What Is Sizing Like at Genny?

Genny fits true to size but with that distinctly slim, tailored Italian cut, and because it’s a Milan-rooted luxury house, everything is labelled in Italian (IT) sizing rather than UK numbers. As a rough rule, an IT 42 lands around a UK 10, an IT 44 a UK 12 and an IT 46 a UK 14 — but the tailoring is precise, so if you’re between sizes or eyeing anything structured, size up.

I’ve been styling clients in Italian labels for the best part of two decades, and Genny is one of those names that still makes me a little giddy when a piece lands on my rail. Founded in Ancona in 1962 and once helmed by a young Gianni Versace, it’s pure Italian glamour — sharp shoulders, liquid eveningwear, the kind of tailoring that does half the work for you. But that heritage cut catches people out, so let’s talk about how it actually fits on a real body.

How Genny sizes up

Italian luxury houses number their garments differently to the UK high street, and Genny is no exception. The label you’ll see is the IT size, which runs about two numbers higher than the French and German scale but slimmer through the body than you’d expect. A few things I’ve learned dressing real people in it:

Tailoring runs slim. Blazers, fitted dresses and anything with a defined waist are cut close. If you carry on the bust or hip, take your true size and have it adjusted rather than squeezing down a number.
Eveningwear is true to size but unforgiving. The silk and crepe pieces have very little give — there’s no stretch to hide behind, so go by your measurements, not the number you wish you were.
Fluid pieces are kinder. The flowing, draped styles that define the modern brand skim rather than cling, so they’re far more forgiving across shapes.
Shoulders are the tell. Italian tailoring is built around the shoulder line. If the shoulder sits right, the rest of the garment almost always follows.

My honest advice? Don’t get hung up on the IT number. I once had a client flatly refuse a stunning Genny tuxedo dress because the label said 44 and she’d “always been a 10”. It fitted her like it had been made for her body. The number is just a label sewn into a seam — the cut is the thing that actually matters, and I say that having watched far too many gorgeous outfits get rejected over a digit.

What to actually buy from Genny

Genny shines for occasion dressing, polished tailoring and proper eveningwear. Reach for it when you want something that looks expensive because it is — black-tie, mother-of-the-bride done the modern way, or a power suit with a bit of drama. It’s an investment house, so treat each piece like a keeper: buy for fit, not for the size on the tag, and factor in a quick trip to a good tailor. A nipped waist or a shortened hem turns “nearly” into “perfect”, and on clothes at this level it’s always worth it.

Where else to shop if you love Genny

Genny is a serious spend, so here’s where I send clients across the price spectrum for that same Italian-leaning elegance.

High street

Reiss — beautifully cut tailoring and occasionwear; the closest the high street gets to that clean, expensive line.
Hobbs — ladylike British elegance, brilliant for occasion dresses and structured coats.
Massimo Dutti — quietly luxe, Italian-feeling separates at a fraction of designer prices.
Whistles — modern minimalist tailoring with a real fashion edge.
Phase Eight — my go-to for event dresses with proper structure and weight.
LK Bennett — refined and polished, made for weddings and the races.
Coast — affordable glamour when you need a showstopper in a hurry.

Premium

Sandro — Parisian tailoring with sharp, grown-up lines that sit beautifully.
By Malene Birger — elevated Scandi luxe and gorgeous fluid dressing.
Joseph — masterful tailoring and, in my view, the best trousers in the business.

Luxury & designer

Max Mara — the obvious Italian sister to Genny; peerless coats and tailoring you’ll keep for years.
Theory — clean, architectural pieces that feel effortlessly expensive.

Two left-field independents I rate

Saloni — London-based, exquisite print and occasion dresses with genuine personality.
Beulah London — beautifully made, ethically minded evening and event wear with quiet glamour.

A word on shopping Genny second-hand

Genny has a rich vintage archive, and those Eighties and Nineties Versace-era pieces are properly collectible. But vintage Italian sizing runs even smaller and varies wildly by decade, so never, ever buy on the label alone. Get the seller to send you the garment’s flat measurements — bust, waist, hip, shoulder — and compare them to a piece already hanging in your wardrobe. It’s saved me from more bad pre-loved buys than I can count.

Never guess your Genny size again

Tellar is the UK’s leading sizing tool — your body matched exactly to 1,500-plus brands instantly, so you never have to squint at a size guide again. Here’s how it works:

Measure once, using your bust, waist and hip — or just your existing size in a brand you already wear.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.
Always free, no downloads needed — it works straight in your browser.

And there’s the Tellar Fashion Hub: a library stacked with free posts from our top stylists. Honest, unbiased, independent and always free — style advice, top picks and the best brands for every body.

A few of our most popular guides to get you started:

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Written by Ella Blake — Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder, Tellar