What is Sizing Like at Dubarry?

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

Dubarry clothing runs true to size — but the footwear is where things get more nuanced, and getting it wrong on a pair of £400+ Galway boots is an expensive lesson. Whether you're shopping the clothing, the iconic country boots, or the deck shoes, here's everything you need to know before you buy.

I'll be honest — I came to Dubarry relatively late. I'd always associated them purely with the equestrian set and assumed their sizing would be boxy and functional rather than flattering. I couldn't have been more wrong. I tried on the Carlow gilet a couple of winters ago, went for my usual UK 12, and it was genuinely one of the best-fitting gilets I'd ever worn — nipped in at the waist, beautifully structured across the shoulders, and still with room to layer a chunky knit underneath. That experience made me pay proper attention to how the brand sizes, because clearly they know what they're doing.

Dubarry Clothing: How Does It Fit?

Dubarry women's clothing is designed with the feminine figure specifically in mind — which, frankly, isn't something every country/outdoor brand can say. Many styles are shaped at the waist and fitted properly across the chest, so you're not just swimming in a boxy outdoor jacket. The brand cuts to a regular fit: structured enough to look polished, but with enough room to layer a knit or base layer underneath without it pulling.

The sizing follows European sizing, which converts to standard UK sizes as follows:

EU SizeUK SizeBustWaistHips34832" / 81cm25" / 64cm33" / 84cm361034" / 86cm27" / 69cm35" / 89cm381236" / 91cm29" / 74cm37" / 94cm401438" / 97cm31" / 79cm39" / 99cm421640" / 102cm33" / 84cm41" / 104cm441842" / 107cm35" / 89cm43" / 109cm

My advice: go with your standard UK size for clothing. If you're between sizes and you want the piece to work over chunky knitwear — which, given the brand's country heritage, is rather the point — size up. If you're buying a more tailored piece like a blazer or fitted shirt for smarter occasions, stick to your true size.

Dubarry Boots: The Sizing Story is More Complicated

This is where Dubarry sizing really rewards doing your homework. Their country boots — particularly the iconic Galway — are made in EU sizes, which are listed alongside UK equivalents on their size charts. Broadly, boots run true to size in foot length. However, the calf width is where you need to pay close attention.

Dubarry offers three calf-fitting options on the Galway boot:

Slim Fit — for a narrower calf circumference. If you've ever found country boots gape at the top, this is your answer.
Regular Fit — the standard option, which suits most women well.
Extra Fit — a wider calf fitting. A brilliant touch from Dubarry and one that more boot brands really should follow.

Getting the calf fitting right makes an enormous difference to both comfort and how the boot looks. A Slim Fit Galway on the right leg is a thing of genuine elegance. The same boot in Regular Fit on a slim leg and it can look a bit sloppy and collapse slightly — which rather defeats the purpose of spending serious money on beautifully crafted leather boots.

The brand also offers in-store fitting appointments at their flagship stores in London, Cheltenham, Edinburgh and Dublin, which I'd genuinely recommend if you're investing in the Galway or Longford boots for the first time. Have someone measure your calf height and circumference before you go — Dubarry's website provides the measurement instructions and corresponding charts.

Dubarry Shoes and Deck Shoes

Dubarry's deck shoes and sailing shoes are a slightly different conversation again. These tend to run narrow — they're designed for performance and a close fit — and some styles can feel snug initially. The good news is that as the leather is real and the construction is premium, they do soften and mould to your foot with wear. That said, if you have a wider foot, I'd be cautious and go up half a size.

A quick note on footwear sizing in general: Dubarry footwear uses EU sizing throughout, so double-check the conversion table before ordering. EU 38 = UK 5, EU 39 = UK 6, EU 40 = UK 7, EU 41 = UK 8 — and the brand's footwear is designed to be worn with socks, so factor in whether you're wearing thin liner socks or chunky wool ones when choosing your size.

Style Notes: Getting the Most Out of Dubarry

Dubarry sits in a really interesting sweet spot — it's a genuinely premium Irish heritage brand (founded in the 1930s, with roots in sail wear) that has earned genuine cult status, particularly in the UK country and equestrian world. But it's increasingly wearable far beyond the fields and stables.

A few styling thoughts from me:

The Galway boot looks brilliant with slim dark jeans or moleskin trousers — keep it sleek on top to let the boot do the talking. A great-fitting gilet over a Breton stripe is a perennial win.
If you're wearing a Dubarry jacket for walking or country days, don't be tempted to size up dramatically for layering. The jackets are already cut with room — stay in your size and layer a slim merino underneath rather than a bulky fleece.
The brand's softer knitwear and shirts work brilliantly for smart-casual occasions — they're not exclusively country-wear pieces, and they translate well to town with tailored trousers and a good loafer.

Alternatives to Dubarry: High Street, Premium & Designer

Dubarry is genuinely worth the investment if you love the aesthetic and lifestyle — but with boots starting at £350 and jackets often topping £200, there are good alternatives at every price point.

High Street:

Fat Face — consistently strong on genuinely warm, practical outerwear and knitwear with a relaxed country sensibility. Sizing is reliable and consistently true to size.
White Stuff — a brilliant alternative for Dubarry-adjacent style at accessible prices. Their jersey dresses, printed blouses and quilted gilets are perennially popular and size reliably.
Joules — a natural rival to Dubarry in the country-casual space. Well-made waterproof jackets, wellies and knitwear at far lower price points.
Seasalt Cornwall — if you love Dubarry's nautical and outdoor roots, Seasalt is a brilliant high street alternative. Beautiful prints, quality fabrics and honest sizing.
Boden — reliably well-made knitwear and coats with a classic sensibility. Particularly good for the smart-casual pieces that Dubarry does at the premium end.
Timberland — worth a look for robust, heritage-influenced boots and outerwear at a significantly lower price point than Dubarry.
Gant — smart-casual outerwear and knitwear with a similar preppy-country aesthetic. Their gilets and quilted jackets are particularly good and consistently size true.

Premium:

Barbour — the obvious premium alternative and a direct rival. Their waxed and quilted jackets are British icons, and their sizing is generally true. Particularly good for classic country looks.
Jigsaw — not traditionally country, but their outerwear and knitwear has real polish and quality, and suits the smarter, more town-based side of Dubarry dressing beautifully.

Luxury/Designer:

Massimo Dutti — elevated, European country styling with exceptional fabric quality. Their outerwear and leather goods occupy a similar premium-but-wearable territory to Dubarry at the smarter end.

And two independent brands that I think are genuinely worth knowing:

Jack Murphy — an Irish brand with a very similar heritage to Dubarry. Beautifully made country clothing, brilliant value compared to Dubarry, and sizing that is consistently accurate. Something of a hidden gem for the country-dressing crowd.
Toggi — a British equestrian and country brand that flies a little under the radar but produces seriously good riding boots and outdoor jackets. Particularly worth looking at for affordable boot alternatives with similar calf-fit options to Dubarry's range.

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