What Is Sizing Like at Co Clothing?

Co runs large. If you take one thing from this post, let it be that — across most of its collection, Co (the cult Los Angeles label, not to be confused with high-street COS) is volume-driven and deliberately oversized, so the majority of shoppers are best taking their true size for that signature relaxed drape, or dropping down by one if they want a piece to sit closer to the body. Get that right and Co is one of the most quietly satisfying wardrobes you can own. Get it wrong and you’ll be swimming.

I learned that the hard way. The first Co piece I ever bought was an Essentials cotton-sateen dress that I ordered in my usual size without a second thought, and it arrived looking like it had been cut for someone a good two sizes bigger. Beautiful fabric, gorgeous colour, completely the wrong proportions on me. So consider this the post I wish I’d read first.

Who Co actually are

Founded in 2011 by Stephanie Danan and Justin Kern and now run between Los Angeles and Paris, Co was doing “quiet luxury” long before the phrase existed. Think soft tailoring, sculptural dresses, silk separates and cashmere knits designed to be worn for years rather than seasons. There are two strands to know about: the seasonless Essentials line (the everyday foundations) and the seasonal ready-to-wear (the more fashion-forward, occasionally more refined cuts). The fabrics are exceptional, the silhouettes are intentionally generous, and the whole point is that the clothes drape rather than cling.

So, does Co run big or small?

Big — with a couple of caveats worth knowing before you click buy:

The main collection and Essentials run oversized. Danan herself describes the house silhouette as volume-driven and deliberately not body-hugging. Take your true size for the relaxed look it’s designed for, or size down once if you want it tidier.
Tailored seasonal pieces fit closer. Blazers and structured dresses from the runway collections are cut more precisely — don’t reflexively size down on these or you’ll lose the line.
Sizing isn’t consistent across categories. A size 10 in the wide-leg trousers will not behave like a size 10 in a blouse. It genuinely isn’t you — it’s the cut.
It’s a US label. Co works on US numeric and XS–L sizing, so UK shoppers are reading American charts. As a rough steer, the brand’s small tends to suit a UK 8–10 and the medium a UK 12, but because the cut is so roomy, your measurements matter far more than the label here.
Knitwear is soft and forgiving. The cashmere has plenty of give, so there’s rarely any need to go up.

My redemption arc, for the record: a Co silk slip dress that I sized down in on a stylist friend’s advice, and it’s now one of the hardest-working things I own — bare-shouldered in summer, layered over a fine roll-neck with boots in winter. Same brand, opposite outcome, all down to reading the cut correctly.

How to nail your Co size

Decide the look first: relaxed and draped (true to size) or sharp and close (size down once).
Always check the individual product’s composition — a fluid satin behaves very differently to a structured wool.
Go by your bust, waist and hip measurements, not your usual high-street number.
For the wide-leg and culotte trousers, prioritise your waist measurement; the leg volume sorts itself out.
If you’re between sizes on tailoring, stay true and have it nipped by a tailor rather than sizing up.

Where else to shop the Co look

Co sits at entry-designer prices, which is gentle for luxury but still a commitment. If you love the relaxed-luxe, minimalist mood but want options at every budget, here’s where I’d send clients.

High street

COS — the obvious starting point: architectural, minimalist and oversized in exactly the Co spirit, at a fraction of the price.
Massimo Dutti — elevated tailoring and premium-feeling fabrics; the closest the high street gets to that quiet-luxury polish.
Jigsaw — understated British elegance with genuinely lovely cloth, ideal for the grown-up separates Co does so well.
Whistles — modern, pared-back silhouettes and clean lines for a fashion-led but never fussy look.
Mint Velvet — relaxed glamour and soft tailoring; brilliant for the draped, off-duty side of Co.
Uniqlo — the place to build your own “essentials” layer with quality basics that punch well above their price.
The White Company — soft neutrals, beautiful loungewear and refined knits for the cosy-luxe end of the wardrobe.
Hush — easy, slouchy separates and effortless everyday pieces in a similar muted palette.

Premium

Reiss — sharp, contemporary tailoring when you want the structured side of the Co aesthetic.
Me&Em — clever, considered cuts and seasonless design with real attention to fit.
Claudie Pierlot — that effortless French-girl restraint, perfect for slip dresses and soft tailoring.

Luxury & designer

Max Mara — the gold standard for fluid coats and camel-toned minimalism; a natural step up from Co.
Joseph — refined, grown-up separates and beautiful trousers with that same understated confidence.

Two independents worth knowing

Róhe — a Belgian label doing fluid, minimalist tailoring and considered neutrals; very much in the Co world if you like discovering quieter names.
Deiji Studios — an Australian studio specialising in soft, elevated essentials and linen loungewear, perfect for the seasonless, lived-in side of this look.

Stop guessing your size — let Tellar do it

Here’s the honest problem with a brand like Co: the cut is generous, the chart is American, and the fit shifts between categories. That’s exactly the kind of guesswork Tellar.co.uk exists to remove. We’re the UK’s leading sizing tool — your body matched exactly to 1,500-plus brands instantly, so you never have to squint at a size guide again.

Measure once, using your bust, waist and hip — or simply tell us your size in a brand you already own.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in any brand — Co, COS, Reiss, Arket and more.
Always free, no downloads, works straight in your browser.

And when you’re after more than a size, there’s the Tellar Fashion Hub: a library stacked with free posts from our top stylists. Honest, unbiased, independent and always free — style advice, top picks and the best brands for every wardrobe question you’ve ever had.

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Words by Ella Blake, Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder. All recommendations are independent and unsponsored — always.