What Is Sizing Like at Conner Ives?

Conner Ives sizing runs in standard XS–L (and numeric 2–8), but it fits noticeably leaner and more body-conscious than the high street, so a lot of people are happiest sizing up by one. If you're between sizes, or you want any kind of ease, take the larger option. That's the short answer. Now let me explain properly, because Conner Ives isn't a brand you can size by a chart alone — and after years of styling pieces like his, I've learned exactly where the surprises hide.

Why Conner Ives Doesn't Fit Like Anything Else

Here's the thing people miss. Conner Ives is built on upcycling — around three-quarters of his materials are deadstock or genuinely vintage, reconstituted into something new. That gorgeous ruched T-shirt dress that made his name at Browns? It often starts life as actual old band tees and jersey. Which means two garments in the "same" size can fit slightly differently, because the original cloth wasn't cut to a uniform spec. It's part of the magic, but it's also why I never tell a client to order Conner Ives blind.

I learned this the embarrassing way. Early on I ordered one of his shirred jersey dresses in my usual size for a shoot, convinced I knew my measurements inside out. It arrived clinging in all the places I'd hoped it would skim. We made it work with the right underlayer and a confident model, but I should have gone up. Lesson logged.

The Fit, Piece by Piece

Conner Ives spans quite a range — slinky jersey, reconstituted knits, denim, tailoring — and each behaves differently:

Shirred and jersey dresses: The most body-conscious things he makes. The shirring stretches, but it's designed to hug. If you want it to graze rather than grip, size up.
Reconstituted knits and bike tops: These run small and short in the body. Lovely on, but check the back-length measurement on the product page rather than trusting the letter size.
Denim and tailoring: Closer to true-to-size, though the cut is sharp and high on the waist. Standard for an elevated label.
T-shirts (yes, including the famous one): A classic unisex cotton fit. True to size, with room to go down if you like it fitted.

One honest flag: the brand's lookbook models tend to be very slender, so the photos can make everything look more forgiving than it is in the hand. Always read the actual centimetre measurements listed per piece — Conner Ives is good at publishing them.

A Quick Word on the Label Itself

If you don't know the name yet, you will. Conner Ives is the American, London-based, Central Saint Martins graduate who cut his teeth helping build Rihanna's first Fenty collection. In 2025 his "Protect the Dolls" T-shirt went genuinely viral and raised hundreds of thousands for charity, and he picked up the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund the same year. Knowing the ethos — circular, nostalgic, a bit punk — helps you understand why the fit is what it is.

Where to Shop a Similar Look (and How It Sizes)

Conner Ives is upcycled luxury, so if you love the Americana-patchwork, reworked-jersey energy but want it at different price points, here's where I'd send you.

High Street

Urban Outfitters — the closest high-street match for that thrifted, graphic, slightly chaotic spirit. Sizing runs generous, so take your usual.
Anthropologie — brilliant for ruched, textured dresses with personality. Tends to run roomy; size down if you're between.
AllSaints — the cool, slightly grungy jersey and leather side of the aesthetic. Cut lean and long — size up for comfort.
Levi — the obvious call for the reworked-denim element. Vanity sizing is minimal, so check the waist measurement.
Abercrombie & Fitch — surprisingly good for slinky, body-skimming Americana dresses right now. True to size.
Superdry — nails the vintage-sports, collegiate graphic feel. Fits true but boxy on top.
ASOS — the volume player for trend-led reworked pieces. Sizing is wildly inconsistent, so lean on reviews.
Hollister — underrated for soft, clingy jersey basics that echo his shirred dresses. Runs small — size up.

Premium

Ganni — the Scandi answer to playful, sustainable, slightly offbeat dressing. Generally true to size with a relaxed cut.
Sandro — for Parisian-leaning reworked tailoring and knits. Famously petite sizing; nearly always size up.
Me&Em — cleaner and more grown-up, but excellent for elevated jersey that actually holds you in. True to size and generous in length.

Luxury & Designer

Chopova Lowena — the spiritual cousin: upcycled, folkloric, joyfully chaotic. Sizing is European and structured — consult each piece.
Marine Serre — regenerated fabrics and body-con silhouettes, same circular philosophy. Runs very snug; size up.
Stella McCartney — the established sustainable-luxury name for tailoring and jersey. True to size, cut for a longer frame.

Two Independents Worth Knowing

ELV Denim — a London upcycler reworking old jeans into one-off pieces. Truly the closest in ethos to Conner Ives; sizing is made-to-measure-ish, so check each listing.
Rave Review — Swedish, gloriously patchwork, built entirely from reclaimed textiles. Oversized by design — take your normal size.

My Honest Advice

Buy the piece, not the size. With a label like this, the letter on the label tells you less than the centimetres on the page. Measure yourself once, properly, and let the numbers decide — and when in genuine doubt with Conner Ives, go up rather than down. A slightly relaxed fit on a beautiful reconstituted garment always looks more expensive than something straining at the seams.

Never Look at a Size Guide Again

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