What Is Sizing Like at DKNY menswear?

Short version: DKNY men's sizing runs slim and modern rather than roomy. Most pieces are true to your usual chest measurement, but the cut sits close through the chest, waist and armhole, so if you carry a bit more across the shoulders or prefer a relaxed drape, you'll often be happier sizing up. It's a New York label built on sharp, urban tailoring — and the fit reflects that.

I've fitted enough men into DKNY shirts over the years to know the pattern. A man walks in convinced he's a large in everything, tries the DKNY slim-fit shirt, and it's pulling at the chest button. Nine times out of ten he's actually fine in the size up — the label just cuts leaner than the high street he's used to.

How DKNY menswear actually fits

DKNY tends to run in two flavours, and knowing which you're looking at saves a lot of grief:

• Slim fit (dress shirts especially) — cut close through the chest, waist and sleeves, with slim armholes. Clean and tapered, but there's little spare fabric. Larger builds should size up.

• Modern fit (most tailoring and suiting) — lightly tapered rather than tight, usually with a touch of stretch. More forgiving than the slim shirts, but still trimmer than a classic British block.

• Tailoring runs a touch long and can run small — reviewers consistently flag DKNY suits as slightly narrow with a longer jacket length, so factor in a tailor if you're between sizes.

• Knitwear and casual tops are the most true-to-size of the range — an honest medium behaves like a medium.

• Shoes are generally true to size but cut a little narrow in the toe box; wider feet should go up half a size.

One quirk worth knowing: DKNY uses US alpha sizing (XS–XXL) with numeric chest equivalents, so it won't always line up exactly with a UK high-street medium. Go by your chest measurement, not the letter on the label.

How to style it

DKNY earns its keep in the smart-casual space, which is exactly where most men get stuck. Play to its strengths:

• Let the slim shirts do the talking under a soft-shouldered blazer — no tie, top button open, sleeves you can push up.

• Lean on the stretch tailoring for the office-to-evening shift. A modern-fit navy blazer over a fine-gauge roll neck is a reliable win.

• Keep trousers tapered but not skinny. The label's proportions are trim up top, so a clean, slightly cropped leg balances it.

Seven brands I'd recommend alongside DKNY

If you like the DKNY look — or you've found it too slim — these are the labels I steer men towards. (Brand list to be confirmed against your master spreadsheet before publishing.)

High street:

• Reiss — the closest high-street match for DKNY's polished, tailored energy, with sharp slim shirts and modern suiting.

• COS — if DKNY feels too tight, COS gives you the same modern minimalism with a more relaxed, architectural cut.

• Arket — dependable, mid-weight Scandi staples that run genuinely true to size — a good honest baseline.

• Ted Baker — British slim tailoring cut close like DKNY's shirts, with a bit more pattern and personality.

Independent & boutique:

• Percival — a London indie doing characterful knitwear and shirting with considered, slightly relaxed fits.

• Wax London — sustainable, softly tailored pieces for the man who wants DKNY's smartness with a roomier, easier drape.

Designer & luxury:

• BOSS — the natural step up from DKNY suiting; modern and slim fits in genuinely refined fabrics.

• Theory — clean New York minimalism with the same trim, urban sensibility DKNY is built on, in better cloth.

• Paul Smith — British designer tailoring with a classic-slim cut and quality that lasts years.

Whatever you're reaching for, the single biggest fix for online sizing is knowing your body measurements before you shop — not guessing from a size guide after the parcel arrives.

Never guess your DKNY size again

Tellar is the UK's leading sizing tool — your body matched exactly to 1,500+ brands, instantly. Measure once using your chest, waist and hip (or an existing brand size), and get your precise fit in any label.

• Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your exact size in DKNY, COS, Reiss, Arket and more.

• Not sure how to measure? Follow the quick how to measure guide.

• Shop with confidence — no guesswork, fewer returns, better-fitting purchases.

• Always free, no downloads, works straight in your browser.

Find my DKNY size

Plus the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of free posts from our top stylists. Honest, unbiased, independent and always free.

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