What Is Sizing Like at Crew Clothing?

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

Crew Clothing runs true to size — sometimes even a touch generous — which makes it one of the more straightforward British high street brands to shop. If you're a solid UK 12, you'll almost certainly be a 12 at Crew. That said, there are a few nuances worth knowing before you order, particularly around their knitwear, their chinos, and how the brand fits across different body shapes.

I've been wearing Crew Clothing on and off for years — it's one of those brands that quietly earns its place in your wardrobe. The Breton stripe tops are a perennial favourite of mine, and I've never had a sizing disaster with them. But I have sent back a pair of their slim-cut chinos after completely misjudging the leg fit, so there are definitely a few categories that warrant a bit more thought. Let me take you through it properly.

The Crew Clothing Customer — and Why It Matters for Fit

Crew has a very clear aesthetic: relaxed British coastal, classic weekend dressing, clean lines. It's aimed at women who want quality that lasts, not trend-chasing fast fashion. Crucially, Crew tends to cut for a slightly more relaxed, classic silhouette — so if you're used to brands that cut very close to the body or are ultra-fitted through the waist, Crew may feel a little more generous than you expect. That's not a flaw; it's a deliberate design choice that works well for a wide range of body shapes.

Tops, Shirts and Breton Stripes: Stick to Your Size

Crew's tops and shirts are where their sizing is most consistent. Their classic Breton stripe tops — which genuinely are brilliant, by the way — run true to size with a relaxed, boxy cut. If you like a slightly more fitted look, you could size down one, but I wouldn't go further than that. Their cotton and linen shirts follow the same logic: true to size, slightly relaxed through the body, a little roomier in the sleeve than some brands. This is entirely intentional — Crew's shirts are meant to be worn untucked or half-tucked with ease, not nipped in at the waist.

Standard fit tops: order your usual size.
Slim fit styles: true to size; these are the more tailored end of their range but not tight.
Knitwear: Crew's knits can vary — more on that below.

Knitwear: The One Area to Pay Attention To

Crew do really lovely knitwear — lambswool, cotton knits, and their heritage-style cable jumpers are consistently well-reviewed. However, knitwear is where I'd urge you to read the individual product description carefully. Some of their chunkier knits have an oversized cut by design; others are styled to be worn fitted. The product photography is usually a good guide, but check whether they describe it as "relaxed" or "regular" fit and cross-reference that against your measurements. If you're between sizes in knitwear specifically, go up rather than down — knits that are too tight across the shoulders are uncomfortable and look wrong, whereas slightly oversized knitwear almost always looks intentional and great.

Trousers, Chinos and Denim: Read the Cut First

This is where I've personally come unstuck with Crew. Their chinos and trousers generally fit true to size in the waist, but the cut through the thigh and leg can vary quite a bit depending on which style you're looking at. Crew offer slim, straight and relaxed cuts, and the difference is significant. Their slim chinos are genuinely slim — not just called slim — so if you're fuller through the thigh, go up one size and expect to have the waist taken in slightly if needed, or look at their straight-leg styles instead, which are far more flattering for a range of shapes.

Their denim is good quality but limited in range — Crew isn't a denim-first brand. For sizing on jeans, go true to size; if you're between sizes, size up, as their denim has minimal stretch. For more on getting denim right across brands, it's worth reading the Jeans Trends 2026 guide on Tellar — it covers fit, cut and how to find the right style for your shape.

Dresses and Occasion Wear

Crew's dresses are generally very easy to size — they run true and the cuts are classic enough that they work across a wide range of body shapes. Their midi and shirt dresses are particularly good, cut with enough fabric through the hip to be flattering without being baggy through the waist. If you're petite, be aware that their midi hemlines can hit closer to the ankle on shorter frames, so it's worth checking lengths before buying. If you're taller, their regular midis tend to sit at a genuinely elegant length. More on getting dress lengths right can be found in the Ultimate Guide to Dresses on Tellar.

Outerwear and Jackets

Crew's jackets, gilets and coats are cut with enough room to layer comfortably — which is the right approach for a lifestyle brand where you might be wearing a knit underneath. Stick to your true size; sizing up is only worth considering if you plan to wear very thick knitwear underneath. Their quilted gilets and casual coats are some of their best pieces, and the fit is reliable. For a full breakdown of jacket fits by style, check the Ultimate Guide to Jackets on Tellar.

General Sizing Tips for Crew Clothing

Order your usual size as a starting point — Crew is one of the more reliable true-to-size brands on the high street.
Check the fit description on each product — slim, regular and relaxed mean something at Crew, and they're consistent about it.
If you're between sizes, size up — Crew's relaxed aesthetic means a slightly roomier fit almost always works better than too tight.
Petites should check hemline lengths — particularly on midis and maxi styles.
Knitwear: read the description and size up if in doubt — shoulders that pull are unfixable.
Their size guide is reliable — if you know your bust, waist and hip measurements, cross-reference before buying trousers in particular.

Stop Guessing Your Size — Tellar Does It Instantly

Crew Clothing is just one of over 1,500 brands on Tellar.co.uk — the UK's leading free sizing tool. Enter your measurements once and get your exact size across every brand, instantly. No more size chart confusion, no more returns.

Measure once — bust, waist, hips, or use an existing brand size you trust
Use the Store Size Lookup tool — get your precise size at Crew, White Stuff, Boden, Jigsaw, Me&Em and 1,500+ more brands
Always free — works in-browser, no account or download needed

And if you want more honest fashion advice, the Tellar Fashion Hub is a library of free, unsponsored posts from our in-house stylists. No ads, no affiliate bias, no fluff. Just real, useful fashion knowledge.

→ The Ultimate Clothing Sizing Guide→ Jeans Trends 2026→ Ultimate Guide to Dresses & Best Buys→ Ultimate Guide to Jackets & Best Buys

Love the Crew Aesthetic? These Brands Are Worth Knowing Too

Crew sits in a lovely sweet spot of relaxed British quality. If you're building a wardrobe in a similar direction, these brands are the ones I'd point you towards:

High Street

White Stuff — the closest match to Crew's spirit: colourful, relaxed, quintessentially British, and excellent for layering pieces. Sizing is similarly true to size.
Fat Face — another coastal-lifestyle brand with a very similar customer in mind. Great for knitwear and casual dresses; sizing is reliable and generous.
Seasalt Cornwall — beautiful Breton tops, linen separates and outerwear with real character. Sizing runs true; their prints are genuinely lovely and their quality at the price point is excellent.
Joules — vibrant, cheerful and very much in the same British country-coastal lane as Crew. Good for outerwear and printed dresses; sizing is true to generous.
Boden — probably the most direct stylistic alternative to Crew. Excellent quality, brilliant prints and very reliable, consistent sizing. Slightly pricier but worth it.

Premium

Barbour — for outerwear in particular, Barbour is the natural step up from Crew. Their classic waxed jackets and quilted gilets are iconic; sizing runs true but their outerwear is cut for layering, so check the layering guide before sizing up unnecessarily.
Me&Em — if you love Crew's classic sensibility but want something more elevated for work or smarter occasions, Me&Em is exceptional. Sizing is true and their quality is outstanding.
Jigsaw — quietly brilliant British brand for classic, understated separates. Sizing runs true; their knitwear and tailoring are particularly strong.

Two independent brands worth discovering:

Finisterre — a Cornish brand built around sea swimming and coastal life, with a genuine sustainability ethos. Their technical layers and wetsuits aside, their everyday knitwear and casual pieces are beautifully made and sized consistently true. A real discovery if you don't know them.
Palava — a Bristol-based independent brand making bold, printed cotton dresses and separates with a joyful, artistic sensibility. Completely different energy to Crew's classic navy palette, but if you want to add some colour and personality alongside your Crew basics, Palava is brilliant. Sizing is true to size with a relaxed fit.