What Is Sizing Like at Etiem?

Sizing GuidesPremium FashionSpanish Brands

Etiem runs slightly small — and if you're shopping from the UK, the European sizing adds an extra layer of confusion on top of that. This is a premium Spanish label built around refined, tailored silhouettes, which means the fit is deliberately close-cut. Order your standard UK size without cross-checking your measurements and there's a fair chance you'll find it snug — particularly across the bust, shoulders and upper body.

I'll be honest — Etiem wasn't on my radar until a client brought a blouse home from a trip to A Coruña and asked me why her usual size felt so much smaller than expected. One look at the construction told me everything: this is a brand built on clean, sculpted lines that sit close to the body. It's not vanity sizing working against you — it's intentional European tailoring. Once you understand that, getting your size right is actually pretty straightforward.

About Etiem: What Kind of Brand Is It?

Etiem was founded in 2004 in A Coruña, Galicia — the same corner of north-west Spain that gave the world Zara and Massimo Dutti, so quality tailoring really is in the DNA here. Designer Javier Cañás Caramelo joined the project early on and set the brand's signature direction: timeless elegance, beautiful fabrics, and a total-look approach to dressing for both women and men.

For women, the collection spans embroidered cotton blouses, printed viscose tops, poplin shirts and tailored occasion pieces. The aesthetic is cosmopolitan and quietly luxurious — not flashy, not trend-led, but thoroughly well made. Think of it as the Spanish equivalent of a brand like Reiss or Hobbs, but with a slightly more artisanal, Continental edge and genuinely distinctive embroidery detail that sets it apart.

How Does Etiem Size Their Women's Collection?

Etiem uses European sizing throughout. For women's ready-to-wear, expect standard EU sizing (typically 36–44), which maps to UK sizing as follows — but with the crucial caveat that the brand cuts slim across the body:

EU SizeUK Size EquivalentFit AdviceEU 36UK 8Slim through body and shoulder — true to a UK 8EU 38UK 10May feel snug on a full UK 10; size up if you're in doubtEU 40UK 12Close fit; comfortable on a UK 10–12EU 42UK 14Tailored through the waist; fits a UK 12–14 wellEU 44UK 16Eases out nicely; good for a UK 14–16

My honest rule of thumb: if you're a true UK 10 with a fuller bust or broader shoulders, order the EU 40 rather than the EU 38. You'll thank me. The tailoring is structured enough that it won't look oversized — it'll simply sit properly on the body.

Sizing by Garment Type

Blouses & Shirts

This is where Etiem really shines — embroidered cotton voile, gingham with artisanal sleeve detail, beautifully cut poplin — and it's also where the slim European fit is most noticeable. Blouses run small across the bust and shoulders in particular. The poplin and voile fabrics have very little give, so you really do need the room. If you're between sizes on a blouse, always go up.

Tops & Jersey Styles

Their cotton and jersey tops are slightly more forgiving thanks to fabric stretch, but they still cut close. A UK 10 will generally fit in an EU 38 here, whereas on a structured blouse they'd likely need an EU 40. Worth keeping in mind if you're ordering a mix of styles in one go.

Tailored Jackets & Occasion Separates

Etiem's more structured pieces — tailored jackets, smart occasion separates — follow a slim, slightly tapered cut. Jackets in particular run small across the back and upper arm. If you're wearing anything layered underneath, factor that in and size up. Trousers are well-cut at the waist but taper through the leg, so if you carry more volume through the thigh, size up from your waist measurement and consider a small alteration if needed.

Printed & Flowy Styles

The brand's printed viscose pieces — including the knotted tops and long printed twill blouses — are cut with considerably more ease than the structured styles. These sit much closer to true size and are more forgiving between sizes. For these, your standard UK-to-EU conversion should serve you well.

My Honest Sizing Verdict

• As a general rule, size up one from your usual UK size when converting to EU — especially on blouses, shirts and structured jackets

• Always check your bust measurement against Etiem's size guide before ordering structured or tailored pieces

• On printed, flowy or stretch styles, your standard UK-to-EU conversion should work fine

• If you're tall or have a longer torso, sleeve and body lengths may run slightly short — worth knowing before ordering anything fitted

• The quality genuinely justifies the price — this is not a brand to guess with, so take your measurements before you buy

How to Style Etiem

Because Etiem's aesthetic is so clearly defined — polished, urban, unfussy — styling is actually very easy. The pieces do most of the work. A few thoughts from me:

• The embroidered and printed blouses look stunning tucked into wide-leg tailored trousers in a tonal palette. Etiem's sweet spot is earthy neutrals and dusty pastels — lean into it.

• A structured Etiem jacket over a simple fitted top with straight-leg trousers gives you the kind of put-together office look that doesn't feel stiff or corporate. It just looks expensive.

• The artisanal embroidered pieces — the cotton voile shirt in particular — deserve a simple foundation. Keep jewellery minimal and let the detail breathe.

• For occasion dressing, the printed pieces pair beautifully with heeled mules or a clean block-heel sandal. No fussing with accessories required.

If you're building out a whole look alongside your Etiem pieces, our Ultimate Guide to Jackets and Ultimate Guide to Dresses are both worth a read. Our Jeans Trends 2026 guide is great for what to wear underneath a tailored jacket, and for general sizing confidence across all brands, start with our Ultimate Clothing Sizing Guide.

Love the Etiem Look? Here's Where Else to Shop

Etiem isn't easy to get hold of on the UK high street, and the price point makes it a considered purchase. If you love the polished, tailored Spanish-European sensibility, here's where I'd look at different budgets:

High Street & Mid-Range Picks:

• Reiss – The closest UK equivalent to Etiem's clean tailoring and structured silhouettes. Excellent quality and very reliable sizing — my first recommendation when a client wants the look without the European import faff.

• Whistles – Quietly brilliant for understated, well-cut pieces. Their blouses and tailored trousers in particular sit in a very similar aesthetic space to Etiem.

• Massimo Dutti – Another Galician brand, as it happens — the same A Coruña roots as Etiem. If you love Etiem's DNA, Massimo Dutti's women's line at a lower price point is the obvious next stop.

• Me&Em – British brand with a very similar philosophy: quality fabrics, thoughtful cuts, grown-up colour palettes. Their blouses and tailored co-ords are genuinely excellent.

• LK Bennett – For the occasion-dressing end of Etiem's range. Beautiful fabrics, classic silhouettes and very consistent sizing.

• Ted Baker – Good for the more embellished and printed styles in Etiem's collection, at an accessible price point. The embroidery detail translates well.

• Hobbs – Reliable and underrated for tailored separates with that same timeless, unfussy polish. Their jackets and trousers are a particular strength.

• Mint Velvet – For the flowy, printed end of Etiem's aesthetic — Mint Velvet does this beautifully, and the sizing is notably consistent.

Two Independent Brands Worth Discovering:

• Paloma Wool – A Barcelona-based independent label with a wonderfully distinct aesthetic: bold prints, easy silhouettes and a very deliberate Spanish artisanal spirit. If you've fallen for Etiem's Galician roots, Paloma Wool's Barcelona-cool counterpart is worth seeking out. Harder to find in the UK, but worth every bit of the effort.

• Loreak Mendian – A Basque Country independent that has been quietly making beautifully crafted, considered clothing since 1995. Understated, quality-driven and thoroughly Spanish in spirit. A wonderful left-field discovery for anyone who loves Etiem's approach to dressing but wants something even more under the radar.

Stop Guessing Your Etiem Size — Use Tellar

Ordering from a European premium brand like Etiem is a brilliant thing to do — but only when you're confident in your size. That's exactly where Tellar.co.uk comes in.

Tellar is the UK's leading free sizing tool. It matches your exact body measurements to your precise size across 1,500+ brands — from Etiem and Massimo Dutti to Reiss, Whistles and hundreds more. One set of measurements, instant results, zero guesswork.

• Measure once using bust, waist and hips — or enter a brand size you already know fits you well

• Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in any brand, instantly

• Completely free — no downloads, no subscription, works straight in your browser

Plus the Tellar Fashion Hub is packed with 5,000+ free, honest, unsponsored posts from our in-house stylists. No adverts, no brand deals, no bias. Just genuinely useful fashion advice.

→ Visit Tellar.co.uk