What Is Sizing Like at Eskandar?

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

Eskandar sizing is intentionally and unapologetically oversized — and once you understand that, everything else falls into place. This is not a brand where you order your usual size and expect it to skim your body in the way most high street clothes do. The entire philosophy of eskandar is that clothing should adapt to the wearer, not the other way around. Generous proportions, fluid drape, natural fabrics. It's a whole different way of thinking about fit — and honestly? Once it clicks, you'll never look at a size label the same way again.

Who Is Eskandar?

If you haven't come across eskandar before, let me set the scene. Founded in 1992 by Iranian-born designer Eskandar Pakzad, the brand sits in a world entirely its own — somewhere between high-end luxury and wearable art. Think hand-loomed knitwear crafted in Scotland, fluid linen tunics, silk shirts with mandarin collars, wide-leg trousers in cashmere-weight wool. All natural fibres, all exceptional quality, all cut with the kind of generous ease that makes you feel simultaneously effortless and considered.

Eskandar has flagship stores in London, Paris, New York and Chicago, and a devoted following of women who have long since stopped chasing trends. I've styled clients in eskandar for special occasions and everyday luxury alike — it's one of those brands that, once someone tries it, becomes a genuine wardrobe obsession. But the sizing really does need explaining before you buy.

The Sizing System — Forget Everything You Know

Eskandar does not use standard UK sizing. Instead, garments run in their own simplified scale: 0, 1, 2 (and occasionally 3 for some pieces). These are not small, medium and large in the way you'd expect. Everything is cut large — deliberately. Here's a rough guide to how the numbers translate:

Eskandar SizeApproximate UK Size RangeBest For0UK 6–12Petite or slimmer frames wanting a relaxed but not overwhelming drape1UK 10–16Most builds — the brand's most versatile size; works beautifully across a wide range2UK 16–22+Fuller figures, or anyone wanting maximum volume and drape

The key thing to understand is that these size ranges overlap — and that's entirely by design. A UK 12 might wear a 0 or a 1 depending entirely on how much fabric they want around them and how they plan to layer. There is no wrong answer. The garment will still look intentional either way, because the silhouette is built for volume.

Ella's Take on Eskandar SizingI had a client — a size 10, petite, not someone who'd ever worn oversized anything — who tried on an eskandar linen tunic in a Size 0 and looked utterly magnificent. She'd been convinced it would swamp her. Instead, it draped beautifully and she wore it with slim trousers and flat sandals all summer. The lesson: don't let the numbers put you off. Think about how you want to feel in the garment, not what the label says.

Fabrics & Why They Change Everything

Eskandar works almost exclusively in natural, noble fibres — linen, cashmere, merino wool, silk, cotton — and this matters enormously for fit. Natural fabrics drape differently to synthetics. They have weight and movement, which means a piece that looks shapeless on a hanger will often look architectural and beautifully considered on a body. Don't judge eskandar on the hanger. It's one of those brands you have to wear to understand.

Linen: Expect a fluid, breezy fit — perfect for layering in spring and summer. Size 0 for a more defined look; Size 1 for maximum ease.
Knitwear (merino, cashmere): Often hand-loomed in Scotland — substantial weight, gorgeous drape. Size 0 or 1 for most. These are not lightweight sweaters; they have proper presence.
Silk & cotton shirts: Boxy and generously cut, with Asian-inspired details like mandarin collars. True to the eskandar size guide — don't try to size down here thinking it'll give you more shape. It won't.
Trousers: Wide-leg, pull-on, very relaxed. Work beautifully at any size within the range. The high-waist cut is flattering regardless of build.

Height Matters More Than You'd Think

This is something I always mention to clients considering eskandar: your height is arguably more relevant than your weight or dress size when it comes to how pieces sit. The tunics and dresses are cut long — if you're petite (under 5'3"), a Size 1 tunic may hit at an unflattering point or overwhelm your frame entirely. In that case, Size 0 is almost always the better call, even if numerically it feels like it "should" be too small. If you're tall (5'8"+), you'll likely find that Size 1 gives you the length you need and Size 2 takes on a genuinely dramatic, fashion-forward proportion that works brilliantly.

Is It Worth It?

Eskandar is investment dressing — prices reflect the quality of fibre, the craftsmanship, and the design philosophy. These are not fast fashion purchases. But in my experience, clients who buy eskandar wear it for years, often decades. The pieces don't date. They don't go out of style. They're not subject to the tyranny of trends. That's a genuinely rare thing in fashion, and it counts for a lot.

If you're not ready to commit at full price, the secondary market — The RealReal, eBay, The Cirkel — is genuinely excellent for eskandar. Pieces come up regularly, often in exceptional condition. One of the benefits of slow fashion that's built to last.

📐 Quick Sizing SummarySize 0 = approx UK 6–12 · Size 1 = approx UK 10–16 · Size 2 = approx UK 16–22+When in doubt: go by your height as much as your measurements. Petite? Size down. Tall? Stay true or size up.Always check the individual garment measurements — eskandar's own website lists them, and they're worth reading before every purchase.

If You Love the Eskandar Aesthetic — High Street Alternatives

Not everyone is ready to spend four figures on a linen tunic (completely fair). If the eskandar look — relaxed, natural, beautifully draped, quietly considered — is your thing but the price point isn't, these are the high street and accessible brands I'd genuinely send you to:

Anthropologie — the high street brand with the most eskandar spirit. Artistic prints, flowing silhouettes, natural fabrics, and an appreciation for the unconventional. Strong on dresses and layering pieces.
Hush — beautifully relaxed, well-made basics and easy separates in natural fabrics. Understated in the best possible way. Linen pieces particularly good.
Seasalt Cornwall — brilliant for natural fibre layering pieces, relaxed linen and cotton shirts, and easy, unfussy dressing. A very different aesthetic to eskandar but shares the same "wear it, don't think about it" quality.
Fat Face — solid natural fabric basics at an accessible price. Good for casual layering — linen shirts, cotton knits — if you're building that effortless, undone wardrobe.
Great Plains — quietly excellent. Relaxed cuts, good-quality fabrics, and a grown-up, considered sensibility. Not flashy. Exactly right for the eskandar customer who wants a more affordable everyday option.
Mint Velvet — relaxed separates with a slightly more polished edge. Good knitwear and easy trousers. Consistent sizing and reliable quality for the price.
Oliver Bonas — for the print-led, artistic, slightly eccentric side of the eskandar customer. Their linen and viscose pieces are well-priced and the aesthetic skews pleasingly individual.
Joules — strong on linen and cotton easy-wear pieces, particularly in spring and summer. Better quality than you might expect for the price.

Premium Step-Up Brands

Ready to invest a little more? These are the brands that sit between the high street and eskandar's luxury tier — better fabrics, more considered cuts, and the kind of wardrobe longevity that actually justifies the spend:

Me&Em — impeccably made, thoughtfully designed separates that lean into a relaxed but polished aesthetic. Their wide-leg trousers and linen shirts in particular are genuinely brilliant. Consistent, reliable sizing.
Max Mara — the Italian answer to understated luxury. Beautifully cut coats, fluid trousers, and easy separates in quality fabrics. The Weekend Max Mara line is especially strong for that effortless, oversized look at a less eye-watering price point than mainline.
Massimo Dutti — excellent quality linen and natural-fabric pieces at a price that still feels accessible. Their linen shirts and wide-leg trousers hit very close to the eskandar spirit at a fraction of the cost.

Luxury & Designer Tier

If eskandar has caught your eye but you want to explore the wider world of this particular kind of luxury — slow, natural, beautifully made — these are the designers I'd put in the same conversation:

Eileen Fisher — the American brand most often mentioned alongside eskandar, and for very good reason. The same philosophy: natural fibres, generous cuts, timeless silhouettes, clothing that adapts to you. Slightly more accessible price point. An essential in this space.
Brunello Cucinelli — if budget is no object whatsoever, Brunello Cucinelli is the pinnacle of the natural-fibre, relaxed luxury aesthetic. Cashmere so good it's practically spiritual. The colour palette is muted and exquisite. True investment dressing.

Two Independent Brands Worth Discovering

TOAST — a genuinely wonderful British brand that shares eskandar's love of natural fibres, considered design and a certain quietness about the whole thing. Their linen dresses, Japanese-inspired separates and hand-dyed pieces are beautiful, and they're committed to ethical production. If you love eskandar but want something British and slightly more accessible, TOAST is your brand. Seriously — if you don't know them, look now.
Beaumont Organic — a small, certified organic British label making beautifully relaxed separates in natural, sustainable fabrics. The aesthetic is minimalist, the quality is genuinely impressive for the price, and the brand has real integrity. Exactly the kind of independent label the eskandar customer ought to know about.

Eskandar Sizing Confusing You? Let Tellar Sort It.

With a non-standard sizing system like eskandar's, guessing is genuinely risky — especially at these price points. Tellar is the UK's leading free sizing tool, matching your exact body measurements to 1,500+ brands instantly. No ads, no sponsored recommendations, no paywalls. Just honest sizing, completely free.

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