What Is Sizing Like at Brora? An Honest Stylist’s Guide to Fit

By Ella Blake – Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder | Tellar – Always honest, unbiased, & unsponsored post

Brora generally runs true to UK sizing, but its knitwear is cut with a deliberately relaxed, slightly boxy line — so if you’re between sizes or want a neater silhouette, sizing down is almost always the right call. I’ve been dressing clients in Scottish cashmere for years, and Brora is one of those brands where the label on the neck tells you less than the cut does. Below is exactly how it fits, category by category, plus where else I’d send you for similar quality at every price point.

Brora knitwear: true to size, but relaxed

This is the heart of the brand, so let’s start here. Brora’s jumpers and cardigans match standard UK sizing, but they’re designed to sit away from the body rather than hug it. The boyfriend and oversized styles are exactly that — generous — while the cropped cardigans (a Brora signature) actually run a touch small through the shoulders and bust.

Want a slouchy, throw-on-with-jeans look? Take your usual size.
Want a tucked-in, polished fit? Size down one.
Eyeing a cropped cardigan? Consider sizing up if you’re curvier through the chest.

A quick confession: I once bought a Brora boyfriend jumper in my “safe” size for a styling shoot and it swamped me on camera — lovely in person, a sack on screen. Lesson learnt. Now I always check the shoulder seam measurement before I commit, because that single number tells you whether a knit is built to drape or to sit close.

Dresses: go by your hips

Brora dresses, especially the linen and wool-blend styles, are often cut fairly straight through the waist and seat. If you carry more on the hip, size to that measurement rather than your bust, or you’ll find it pulls across the back. Plenty of customers size up a notch in the more structured fabrics for comfort, and I’d agree — a fraction of ease reads far more elegant than anything straining at the seams.

Trousers and tailoring: the snug zone

This is where I’d be most careful. Brora’s corduroy and tweed trousers have very little give, so your waist and hip measurements matter more than the size on the label. The slim and tailored cuts can feel tight on curvier frames — if that’s you, go up rather than fight it. The fabric is gorgeous but it isn’t forgiving, and a heritage cord should skim, not grip.

A note on quality — because it affects fit

Brora’s cashmere is spun, dyed and knitted in Scotland, and the classic core pieces still earn their price. Wash them properly (hand wash, dry flat) and they keep their shape for years. The reason I mention it here is that good cashmere holds its fit; cheaper knits stretch and bag, which is why a true-to-size Brora jumper will still look intentional three winters on.

Where else to shop for Brora-style knitwear

If you love the Brora aesthetic but want options across the budget, these are the brands I genuinely send clients to.

High street & mid-market:

M&S — the best value pure cashmere on the high street, and reliably true to size.
COS — minimalist, beautifully cut wool and cashmere; runs slightly oversized, much like Brora.
Massimo Dutti — premium-feeling knits with a polished, European fit.
Seasalt Cornwall — British coastal heritage, soft organic-cotton and wool layering pieces.
Boden — playful prints and dependable British sizing, great for the dress side of the Brora wardrobe.
Mint Velvet — relaxed, luxe-feeling knitwear with that easy slouch.
Hush — understated, lived-in heritage staples that scratch the same itch for far less.

Premium:

The White Company — quietly luxurious cashmere in a tighter, neater fit than Brora.
Jigsaw — grown-up British tailoring and knits with a considered cut.
Me&Em — clever, flattering shapes if you want structure rather than slouch.

Luxury / designer:

Max Mara — the gold standard for investment knitwear and camel coats; generous Italian sizing, so try before you size up.

Two off-the-radar names I rate:

Johnstons of Elgin — the Scottish mill behind much of the world’s finest cashmere; heritage quality, true to size, criminally under-known.
Navygrey — a small independent British label doing one perfect jumper in a handful of colours; relaxed fit, made to last.

The thread running through all of this? Brora is a fit-by-feel brand, not a fit-by-label one. Measure yourself, decide whether you want relaxed or sharp, and size accordingly.

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