What is sizing like at Begg & Co?

By Ella Blake – Senior fashion stylist & Founder | Tellar — Always honest, unbiased, & unsponsored post

Here's the honest answer before you read another word: Begg & Co doesn't work like an ordinary clothing label, so there's very little conventional "sizing" to fret about. This 160-year-old Ayrshire house — which now trades as Begg x Co — built its name on cashmere scarves, stoles and wraps, and accessories like these are sold by dimension, not by dress size. There's a small ready-to-wear knitwear line too, and the reassuring news is that it fits generously. So if you've been hovering over a £300 scarf wondering whether it'll "fit", you can relax. The only real question is how much beautiful fabric you want draped around you.

So what does "sizing" actually mean here?

Because the bulk of the collection is accessories, sizing at Begg & Co is about scale and proportion rather than your measurements. After years of buying and styling their pieces, here's how I'd break it down:

Classic scarves (the iconic Arran, the Kishorn) usually run around 36cm x 183cm — a proper, generous rectangle you can loop twice and still have length to spare.
Stoles and wraps are wider, often 70cm or more across, so they double as a shoulder cover or a featherlight blanket on a chilly flight.
Square scarves (the Hanover Square superfine styles) are a different creature — made to be folded, knotted at the throat, or tied onto a handbag.
The Wispy pieces come long and airy, often around 70 x 200cm, and weigh next to nothing — ideal if you find chunky knits overwhelming on a smaller frame.

The takeaway: a petite woman and a tall one buy exactly the same scarf. It's the styling that changes, not the size — and I'll come to that.

The knitwear: how does it fit?

Begg & Co's clothing line — cardigans, sweaters, polos and a bit of loungewear, with the Yacht Cardigan as the hero piece — comes in standard sizing, typically XS to XL. In my experience it runs true to size with a relaxed, slightly roomy cut. That's deliberate; this is cashmere designed to be lived in, not squeezed into. My advice:

If you like a neat, close fit, take your usual size — it'll sit comfortably, not tight.
If you're between sizes or want that easy, slouchy look, you genuinely don't need to size up. The cut already gives you room.
Cashmere of this quality holds its shape beautifully, so resist buying small in the hope it'll "settle". It won't shrink to flatter you.

A quick confession

My first proper cashmere scarf was a disaster of my own making. I bought a beautiful long stole years ago and, terrified of looking frumpy, kept it folded into a tight little neck-knot — completely smothering the drape that I'd paid for in the first place. A friend (gently) told me I looked like I was permanently bracing for a draught. The moment I let it hang loose and long, with the ends grazing my hips, the whole thing transformed. That's the lesson with Begg & Co: the generous length is the point. Don't fight it.

How I'd style it

Petite frames: go for the superfine Wispy weights and let them hang long and narrow — bulk will swamp you, but length elongates.
Taller or curvier: the Arran's heavier weave and the wide stoles look intentional and luxe rather than skimpy.
For tailoring: a solid neutral stole over a navy coat is the most quietly expensive thing you can do to an outfit.
For colour: the ombre and reversible designs do the work for you — pick one tone that matches your coat and let the rest sing.

Where to shop — and the alternatives at every budget

Begg & Co sits firmly at the luxury end (scarves comfortably run £200–£600), so here's where I'd send you depending on your budget and what you're after.

On the high street, you can get the cashmere-and-soft-scarf feeling for a fraction of the price:

M&S — the best-kept secret in affordable pure cashmere; their scarves and jumpers punch well above their price.
The White Company — beautifully understated cashmere accessories in the exact neutral palette Begg does so well.
Seasalt Cornwall — lovely brushed wool and lambswool scarves with a soft, coastal-Scottish sensibility.
Mint Velvet — soft, luxe-feeling scarves and wraps that look far pricier than they are.
Hush — relaxed, easy knits and scarves with that lived-in luxury feel.
Jigsaw — grown-up wool and cashmere-blend scarves with a tailored, considered edge.
Boden — if you want the warmth and quality but with a hit of cheerful colour and pattern.

At the premium level, where the quality climbs but you're not yet in pure-luxury territory:

Reiss — polished, minimal cashmere-blend scarves that work hard with tailoring.
Me&Em — clever, design-led knits and accessories built to last several seasons.
Massimo Dutti — consistently the most "expensive-looking" wool and cashmere for the money on the British high street.

At true luxury / designer level, the natural peers to Begg & Co:

Max Mara — for cashmere with serious fashion credentials and an Italian sense of drama.
Loro Piana — the global benchmark for fibre quality, if money is genuinely no object.

And because I always insist on a couple of off-the-beaten-track independents, here are two Scottish gems flying gloriously under the radar:

Johnstons of Elgin — Begg's quiet rival; a heritage Scottish mill making cashmere scarves and stoles of comparable beauty, often a touch more accessible.
The Tartan Blanket Co — an Edinburgh independent doing gorgeous recycled-wool and lambswool scarves with brilliant ethics and far gentler prices.

Never look at a confusing size guide again

Here's where I'd save you a lot of bother. Tellar is the UK's leading sizing tool — it matches your body to over 1,500 brands instantly, so you never have to squint at another size chart. Measure once, using your bust, waist and hip, or simply your existing size in a brand you already own.

Get started at tellar.co.uk

Then use the Store Size Lookup to get your precise size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more. Always free, no downloads, works straight in your browser.

Try the Store Size Lookup tool

There's also the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library stacked with free posts from our top stylists. Honest. Unbiased. Independent. Always free. Style advice, top picks and the best brands, all in one place.