What Is Sizing Like at Carhartt WIP?

Carhartt WIP runs generously — expect a relaxed, boxy fit across most of its range, and in the majority of cases you'll want to stick to your usual size or size down if you prefer anything close to the body. That's the short answer. But if you're a woman shopping Carhartt WIP for the first time, there's a bit more nuance worth knowing before you click buy.

I came to Carhartt WIP the way a lot of women do — I nicked my boyfriend's jacket and absolutely refused to give it back. That boxy, oversized Michigan jacket tucked into wide-leg jeans became one of my most-worn looks for two whole winters. When I finally went to buy my own, I made the mistake of sizing up "just to be safe" and ended up swimming in it. Lesson learned. So let me save you the same hassle.

The Carhartt WIP Brand: A Quick Background

Carhartt itself has been making hardwearing workwear since 1889 — it's a Detroit-born American institution beloved by factory workers and rappers alike. Carhartt WIP (Work In Progress) was launched in 1994 as a European offshoot aimed at a younger, more fashion-conscious crowd. It's now a fully-fledged streetwear label in its own right, with stores in London and across Europe, and serious credibility in skateboarding, music, and art culture.

The key thing to understand about WIP's DNA is that the workwear roots are baked into every single garment. Clothes were originally built to move in, layer over, and last for years — not to nip in at the waist. That's exactly the sizing philosophy you're working with here.

So, Does Carhartt WIP Run Big?

Yes — intentionally so. This isn't a brand that accidentally cuts things a size too large; the relaxed, boxy fit is the whole aesthetic. Across the range:

T-shirts and tops — boxy through the shoulders and torso, designed to sit off the body rather than hug it. If you're between sizes, size down.
Hoodies and sweatshirts — roomy in both the body and sleeves, with a slightly dropped shoulder. True to size gives you the intended oversized look; size down for a more fitted result.
Jackets and coats — built to layer over multiple pieces. The Michigan jacket and the OG chore coat both have a boxy silhouette with wide arms. Stay true to size for the classic look, or size down for something slightly more tailored.
Trousers and jeans — waists tend to be true to size, but the leg is cut loose. The cargo and denim styles in particular have a relaxed, straight leg that's wider than most mainstream brands. If you like a cleaner trouser line, consider sizing down one.

Sizing Advice for Women Specifically

Here's where it gets interesting — because Carhartt WIP doesn't traditionally design from a feminine silhouette. A lot of women shop the men's range (myself included) and adjust accordingly, but the brand does offer women's-specific pieces, particularly in tops, tees, and outerwear. The women's cuts are slightly more tailored through the shoulder, but don't expect anything close to a traditional fitted silhouette — it's still very much a relaxed, utilitarian aesthetic.

My personal rule of thumb: if you're shopping the women's WIP range, go true to size. If you're shopping the men's range, drop at least one to two sizes. I'm a standard UK 10/12 and in men's WIP pieces I'll go for a small or extra small depending on the garment — and even then it has volume. Which, honestly, is half the appeal.

How to Style the Carhartt WIP Fit

The relaxed fit is a styling opportunity, not a problem. The brand really comes into its own when you lean into the proportions:

Pair an oversized WIP hoodie or tee with slim-cut or straight-leg jeans and chunky trainers — contrast is everything here
The chore coat or Michigan jacket over a simple fitted ribbed top and wide-leg trousers is an absolutely timeless combination
Tuck a looser WIP tee into high-waisted cargo trousers to create some shape without fighting the silhouette
Layering is where Carhartt WIP genuinely excels — the roomy cuts mean you can pile on a hoodie under a jacket without any pulling or restriction

High Street Alternatives with a Similar Aesthetic

If Carhartt WIP's sizing still feels like a gamble, or if you want to build a wider wardrobe around the same utilitarian, relaxed aesthetic, these are the brands I'd point you towards:

All Saints — leather jackets and utility-inspired pieces with a similar cool, unfussy edge; sizing is more predictable and true to size
Urban Outfitters — brilliant for boxy tees, oversized hoodies and relaxed-cut cargo trousers at an accessible price point; a great WIP adjacent option
Levi's — for the denim side of the WIP aesthetic, Levi's straight-leg and baggy styles are a reliable and affordable alternative
COS — if you want the clean, minimal silhouette with similarly relaxed proportions but a more polished European finish, COS is excellent
Abercrombie & Fitch — has genuinely reinvented itself, and its relaxed carpenter jean and oversized fleece range is a strong high-street rival
Calvin Klein — for a more refined take on the casual, logo-forward aesthetic with jeans and sweats that have crossover appeal
Barbour — if the workwear-heritage jacket is what drew you to WIP, Barbour offers that same rugged, layerable outerwear energy from a distinctly British angle

Premium Picks

If you're willing to spend a bit more for elevated materials and a sharper finish in the same relaxed streetwear space:

A.P.C. — clean, French-minimalist takes on jeans, outerwear and basics with superb fabric quality; Carhartt WIP has actually collaborated with A.P.C. directly, so the aesthetic overlap is real
Norse Projects — Scandinavian workwear-meets-streetwear with beautiful materials and a similarly relaxed, considered fit
Corridor NYC — a brilliant independent New York brand doing refined workwear and casual pieces with genuine craft behind them; not widely known in the UK yet but well worth exploring

Independent & Niche Picks to Know

Corridor NYC — as mentioned above, impeccably made casual and workwear-influenced pieces, sustainable practices, and an aesthetic that sits beautifully alongside Carhartt WIP
Forét — a Scandinavian outdoor and lifestyle brand with a low-key, utilitarian design language and seriously lovely outerwear; flying under the radar but gaining a strong following among people who love the WIP aesthetic but want something a little more unique

Luxury & Designer Options

Yes, the workwear aesthetic goes all the way to the top end. If you want the look in luxury form:

Jil Sander — for exquisitely cut workwear-inspired coats and trousers with a quiet luxury finish
Vetements — has long played with workwear and utility aesthetics in a high-fashion context; genuinely influential on the WIP aesthetic
Moncler Grenoble — for the technical, functional outerwear angle taken to its most elevated extreme

Never Guess Your Size Again — Use Tellar

Getting your size right in Carhartt WIP (or any of the brands above) is so much easier when you've got a proper tool doing the work for you. That's exactly what Tellar.co.uk is built for.

Tellar is the UK's leading clothing sizing tool — measure once using your bust, waist, and hip measurements, and get your precise size matched across 1,500+ brands instantly. No more guesswork, no more returns.

Measure once — bust, waist, hip — or use an existing brand size you already know
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to find your exact fit in Carhartt WIP, COS, Reiss, Arket, and hundreds more
Completely free, no download, works in-browser
Plus: browse the Tellar Fashion Hub — a free library of honest, unbiased style advice and brand guides from our team of stylists

Find Your Size Now →

More from the Tellar Fashion Hub: