What Is Sizing Like at Dsquared2? An Honest Guide Before You Buy

Dsquared2 runs very small — this is Italian luxury sizing at its most uncompromising, and if you go in expecting it to match anything on your usual UK high street, you will be disappointed and probably a little bruised by the experience. Size up by at least one, and in denim, quite possibly two. I say this from firsthand experience of standing in a fitting room genuinely questioning whether my legs had grown overnight. They hadn't. Dsquared2 just sizes small.

The Brand: Rock 'n' Roll Luxury Done Properly

Founded by Canadian twin brothers Dean and Dan Caten in Milan in 1995, Dsquared2 has always occupied a brilliantly specific niche: luxury fashion with a rock star attitude. Think sculpted, distressed denim, leather details, bold graphic prints, and a general aesthetic that suggests you've just stepped off a private jet with a guitar case under your arm. It's unapologetically loud and theatrical — and the clothes are genuinely exceptional quality.

The brand is best known for its denim — specifically the Icon jeans, the Cool Girl jeans, and a rotating cast of limited-edition washes and distressed finishes that have made them a cult favourite among fashion editors and musicians alike. They also do a strong line in tailoring, knitwear, and outerwear, all carrying that same high-voltage energy.

Dsquared2 Sizing: The Honest Breakdown

The brand uses EU sizing throughout, which already creates a gap from UK sizing — but the issue goes beyond simple conversion. Dsquared2 cuts their clothes for a lean, almost athletic Italian silhouette, and there's very little ease built in. Here's what you're actually dealing with:

Jeans and trousers: Size up by at least one, often two sizes. Their denim is structured and doesn't have much stretch — even styles that look relaxed in campaign imagery often sit far closer to the body in reality. The waist tends to be particularly small relative to the hip measurement

Tops, shirts and knitwear: Size up by one. Their tops are cut short in the body and slim through the shoulders — something to bear in mind if you're broader across the back

Jackets and outerwear: One size up as a minimum. Their leather jackets in particular are cut with almost no allowance — gorgeous, but they need to fit perfectly to look right. Allow for a fine-knit underneath at most

Dresses: One size up. Their bodycon styles are genuinely bodycon — if you want to move freely or breathe comfortably at dinner, take note

A rough EU-to-UK conversion guide for Dsquared2 specifically (erring on the larger side):

EU 36 → UK 6–8 (wear a UK 8? Try a 36 but size check carefully)

EU 38 → UK 8–10

EU 40 → UK 10–12

EU 42 → UK 12–14

EU 44 → UK 14–16

My strong advice: always use the Dsquared2 size chart and compare it to your actual measurements — not your usual dress size. The two things are not the same brand to brand, and at these price points, getting it wrong is an expensive mistake.

Body Shape & Styling Advice

Dsquared2's cuts are designed for a narrow, elongated silhouette — but the brand's rock-and-roll spirit means that personality counts for a lot. Wear it with confidence and the fit becomes almost secondary. That said, practically speaking:

Slim and straight frames: These are the cuts that Dsquared2 was born to dress. Lean into the slim trousers, structured blazers, and fitted leather pieces

Hourglass shapes: Go up for the waist-to-hip ratio and let the quality of the fabric do the work — their denim in particular looks stunning on a curve when you're in the right size

Fuller hips and thighs: Avoid their skinnier denim cuts and look instead at their wide-leg and bootcut styles, which are far more flattering and still very much in keeping with the brand's DNA

Petite frames: Their cropped jackets and shorter-cut knitwear are brilliant for you. Avoid full-length straight trousers unless you're happy to have them tailored

Taller frames: You'll be able to pull off their longer-line pieces in a way that shorter women simply can't — their maxi skirts and wide-leg trousers were essentially made for you

Alternatives to Dsquared2: The Best of High Street, Premium & Luxury

Dsquared2 is a significant investment — we're talking £350–£600+ for denim and £600–£1,500+ for outerwear. If you love the rock-luxe aesthetic but need to manage the budget, or you simply want to road-test the vibe before committing, here's where I'd send you.

HIGH STREET

All Saints — The closest aesthetic match on the high street by a considerable distance. Dark washes, leather trim, an edge that doesn't feel try-hard. Their denim and leather jackets are genuinely brilliant and consistently well-reviewed

Topshop (via ASOS) — Topshop's denim legacy lives on through ASOS and the brand retains that fashion-forward, body-conscious cut that made it a staple. Good for the sculpted denim look at a fraction of the price

Urban Outfitters — For the graphic tees, oversized knits, and vintage-inspired denim that capture Dsquared2's casual-rock energy. Strong on the streetwear side of the brand's output

River Island — Underrated for trend-led denim. Their distressed and dark-wash jeans punch well above their price point and are cut for a more generous UK body shape than Dsquared2's Italian sizing

PREMIUM

Paige — Premium denim that genuinely rivals designer quality. Their Hoxton and Margot styles have a body-conscious cut with far better sizing consistency than Dsquared2, and the denim quality is exceptional

Citizens of Humanity — Another premium denim brand worth serious consideration. Their Rocket and Olivia styles have a cool, rock-adjacent edge and the stretch fabric is significantly more forgiving than anything Dsquared2 offers

Ted Baker — For the tailoring and elevated eveningwear side of Dsquared2's output, Ted Baker translates a similar sense of drama at a more accessible premium price point

LUXURY & DESIGNER

Isabel Marant — French designer with a similar rock-bohemian sensibility. Not quite as theatrical as Dsquared2 but shares that nonchalant cool. Her denim and leather pieces are exceptional and size similarly — go up here too

IRO Paris — Rock-influenced Parisian luxury. Their leather jackets and slim trousers are genuine alternatives to Dsquared2's more wearable pieces, at a slightly lower price point

And two brilliant independent labels I think you'll love if Dsquared2 is your kind of thing:

Nudie Jeans — Swedish sustainable denim with serious rock credentials. They supply customers with free repairs for life and their denim is some of the best in the world at the price. The raw denim styles in particular have exactly the same energy as a Dsquared2 pair, and they size far more consistently. A cult brand that deserves to be far better known in the UK

Sandro Paris — French accessible luxury with a dark, slightly rock-inflected edge that will appeal to anyone drawn to Dsquared2. Their leather jackets, slim trousers, and graphic knits are beautiful — and they size in a way that UK shoppers find far more intuitive

The Verdict: Is Dsquared2 Worth the Investment?

If the aesthetic speaks to you, absolutely — but only if you get the size right. The quality of Dsquared2's denim and leather in particular is extraordinary; these are pieces that last for years and only look better with wear. The key is going in informed: know your measurements, size up significantly from your usual UK size, and don't be embarrassed about ordering two sizes to try. At these prices, a return is always preferable to a mistake you force yourself to keep.

The brand is also worth watching during end-of-season sales — Selfridges, NET-A-PORTER, and Mytheresa regularly carry Dsquared2 and the discounts can be substantial. That's where I'd start if you're shopping on a tighter luxury budget.

Take the Guesswork Out of Dsquared2 Sizing

Expensive mistakes are avoidable. Tellar.co.uk is the UK's leading free sizing tool — enter your measurements once and get your precise size matched across 1,500+ brands instantly. No more cross-referencing EU charts, no more returns.

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And while you're there, explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — a growing library of honest, unsponsored posts covering every fashion question you've ever Googled. Written by in-house stylists. No ads. No bias. No sponsored rubbish.

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