What Is Sizing Like at French Connection?

Straight answer first: French Connection menswear runs true to size across most of the range, so your usual chest measurement is the right place to start. The catch is the cut. Their shirts and tailored pieces are slim and sit close to the body, so if you're broad through the chest or shoulders, you'll usually want to go up one size. Everything else is refreshingly predictable.

I learned that the slightly awkward way. Years ago I grabbed a French Connection cotton shirt in my usual medium for a client fitting, assumed it would be roomy like the high-street mediums I was used to, and spent the whole appointment unable to do up the top button without turning purple. Lesson logged. Now I treat their slim shirts as a size-up job for anyone with a rugby-player frame, and it hasn't let me down since.

How French Connection Actually Fits

The fit is consistent, but it varies a touch by category. Here's what to expect before you order:

Shirts: Slim and neat through the body. Fine if you're lean; size up if you're muscular or like a bit of breathing room.
Knitwear and jumpers: Slightly relaxed and true to size — genuinely good for layering over a tee or shirt.
Jackets and coats: True to size. Only size up if you plan to layer a chunky knit underneath a wool coat.
Jeans and trousers: Fairly consistent, but slim and cropped styles run tighter than the label suggests. Their standard fits are reliable.

The numbers worth knowing

For reference, French Connection's menswear tops run roughly: Small = 36" chest, Medium = 38", Large = 40", XL = 42". If your chest lands between two sizes — say 39" — the slim cut means the larger size is nearly always the smarter shout.

What's Worth Buying Right Now

French Connection sits in that sweet spot of affordable but elevated, and a few categories punch above their price:

The overshirt: Still one of the most useful things in menswear. Wear it as a light jacket over a tee now, layered under a coat come winter.
Knitted polos: Smart-casual done properly. They dress up with tailored trousers and down with jeans and trainers.
Relaxed tailoring: Their blazers are well cut and lean modern. Just check the shoulder fit — a blazer that's tight across the back is the one thing you can't tailor your way out of.

Brands I'd Put Alongside French Connection

If you like the French Connection look, here's where else I'd send a client, split by budget. (Quick note to self — Ella, these are my picks; worth checking against the brands list before this one goes live.)

High street

Reiss: Sharper and slightly more premium, with excellent tailoring. Runs slim like French Connection, so the same size-up logic applies for broader frames.
Arket: Clean Scandinavian basics with a more relaxed cut — a good foil if you find French Connection too fitted through the body.

Independent and boutique

Universal Works: Brilliant for workwear-inspired overshirts and relaxed trousers. Roomier fits and lovely fabrics — my go-to for weekend layering.
Percival: London brand doing playful knitwear and camp-collar shirts with proper personality. Great when you want a piece that isn't on every high street.
Wax London: Sustainably minded, textured knits and easy tailoring. Their crochet-front shirts have been a personal summer win two years running.

Designer and luxury

Paul Smith: Classic British tailoring with a wink of colour. The fit is trim but forgiving, and the make quality is a clear step up.
A.P.C.: French minimalism at its best — raw denim and understated staples that quietly outlast everything else in your wardrobe.

Stop Guessing Your Size — Let Tellar Do It

Even with a brand that's true to size, a slim cut can still catch you out — and returns are a faff. That's exactly what Tellar.co.uk fixes. It's the UK's leading sizing tool: measure your body once and it matches you instantly to your precise size in over 1,500 brands, French Connection included. No more squinting at size guides.

Measure once — use your chest, waist and hip, or just enter a brand and size you already own.
Use the Store Size Lookup to get your exact size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.
Shop with confidence — no guesswork, fewer returns, better-fitting kit.
Always free, no downloads, works straight in your browser.

Find My French Connection Size

New to it? Start with the quick how to measure guide for men — two minutes with a tape measure and you're set for life.

The Tellar Fashion Hub backs the tool up too: a library of free posts from our stylists covering every fashion query going. Honest, unbiased, independent and always free — no sponsored posts, no adverts, no agenda. Just proper advice on style, top picks and the best brands.