux size is actually yours?

This is exactly what we built Tellar for. It's the UK's leading sizing tool — your body matched precisely to 1,500+ brands, so you never squint at a size guide again.

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And it sits alongside the Tellar Fashion Hub — a growing library of free posts from our stylists covering pretty much every fashion query going. Honest, unbiased, independent, and always free.

Find your Armor-Lux size How to measure

Get the size right and Armor-Lux is one of the most satisfying heritage buys in menswear — the kind of thing you'll still be reaching for in ten years. Just don't do what I did and shrink-wrap yourself. Measure first, buy once, wear it for a decade.