What Is Sizing Like at Cordova?

By Ella Blake, Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder

Cordova runs true to US sizing, but everything is cut slim and athletic — so if you’re between sizes, or you plan to wear anything underneath, size up. That one sentence will save you a return. Cordova is an American brand, which means it sticks to US sizing rather than the European cut a lot of luxury ski labels use, and the silhouette is deliberately streamlined and tailored. It looks sensational on the slopes and at the après bar, but it isn’t forgiving in the way a roomy shell is, and that catches people out.

I’ve styled enough skiwear shoots to know that “true to size” and “fits the way you’d expect” are two very different promises. So here’s exactly how Cordova sits on a real body, plus where I’d send you if it isn’t quite your match.

How Cordova Actually Fits

A few things worth knowing before you commit to a four-figure ski suit:

It’s a slim, body-skimming cut. Cordova leans into a sleek, tailored line — think racer silhouette rather than relaxed. The suits are designed to flatter, not to billow.
Size up for the fitted ski suits if you’re between sizes, specifically so you’ve got room for a base layer underneath. For the sweaters and jackets, order true to size if you like them fitted, and size up if you want a looser drape.
It suits taller frames. The trouser length runs generous — gorgeous if you’re 5’8” and over, a bit of a faff if you’re petite. I’m not especially tall, and I’ve had to factor in a hem on more than one occasion.
The waist adjusters are your friend. Most of the ski pants and suits have velcro or internal adjusters, so a slightly loose waist is very fixable. A tight one is not.

My honest take: if you live in a base layer and a mid-layer when you ski (most of us do), the sizing-up advice isn’t optional — it’s the difference between a suit you can move in and one you can barely zip after lunch. I once wedged myself into a sample one size too small for a shoot, looked the part for the camera, then couldn’t actually bend my knees on the chairlift. Lesson learned, very publicly.

Where Cordova Sits in the Market

Cordova is firmly luxury — suits land roughly between £700 and £1,800 — so it competes with the glossy alpine names rather than the high street. The fabric, waterproofing and finish genuinely justify the tier, but you’re also paying for that Aspen-to-Courchevel cachet. If that maths doesn’t work for you, there’s a brilliant ladder of alternatives below.

Brands I’d Recommend If You Love the Cordova Look

Whether Cordova’s fit, budget or stock doesn’t line up, here’s where I’d shop instead — across every price point.

High street & accessible

Uniqlo — their Heattech base layers are the unsung heroes of any ski trip and cost next to nothing.
Sweaty Betty — properly technical leggings, base layers and salopettes with a flattering, sculpted fit.
Lululemon — unbeatable for the layer that sits against your skin; the tech fabrics work brilliantly under a suit.
Mango — keep an eye on their seasonal ski capsule, which nails the trend-led look for a fraction of designer money.
Massimo Dutti — beautifully cut knitwear and the occasional premium ski edit for après dressing.
The White Company — my go-to for the cashmere-and-cocoa chalet wardrobe once the boots come off.
Seasalt Cornwall — genuinely warm, weatherproof outerwear and chunky knits if you want function without flash.
Barbour — not for the slope, but the perfect heritage layer for the drive up and the village wander.

Premium ski specialists

Perfect Moment — retro-glam ski suits with that 70s racing-stripe energy and a body-conscious fit closest to Cordova’s.
Fusalp — French alpine tailoring; the most elegant, streamlined cut going if you love Cordova’s sleekness.
Goldbergh — Dutch, glamorous and unapologetically fashion-forward on the mountain.

Luxury & designer

Bogner — the heritage name in luxury skiwear, with a slightly more generous cut than Cordova.
Moncler Grenoble — technical performance meets serious fashion credibility.
Toni Sailer — performance-led luxury with a precise, tailored fit very much in Cordova’s world.

Two independents worth knowing

Halfdays — a female-founded skiwear label doing inclusive sizing and joyful colour at a friendlier price than the big houses.
Aztech Mountain — Aspen-born, quietly technical and impeccably made; the insider’s luxury pick.

A quick styling note from me: Cordova and its rivals photograph best with minimal fuss. Let the suit do the talking, add a sculptural goggle and a single statement of colour. Over-accessorising on the slope ages a look instantly — restraint is what reads as expensive.

Find Your Exact Cordova Size in Seconds

Here’s the part that makes a slim-cut brand like Cordova far less of a gamble. Tellar is the UK’s leading sizing tool — it matches your body to 1,500-plus brands instantly, so you never have to squint at a size guide again.

Measure once, using your bust, waist or 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 — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and far more.
Always free, no downloads needed — it works straight in your browser.

And when you want the styling that sits behind the sizing, 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, with nothing sponsored creeping in.

Stop guessing your size

Match your measurements to 1,500+ brands in seconds — free, honest and built for real bodies.

Visit Tellar.co.uk Try the Store Size Lookup