What Is Sizing Like at Claudie Pierlot?

Claudie Pierlot runs small and slim, so if you're between sizes or carry any width through the shoulders, bust or hips, size up — this is a brand cut for a narrow, petite French frame, not a generous British one. I've been styling women in French labels for years, and Claudie Pierlot is one I always flag before anyone clicks "buy". Get the size right and the pieces are some of the most flattering, grown-up, quietly chic things in your wardrobe. Get it wrong and a beautiful blazer ends up straining across the back. So let me save you the faff.

The Short Answer on Fit

Claudie Pierlot is a Parisian ready-to-wear house, launched in 1984 and part of the same family as Sandro and Maje. Like its sister brands, it's designed on a slender French body block, which means the cut is neat, the armholes are high and the silhouette is close. A few things to keep front of mind:

It runs small versus the high street. If you're a comfortable UK 10 in M&S, you'll often want the next size up here.
The shoulders and upper arms are narrow. This is where most returns happen, especially on blazers and structured jackets.
Tailored dresses and shirts are fitted, not forgiving. Lovely if you're straight up and down, trickier if you're curvier through the bust.
Knitwear and relaxed pieces are kinder and tend to sit closer to true-to-size.

How Their Sizing Actually Works

Claudie Pierlot uses French numbered sizing — 34, 36, 38, 40 and so on — based on standardised measurements from the French Institute of Textile and Clothing. As a rough translation for UK shoppers, a French 36 lands around a UK 8 and a 38 around a UK 10, but I'd treat those numbers as a starting point rather than gospel. French brands historically cut for a smaller frame, so the honest advice is to ignore the label number and go by your actual bust, waist and hip measurements. The number on the tag is the least useful piece of information in the whole exercise.

Where It Runs Tight (And Where It Doesn't)

A quick fashion fail of my own: years ago I ordered a Claudie Pierlot wool blazer in my "usual" size for a client shoot, didn't check the cut, and spent the morning unable to lift my arms above the cake table at the venue. Lesson learned. Here's where to pay attention:

Blazers & jackets: high armholes, slim sleeves. Size up if you want to layer a jumper underneath.
Shirts & blouses: the classic gaping-button problem if you're a D-cup or above. Size up or stick to their relaxed styles.
Dresses: fitted through the waist; gorgeous on, but no room to hide a big lunch.
Trousers & jeans: generally true to their own chart — measure your waist and trust it.

And a genuine win: a Claudie Pierlot Peter Pan-collar mini I bought pre-loved on Vinted in a size up from my norm has become the most-worn dress in my rotation. Sized correctly, the brand is faultless.

How to Get Your Size Right

My stylist checklist before you order:

Measure yourself properly — bust, waist, hips — and compare to the garment, not the size label.
Default to sizing up if you're between sizes or in any doubt.
Buy two sizes on tailored pieces and send one back, especially with their occasion dresses and blazers.
Check the fabric — anything with no stretch (crisp cotton, wool) is less forgiving than a jersey or knit.

If Claudie Pierlot Doesn't Fit — Where Else to Shop

If the cut just doesn't agree with your shape, here's where I'd send you for that same polished, French-girl wardrobe across every budget.

High Street

Whistles — does understated, minimalist tailoring beautifully and cuts a little more generously than Claudie Pierlot.
Jigsaw — grown-up, quality fabrics and a roomier, more forgiving fit through the shoulders.
Reiss — sharp blazers and occasion dresses if you love the structured Claudie Pierlot look but need more width.
Mango — nails the Parisian aesthetic at a fraction of the price; fit sits closer to true-to-size.
Massimo Dutti — European tailoring with a slightly more relaxed cut and lovely fabric quality.
COS — architectural, minimalist and roomy, the natural antidote if Claudie Pierlot feels too snug.
Hush — easy French-casual separates with a softer, more forgiving fit for everyday.

Premium

Sandro — Claudie Pierlot's literal sister brand; same slim block, so size up here too, but the edgier, more directional cousin.
Ba&sh — boho-luxe French label that fits a touch more relaxed and true to size.
Sézane — the cult Parisian name for romantic, timeless pieces that tend to run true to French sizing.

Luxury & Designer

Max Mara — investment coats and tailoring with a more generous, true-to-size Italian cut.
Toteme — pared-back Scandi minimalism for the woman who loves clean French lines but wants more ease.

Two Independent Picks Worth Knowing

Sessùn — a Marseille-based independent doing soulful, slightly retro French pieces with a kinder, relaxed fit.
Rouje — Jeanne Damas's own label and the absolute distillation of French-girl dressing; fitted, so check measurements, but unmatched on charm.

Never Guess Your Size Again — Try Tellar

This is exactly why I built Tellar.co.uk, the UK's leading sizing tool. Match your body once and we'll tell you your exact size across 1,500+ brands instantly — so you never have to squint at a French size chart again.

Measure once, using bust, waist, hip, or your existing size in a brand you already own.
Use our Store Size Lookup to get your precise size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.
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And there's the Tellar Fashion Hub too: a library stacked with free posts from our top stylists. Honest, unbiased, independent and always free — style advice, top picks and the best brands, with no sponsored nonsense.

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Ella Blake — Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder, Tellar