What Is Sizing Like at Elie Tahari?

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

Elie Tahari sizing runs broadly true to size — but there's a catch, and it's one I see trip people up time and again. The tailored pieces, which are honestly what the brand does best, are cut slim and structured through the shoulders and sleeves. If you're anything other than narrow across the back, you will almost certainly want to size up in the woven jackets and blazers. I learnt this the slightly humbling way: ordered a blazer in my usual size, confidently ignored the reviews suggesting otherwise, and spent a very unglamorous few minutes wrestling my way into it in the kitchen. Couldn't get it past my shoulders. Classic. It went straight back and the size up fit like a dream.

The Headline: What You Actually Need to Know

Elie Tahari is a New York-based premium brand founded in 1972, known for sharp tailoring, silk blouses, and polished workwear that has a genuinely timeless quality. The sizing is American (US 0–14), which maps to UK sizing but not always in the most intuitive way. Here's the quick-reference guide:

Tailored jackets & blazers: cut slim through the shoulders and particularly narrow in the sleeves. Size up by one, especially if you have broader shoulders or a fuller bust.
Woven blouses & silk shirts: true to size but fitted rather than relaxed. If you prefer a looser drape, go up.
Dresses (jersey & stretch crepe): true to size. These are forgiving and one of the more reliable category fits across the range.
Tailored trousers & slim-fit pants: true to size at the waist but can be snug through the thigh on curvier figures. Check your hip measurement against their size chart.
Knitwear & stretch pieces: true to size and the most forgiving category. Comfortable to order in your standard size.
If you are between sizes: always size up in structured, woven pieces. Size down or stay true in stretch and jersey.

US vs UK Sizing — Don't Get Caught Out

This is where a lot of UK shoppers get confused, especially when ordering from US stockists like Saks, Nordstrom, or direct from elietahari.com. Elie Tahari uses US sizing, and there is a two-size difference from UK sizing. A US 8 is a UK 12, a US 10 is a UK 14. Simple enough in principle, but it gets confusing when you then factor in the slim-cut tailoring — meaning you might need to go one further size up on top of the conversion.

Elie Tahari's own size chart (published on their website) is reasonably reliable. Here are the key UK equivalents:

US 2 = UK 6
US 4 = UK 8
US 6 = UK 10
US 8 = UK 12
US 10 = UK 14
US 12 = UK 16

That said, my honest advice is not to rely solely on these conversions. Use your actual measurements — bust, waist, hip — and cross-reference them with the brand's size chart. It takes two minutes and will save you the faff of a return.

The Two Elie Tahari Lines — and Why It Matters for Sizing

Something that often gets overlooked is that there are effectively two lines operating under the Elie Tahari umbrella: the mainline Elie Tahari collection (the designer line, higher price point, sold at Saks and Bergdorf Goodman) and Tahari ASL (the more accessible diffusion line, sold widely at department stores). Sizing is broadly similar across both, but the mainline collection uses more premium fabrics and the tailoring is a touch more precise — meaning the slim cut is even more pronounced. If you're shopping the mainline, be especially mindful of sizing up in the structured pieces.

How to Measure for the Best Elie Tahari Fit

Because Elie Tahari is primarily a tailoring brand, getting your measurements right before you order is genuinely worth doing. The three measurements you need are:

Bust: stand naturally and measure around the fullest part of your chest, keeping the tape horizontal across your back.
Natural waist: bend to one side to find the natural crease of your waist and measure there — not where you wear your jeans.
Low hip: stand with feet together and measure around the fullest part of your hips and seat.

Once you have these, use the Tellar Store Size Lookup tool to match your measurements directly to Elie Tahari's sizing. It takes the guesswork completely out of the equation — particularly useful when shopping US-labelled brands from a UK wardrobe.

Style Advice: What to Buy and Who It Suits

Elie Tahari genuinely shines for smart dressing. If your wardrobe skews towards office, occasion, or polished everyday dressing, there's a lot here to love. Here's where I'd focus my energy:

The blazers and suit jackets: honestly some of the best structured tailoring at this price point. The silhouette is clean and the fabrics — particularly the wool and ponte blends — are excellent quality. Just size up as discussed.
Silk blouses: beautifully draped, often featuring wrap and cowl designs. These photograph brilliantly and are genuinely investment-worthy pieces. Size true to size or up if you have a fuller bust.
Stretch crepe dresses: my personal favourite category at ET. Flattering darts, a defined waist, and a fabric that travels without creasing. A brilliant option for any woman who needs a dress that will work from a morning meeting to an evening dinner without changing.
Tailored trousers: high-waisted and chic. If you have a waist-to-hip ratio that sits outside typical US proportions, check your hip measurement carefully before ordering — these are cut fairly narrow through the upper thigh.

In terms of body shape, Elie Tahari's aesthetic is most naturally suited to those who love a defined, structured silhouette. If you usually gravitate towards loose, oversized or relaxed shapes, some pieces will feel more restrictive than you'd like — always worth bearing in mind.

Where to Find Similar Styles for Less

Elie Tahari sits in the premium-to-designer bracket — we're typically looking at £150–£500+ per piece. If you love the aesthetic of smart, polished tailoring and want it at different price points, here's where I'd genuinely shop:

Phase Eight — superb for occasion-ready and smart workwear at an accessible price. Their tailored blazers and dresses consistently get excellent reviews, and sizing tends to be generous and consistent.
Hobbs — a brilliant British alternative for polished tailoring. Clean lines, quality fabrics, and sizing that is reliably consistent. A direct step-down from Elie Tahari in terms of price but not necessarily quality.
LK Bennett — the go-to for British smart dressing. Their suiting, shift dresses, and silk blouses sit squarely in the same wardrobe space as Elie Tahari. Excellent for occasion and workwear.
Ted Baker — strong for tailored dresses and occasion pieces with a feminine edge. The quality of fabrics and finishing is good and sizing is fairly consistent across the range.
Jigsaw — understated, well-cut and genuinely grown-up. One of the best UK brands for elegant, minimal tailoring that doesn't try too hard. Their blazers and wide-leg trousers are particularly strong.
French Connection — for smart pieces at a more accessible price. Their tailored separates and crepe dresses are reliable, and the brand regularly turns out polished wardrobe staples.
Banana Republic — the most direct US-style tailoring equivalent on the high street. Their suiting, trousers, and blazers have real Elie Tahari energy at a much lower price point. Well worth a look if you're a fan of that sharp American aesthetic.
Anthropologie — for a slightly more creative take on smart dressing. Their curated brands include some genuinely beautiful tailored pieces, and the range spans high street to premium. A good place to look for elevated alternatives.

Two Independent Brands Worth Discovering

Beyond the main players, here are two smaller brands I think are genuinely brilliant for anyone who loves Elie Tahari's polish:

Kitri — a London-based independent brand that has quietly built one of the best reputations in the UK for flattering, well-cut smart dressing. Their tailored pieces are beautifully considered, sizing is honest and consistent, and the brand has a real commitment to thoughtful production. If you've not come across them, go and have a look immediately.
Winser London — founded by Kim Winser, former head of Marks & Spencer's Per Una and Pringle of Scotland. The brand is built on the premise of flattering, easy-to-wear investment dressing — which is exactly the Elie Tahari customer. Great sizing, excellent quality fabrics, and pieces that genuinely work for real life.

Stop Guessing — Get Your Exact Elie Tahari Size with Tellar

Elie Tahari's slim tailoring and US-to-UK size conversion make it one of the trickier brands to buy online without a fitting room. That's precisely why I built Tellar — the UK's leading free sizing tool that matches your body measurements to over 1,500 brands in seconds. No charts to decode, no size conversion guesswork, no returns.

Measure once — all you need is your bust, waist, and hip measurements.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in Elie Tahari and 1,500+ other brands — from Hobbs and LK Bennett to Reiss, Arket, and beyond.
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Plus the Tellar Fashion Hub is home to hundreds of free, honest, unsponsored posts from our in-house stylists — no ads, no affiliate bias, just genuinely useful fashion advice.

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