What Is Sizing Like at Dries Van Noten Menswear?

Dries Van Noten menswear generally fits true to size, but it is cut with a deliberately relaxed, elegant line that sits away from the body rather than hugging it. If you take your usual size you will get the intended look: roomy, refined, a touch artistic. The one thing to know before you buy is that the brand does not fit consistently across its range, so a jumper and a blazer from the same season can feel like two different labels.

The short answer on Dries Van Noten sizing

Dries uses European numeric sizing on tailoring and trousers (46, 48, 50, 52 and so on), and standard S–XL on softer pieces. It runs true within that system, but this is a designer-led brand where fit is a creative decision, not a fixed formula. Some pieces are intentionally oversized, some are cropped, some are sharply tailored, and the intent shifts from season to season. In short: this is not a "find your size once and buy blind forever" brand. Check the garment.

How each piece actually fits

Tailoring & blazers — true to size with a clean, structured shoulder and a relaxed body. Take your normal jacket size; the room is designed in.
Trousers — European sizing, true to size, and usually a slightly higher rise than the American brands. Lovely for a fuller, drapier leg.
Shirts — soft, generous and reliably true to size. The print shirts are the ones people obsess over, and they are worth the fuss.
Knitwear & sweatshirts — often cut oversized. If you want a neat fit rather than the slouchy look, size down.
Outerwear — true to size but built for layering, so factor in what goes underneath.
Shoes — European sizing and a common half-size-large tendency. If you are between sizes, go down.

A quick confession from my own wardrobe. My first Dries piece was a printed overshirt I bought online in my "safe" size, and it turned up big enough to belong to a slightly larger man. I nearly sent it back. Instead I wore it open over a fine merino tee and it became the most complimented thing I own. That is Dries all over: trust the cut, do not panic at the tag. My genuine fail? A season-sale knit I sized up in "to be safe" — it swamped me. Lesson learned. On the roomy pieces, size to your body, not your nerves.

How to style Dries Van Noten

The house look is quiet luxury with a bit of soul — texture, subtle print, and volume that is controlled rather than baggy. Let one piece do the talking and keep everything around it calm.

Pair a print shirt with plain, wide-ish trousers and understated leather. The shirt is the event; nothing else needs to shout.
Balance the volume: if the trousers are full, keep the top half closer. Two oversized pieces at once reads as fancy dress.
Stick to a tonal palette so the tailoring and the artistry sit together instead of competing.

Brands I'd recommend alongside Dries Van Noten

If you love the Dries silhouette but want options at different price points, these are the labels I send clients to. Each earns its place for a different reason.

High street

COS — the closest high-street match to the Dries mood: architectural, tonal, relaxed. Fits true but roomy, so size down for a sharper line.
Arket — Scandinavian, textural and beautifully understated. Generous through the body — perfect if you want the drape without the designer price.

Independent & boutique

Oliver Spencer — British relaxed tailoring in gorgeous fabrics. Cut soft and easy; true to size with a forgiving body.
Universal Works — utility and workwear DNA with an artisan feel. Runs a touch loose by design — ideal for the layered Dries approach.
Folk — quietly arty, texture-led and endlessly wearable. Trims closer than the two above, so take your standard size.

Designer & luxury

Lemaire — the spiritual cousin to Dries: fluid, refined, gently oversized. Cut generously, so size down for a slimmer read.
Margaret Howell — understated British luxury with impeccable relaxed tailoring. True to size with a classic, roomy body.

Never guess your Dries size again

Because Dries Van Noten fit shifts from piece to piece, this is exactly the kind of brand where a proper sizing tool saves you the returns headache. That is what we built Tellar for — the UK's leading sizing tool, matching your body to 1,500-plus brands instantly. Measure once and you will never squint at a size guide again.

Measure once using your bust, waist, hip, or a brand size you already own.
Use the Store Size Lookup to get your precise size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.
Shop with confidence — no guesswork, fewer returns, better-fitting buys.
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Find my size How to measure

There is also the Tellar Fashion Hub — a growing library of free posts from our top stylists. Honest, unbiased, independent and always free. More style advice worth a read: