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

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

Etro runs small — typically one to two sizes smaller than standard UK sizing. This is Italian luxury sizing in its truest form: precise, close-fitting, and designed for a slim European silhouette that doesn't always account for the curves and proportions of the average British woman. If you've ever ordered something from Etro in your usual size and found yourself unable to do up the zip, you are not alone. I've been there. Size up, use your measurements, and I promise the investment will be worth it when you get the fit right.

The Etro World: Paisley, Print & Bohemian Luxury

Etro is one of those brands that genuinely earns the word iconic. Founded in Milan in 1968 by Gimmo Etro, the house built its identity on the paisley motif — that teardrop swirl of Indian origin that Etro adopted as its signature and has spent decades reinventing with extraordinary creativity. Since then, the brand has become the gold standard for a very particular kind of dress: maximalist, richly printed, grown-up, and glamorous in a way that doesn't feel like it's trying too hard.

The brand went through an ownership change in 2021, acquired by the private equity group L Catterton, and has since been steered by creative director Marco De Vincenzo. The direction has evolved — slightly more contemporary, a little more wearable day-to-day — but the DNA is intact. It is still the brand you go to when you want a silk print dress that will stop a room without saying a word.

Etro Sizing: The Practical Breakdown

Etro uses Italian sizing throughout, which already places it out of step with UK labels. But it goes beyond a simple number conversion — the cuts are genuinely narrow, with particular tightness through the shoulders, bust, and hips. Here's what I'd tell any client shopping Etro for the first time:

Dresses and skirts: Size up by one to two sizes as a rule. Their silk and printed dresses are the heart of the brand and they are cut slim — the fabric is often luxuriously flowing but the seams sit where they sit, and there is limited give
Tops and blouses: One size up minimum. Their blouses in particular are cut narrow through the shoulder and upper arm, which catches a lot of people out
Knitwear: Etro's knitwear tends to be slightly more forgiving than their woven pieces, but still go up one size — their fine-knit styles especially run slim
Tailoring and jackets: One to two sizes up. Their structured pieces are cut with an almost architectural precision that leaves very little room for error
Trousers: Size up by two if you have any shape through the hip and thigh — Etro trousers are genuinely narrow and not designed for a curvier silhouette at their stated size

A practical EU-to-UK sizing guide for Etro — erring on the generous side as I always recommend:

EU 36 → UK 8 (measure carefully; suits very slim frames only)
EU 38 → UK 10
EU 40 → UK 10–12
EU 42 → UK 12–14
EU 44 → UK 14–16
EU 46 → UK 16

My non-negotiable advice: ignore your instinct to order your usual size and instead compare the Etro size chart to your actual measurements. Bust and hip circumference are the ones that matter most with this brand. Get those right and the rest tends to follow.

How to Style Etro: Getting the Most from the Brand

Etro's genius lies in the prints — and the brand's styling philosophy has always been to let the fabric do the talking. Over the years I've styled clients in Etro pieces for everything from gallery openings to Mediterranean holidays, and the consistent lesson is this: keep everything else simple. One Etro statement piece — a printed silk dress, a paisley blouse, a rich embroidered jacket — is the whole outfit. Everything else should support it, not compete with it.

For the silk print dresses: Barely-there sandals, minimal gold jewellery, a sleek up-do or loose blow-dry. Done. Don't add a printed scarf or patterned bag — the dress is already the event
For the knitwear and separates: Pair with clean, tailored trousers or dark denim. Etro's statement knits look extraordinary with simple wide-leg trousers and nothing else
For their tailoring: Underneath, go for a simple silk camisole or a plain white tee — Etro's structured jackets are too beautiful to drown in layers

Body Shape Advice: Does Etro Work for Everyone?

Etro's flowing silhouettes are actually more inclusive than their sizing might suggest — it's the cut that's narrow, not the design. Once you're in the right size, the brand's love of draped silk, fluid prints, and generous skirts makes it genuinely flattering across a range of shapes.

Hourglass shapes: You'll look spectacular in the wrap and belted dresses — they celebrate a defined waist and the printed silk drapes beautifully over curves
Pear shapes: Lean into the A-line and full-skirt styles. Etro's midi and maxi dresses with fitted bodices and skirts that skim the hip are made for you
Apple shapes: The empire-line and loose-bodiced kaftan-style pieces are your friends — dramatic, effortless, and genuinely flattering. Avoid the more structured fitted styles
Petite frames: Their shorter printed blouses worn with slim trousers work brilliantly. Full-length maxi dresses can overwhelm — or you embrace them floor-length as a deliberate statement, which with Etro prints, always works
Fuller bust: Size for the bust first and always — you can adjust elsewhere, but a blouse or dress that pulls across the chest is unfixable

The Best Alternatives to Etro: High Street, Premium & Luxury

Etro sits at the higher end of the luxury market — dresses typically start around £500 and climb well past £1,500 for their more elaborate pieces. If the aesthetic speaks to you but the price point doesn't, or you want to test the print-led bohemian look before committing, here's where I'd send you.

HIGH STREET

Anthropologie — The single best high street translation of Etro's bohemian luxury spirit. Beautifully curated prints, interesting textures, and an editorial sensibility that feels genuinely considered rather than trend-chasing. A reliable first stop for the Etro aesthetic at high street prices
Monsoon — Often underestimated, but Monsoon has serious print heritage and a long-standing commitment to the kind of richly coloured, pattern-forward dressing that Etro does at five times the price. Their embroidered occasion pieces in particular are genuinely lovely
Mango — Their premium MNG line and seasonal printed silk-look dresses hit a sweet spot of quality and affordability. Not as maximalist as Etro, but for the everyday version of the vibe, Mango delivers consistently
Hush — A quietly brilliant British brand with a loyal following for exactly the kind of relaxed, print-forward womenswear that Etro fans appreciate. Their linen and cotton printed dresses are wardrobe staples and they size generously, which makes a welcome change
Oliver Bonas — Genuinely good for printed occasionwear and statement accessories that carry an independent spirit. Their jewellery in particular works brilliantly alongside Etro-inspired dressing

PREMIUM

Claudie Pierlot — French brand with a print-conscious, feminine sensibility that shares Etro's love of pattern and colour. Their silk blouses and printed dresses are beautiful quality and feel grown-up in exactly the right way
Massimo Dutti — For the more restrained, tailored side of Etro's output, Massimo Dutti delivers impeccable Italian-quality fabrics and clean construction at a much more accessible premium price point. Their linen and silk pieces are particularly strong
Mint Velvet — A brilliant British premium brand for the Etro customer who wants print and personality without full luxury spend. Consistent quality, thoughtful colour, and cuts that actually work for UK body proportions

LUXURY & DESIGNER

Missoni — The other great Italian house built on pattern. Where Etro does paisley, Missoni does its iconic knitted zigzag, but the philosophy — bold colour, joyful print, unapologetic maximalism — is the same. If you love Etro, you will love Missoni
Zimmermann — Australian luxury that has captured a huge European following precisely because it occupies the same territory as Etro: printed silk dresses, feminine silhouettes, holiday-ready glamour. Slightly more structured than Etro but equally beautiful, and somewhat more flattering across a range of body shapes
Pucci — The third great pillar of Italian print luxury alongside Etro and Missoni. Emilio Pucci's kaleidoscopic signature prints are as distinctive as Etro's paisley and the two brands share a rich 1960s-and-70s heritage. If you're a print lover, Pucci is essential

And two independent labels I think every Etro admirer should know about:

RIXO — London-founded and utterly brilliant. Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McCloskey built RIXO on exactly the kind of vintage-inspired printed silk dresses that feel like a love letter to Etro's spirit at a fraction of the cost. Their sizing is generous by luxury standards, they have a genuinely diverse range of prints every season, and the quality has got better and better. A non-negotiable recommendation for any print lover
Vita Kin — A truly niche Ukrainian luxury brand that has developed a devoted following among fashion editors for its embroidered linen pieces and folk-art-inspired prints. If you love Etro's richness and craftsmanship but want something almost no one else will be wearing, Vita Kin is genuinely extraordinary. Sizes inclusively and ships internationally

My Verdict on Etro: Worth Every Penny — If the Size Is Right

Etro is one of those brands where getting the size right is genuinely everything. A well-fitted Etro dress is a transformative piece of clothing — the kind of thing you wear and feel completely, effortlessly yourself in. Get the size wrong and even the most beautiful print in the world looks uncomfortable and awkward. Take the time to measure properly, size up from your instinct, and invest in pieces you can see yourself wearing for decades. Because at this quality, you absolutely will.

Find Your Perfect Etro Size — Without the Guesswork

At Etro prices, getting the size wrong isn't an option. Tellar.co.uk is the UK's leading free sizing tool — enter your measurements once and get your precise size across 1,500+ brands instantly. No more squinting at EU conversion charts.

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And explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — a growing library of honest, unsponsored fashion posts from our in-house stylists. No ads, no affiliate bias, no filler. Just genuinely useful fashion advice, always free.

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