What Is Sizing Like at Comme des Garçons? A Complete Guide to Getting It Right

By Ella Blake — Fashion Stylist | Tellar Fashion Hub — Always honest, unbiased & unsponsored

Comme des Garçons runs small by Western standards and uses Japanese sizing — so if you're used to shopping in UK or EU sizes, expect to size up by at least one, sometimes two sizes, particularly in the mainline and Noir collections.

I'll be honest — my first CDG purchase was a bit of a disaster. I picked up a mainline Comme des Garçons blazer in what I thought was a safe M, and it arrived looking like it had been designed for someone who subsisted entirely on espresso and air. I couldn't do a single button. I'd completely overlooked that the label read in Japanese sizing, not European. After a bit of a sulk and a hasty return, I learned my lesson: Comme des Garçons sizing requires a little homework, but once you've cracked it, it's genuinely one of the most rewarding wardrobes you'll ever invest in.

Understanding How Comme des Garçons Sizes Its Clothes

Rei Kawakubo's brand operates across a sprawling family of lines — each with its own slightly different approach to sizing. Here's a quick breakdown of the main ones you're likely to encounter:

Comme des Garçons (mainline / Noir) — Intentionally architectural and avant-garde. Sizes run XS–L in Japanese sizing, which skews small. An M here is roughly a UK 10–12 on a good day, but silhouettes are often deliberately oversized or deconstructed, so fit is less predictable.
Comme des Garçons PLAY — The most accessible line, with the iconic heart logo. This runs much closer to European sizing and is the easiest CDG to size in. A size M in PLAY will typically fit a UK 12 comfortably.
Comme des Garçons SHIRT — Tailored shirts and outerwear. Sizes can run narrow in the shoulder and chest even when the length is generous. I'd always recommend sizing up here if you have any width in the shoulders.
Comme des Garçons HOMME PLUS / Tricot — Womenswear from the Tricot line tends to use Japanese small sizing but with more relaxed silhouettes. Measure before you buy.
Noir Kei Ninomiya / Junya Watanabe CDG — Diffusion lines with runway influence. Sizing mirrors mainline CDG — run small, measure up.

Comme des Garçons Size Conversion Table

Japanese sizing is the starting point for almost all CDG lines. Use this as your guide — but always cross-reference with the specific garment measurements if you can, especially for mainline pieces.

CDG / Japanese SizeUK SizeEU SizeUS SizeXS6342S8364M10–1238–406–8L12–1440–428–10XL14–1642–4410–12

Key tip: These conversions apply most reliably to CDG PLAY and CDG SHIRT. For mainline/Noir, always go by the garment measurements listed — the silhouette is often intentionally unconventional and a size guide alone won't tell you how something will actually fall on your body.

Sizing by Garment Type

Tops & T-Shirts (CDG PLAY)

The PLAY tees are the most consistently sized pieces in the entire CDG range. They follow a relaxed but not oversized cut. I'm a UK 12 and always wear a M — it sits perfectly, slightly loose through the body without swamping me. If you prefer a fitted silhouette, go true to size. If you like a drop-shoulder vibe, size up to L.

Blazers & Tailoring (Mainline)

This is where you really need to be careful. CDG mainline tailoring is built on Japanese pattern cutting, which typically accounts for narrower shoulders and a shorter torso. If you have broad shoulders or a larger bust, size up generously — even two sizes. I'd always recommend measuring your chest and comparing to the brand's listed measurements rather than relying on the label.

Knitwear (Tricot / Comme des Garçons)

Tricot knits tend to be more generous than mainline tailoring — the relaxed, draped shapes give a bit more room to work with. That said, they still run small in the body length for taller women. If you're 5'8" or above, factor in that cropped finishes are intentional but the fit might be tighter than expected.

Dresses & Skirts

CDG dresses are rarely designed to flatter in a conventional sense — they're about form and concept, which I absolutely love, but it does mean the usual sizing rules go out of the window. Waist definition isn't a priority; many pieces are A-line, column, or deconstructed. I'd focus on the shoulder and chest measurement above all else, as these are the hardest to adjust.

Shoes (CDG Collaboration Lines)

CDG's shoe collaborations — most notably the CDG x Converse Chuck Taylor — run true to UK size. No surprises here. If you're a UK 5 in Converse generally, you're a UK 5 in the CDG edition.

My Best Advice for Shopping CDG

Always check the garment measurements, not just the size label — especially for mainline pieces
CDG PLAY is your most size-reliable entry point into the brand
When shopping second-hand (The RealReal, Vestiaire Collective, Depop), the Japanese size labels can be misleading — measure the actual garment
If you're between sizes, size up rather than down in most lines
Tailoring and structured pieces are the most unforgiving — knitwear and jersey styles give you more flexibility

High Street Alternatives with a Similar Aesthetic

Comme des Garçons isn't exactly a spontaneous Tuesday purchase for most of us. If you love the CDG aesthetic — the deconstruction, the sculptural shapes, the understated monochrome — here are my picks across every budget:

High Street (7+ picks):

COS — Probably the closest high street match for CDG's clean, architectural aesthetic. Consistent sizing and a genuinely thoughtful design team. A reliable choice for understated minimalism.
Whistles — Elevated high street with a modern, slightly directional edge. Good quality for the price point, and the tailoring is solid.
All Saints — For the darker, more deconstructed CDG energy. Their leather and matte jersey pieces capture something of that downtown-Tokyo mood.
Anthropologie — More eclectic than CDG but shares a love of interesting fabrics and non-conventional silhouettes. Great for one-off statement pieces.
Urban Outfitters — Better for CDG PLAY-adjacent graphic tees and casual basics. The pricing is right for the aesthetic when you're not ready to spend mainline money.
Massimo Dutti — Impeccable tailoring at a fraction of the price. If you want that sharp, considered CDG SHIRT vibe without the sticker shock, start here.
Me&Em — Well-cut, thoughtfully made clothes with a quiet sophistication. The elevated basics translate well if you love CDG's more restrained Tricot pieces.
Reiss — Great for precise tailoring with a European sensibility. Worth exploring if you love CDG SHIRT's structure but want something more wearable day-to-day.

Independent Picks:

Ader Error — A Seoul-based label with a deeply CDG-adjacent ethos: oversized silhouettes, playful deconstruction, and a cult following. Available internationally and genuinely brilliant for the price.
Hyein Seo — Another Korean independent label with avant-garde sensibilities and a dark, urban aesthetic. Less well-known in the UK but absolutely worth the discover if you're a CDG devotee looking for something fresh.

Premium:

Issey Miyake — Japanese heritage, similarly conceptual, and more accessible in price than CDG mainline. The Pleats Please line in particular is brilliant.
Acne Studios — For CDG fans who also want a wearable wardrobe backbone. The tailoring and outerwear is exceptional.

Luxury / Designer:

Yohji Yamamoto — The spiritual sibling to CDG. If you love one, you will love the other. Similar Japanese sizing rules apply.
Rick Owens — For those drawn to CDG's darker, more structural work. Sizing also runs small — treat as you would mainline CDG.

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