What Is Sizing Like at Harmont & Blaine? An Honest Stylist's Guide

Harmont & Blaine runs small — and if you shop this Italian brand without knowing that, you will waste both time and money. As a general rule, size up at least one, sometimes two sizes from your usual UK size, and always measure yourself before ordering. Get that right and you are rewarded with some of the most beautifully made Italian smart-casual clothing you will find at this price point.

What Is Harmont & Blaine, Exactly?

If you are not already familiar, Harmont & Blaine is a Neapolitan brand founded in 1986, instantly recognisable by its little basset hound logo. It occupies that lovely Italian sweet spot between smart and casual — fine cotton polo shirts, beautifully cut chinos, silk-blend knitwear, nautical-striped jerseys, and lightweight outerwear. Think weekend dressing for someone who still wants to look polished. The brand has a huge following in Italy and is quietly becoming better known across the UK and Europe, with stockists including Harrods and a growing number of independent boutiques.

I first came across Harmont & Blaine at a friend’s birthday dinner in Florence. Her husband was wearing one of their fine-knit polo shirts and I spent most of the evening admiring how good the collar sat and the quality of the fabric. Naturally I promptly ordered one for myself when I got home — in my usual Italian size 40, which I know from other brands fits me well. It arrived and was borderline wearable. The shoulders were almost right but the body was noticeably tighter than expected. Lesson one, learned the hard way: Harmont & Blaine cuts close even by Italian standards.

Understanding Harmont & Blaine’s Size System

The brand uses Italian/European sizing throughout, so labels read IT 36, 38, 40, 42 and so on rather than UK 8, 10, 12, 14. As a starting guide:

• IT 36 → approximately UK 6–8 / XS

• IT 38 → approximately UK 8–10 / S

• IT 40 → approximately UK 10–12 / M

• IT 42 → approximately UK 12–14 / L

• IT 44 → approximately UK 14–16 / XL

However — and this is important — Harmont & Blaine’s actual cut runs noticeably smaller than these standard conversions suggest. The brand favours a slim, tailored Italian silhouette. So if you are typically a UK 12 and the conversion says IT 42, I would still try a 44 first, particularly in shirts, polo shirts, and fitted knitwear. Better to size up and have a slightly relaxed fit than to size to chart and find it too snug across the back or chest.

Sizing by Category — What You Actually Need to Know

Polo Shirts & T-Shirts

This is Harmont & Blaine’s heartland and where sizing is most critical. Their polo shirts are cut slim through the body and arms. Most reviewers and customers consistently advise sizing up one full size, sometimes two if you are broader across the shoulder or bust. The collars are beautiful and structured — they hold their shape wonderfully — but only if the shirt actually fits properly. Do not be tempted to order your standard conversion; go bigger.

Knitwear

Their knitwear — fine-gauge cotton sweaters, merino blends, the iconic logo jumpers — is similarly close-cut. Again, size up. If you usually wear a UK 12 and it maps to IT 42, order the 44 for knitwear. It will still look neat and intentional, not baggy. One exception: their more relaxed, chunkier knit styles are a little more forgiving and you may get away with your standard conversion size.

Trousers & Chinos

Trouser sizing at Harmont & Blaine uses Italian numeric sizing (IT 38–48) and runs true to standard Italian sizing more reliably than the tops. That said, the cut is straight and relatively slim-legged, so if you are fuller through the hip and thigh, consider sizing up here too. Their chinos are a particular highlight — beautiful fabric, excellent drape — and worth the investment if they fit well.

Dresses & Occasionwear

The women’s dress edit at Harmont & Blaine is smaller than the core casualwear range but the sizing principle holds: go up at least one IT size from your usual conversion. Their dresses tend to be structured and fitted rather than floaty or forgiving, which means fit really matters. Check the individual garment measurements on the product page before buying — some styles are cut more generously than others.

Outerwear & Jackets

Their lightweight jackets and nautical-inspired outerwear are less problematic because there is a little more ease built in, but I would still recommend sizing up by one. You also want room for a knitwear layer underneath, particularly in the transitional season styles.

My Top Sizing Tips for Harmont & Blaine

• Always size up at least one IT size — the brand cuts slim even against standard Italian sizing

• Measure yourself first — check your actual bust, waist, and hip measurements against the garment measurements on the product page, not just the size label

• Be especially cautious with polo shirts and fitted knitwear — these are the categories where the slim cut is most pronounced

• Trousers are slightly more consistent but still check if you are between sizes: go up, not down

• If ordering online for the first time, order two adjacent sizes if possible and return the one that doesn’t work — it genuinely is worth the hassle to get this brand fitting properly

Alternatives to Harmont & Blaine: High Street, Premium & Designer

Harmont & Blaine sits at the upper end of premium casual pricing. If the sizing uncertainty or price point is giving you pause, there are brilliant alternatives at every level that capture a similar smart-casual Italian or preppy-heritage aesthetic.

High street picks (all sized more straightforwardly than H&B):

• Massimo Dutti — the closest high street equivalent to Harmont & Blaine’s aesthetic. Fine cotton knitwear, polo shirts, and tailored casuals at a fraction of the price, with consistent European sizing. Genuinely one of the most underrated brands on the high street.

• Gant — the natural home for the preppy-heritage polo shirt customer. Their Rugger polo in particular is a classic, sizing runs fairly true, and the quality-to-price ratio is strong. A very safe bet if H&B proves tricky to size.

• Ted Baker — British smart-casual with real personality and beautiful attention to detail. Shirts and polo shirts especially are excellent. Sizing is UK-standard, which makes life considerably easier.

• Barbour — if it’s the classic outdoorsy-heritage feel you love about Harmont & Blaine’s DNA, Barbour delivers that in spades. Knitwear, shirts, and outerwear are all brilliant and sizing is very reliable.

• Boden — cheerful, quality British casualwear with excellent knitwear and striped jersey pieces that hit a similar nautical note. Sizing is consistent and the quality far exceeds the price point.

• Banana Republic — smart casual done well, with a more American preppy take. Their chinos, fine-knit sweaters, and polo shirts are consistently well-reviewed and sizing is straightforward UK-friendly.

• Crew Clothing — a British brand with strong heritage in nautical-inspired casualwear, which makes it a natural fit for the Harmont & Blaine customer. Breton stripes, classic polo shirts, and well-cut chinos, all sized to standard UK.

• Tommy Hilfiger — the original preppy polo brand for many of us. Their classic polo shirts remain excellent and sizing is consistent. A tried-and-tested option when you just want it to fit first time.

Premium step-up:

• Claudie Pierlot — a French premium brand with beautiful, considered casualwear and a smart-casual sensibility that Harmont & Blaine fans tend to love. Slightly easier to size and available across the UK.

Luxury/designer:

• Max Mara — if you love the quality and craft of Italian clothing and want to invest further, Max Mara’s weekend and sportswear line is exceptional. Similar Italian tailoring values, beautiful fabrics, and a timeless edit that outlasts any trend.

Two independent brands worth discovering:

• Sunspel — a British heritage brand based in Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire, making some of the finest cotton basics and polo shirts in the world since 1860. If you love Harmont & Blaine for the polo shirt quality, Sunspel is the British answer — quieter branding, extraordinary fabric, and sizing that is clear and consistent. A genuinely brilliant find.

• Aubin — an independent British brand with a countryside-chic, coastal aesthetic that sits beautifully alongside the Harmont & Blaine customer’s wardrobe. Their knitwear and striped jersey pieces are outstanding and the brand has a real independent spirit about it. One to bookmark.

Stop Guessing — Get Your Exact Size at Harmont & Blaine with Tellar

Harmont & Blaine uses Italian sizing and cuts slim — two things that make ordering online a real gamble without the right information. Before you buy, use Tellar.co.uk, the UK’s leading free sizing tool that matches your exact measurements to over 1,500 brands instantly. No more guesswork. No more returns.

• Measure once — your bust, waist, and hip (or use a brand size you already know fits perfectly)

• Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size across Harmont & Blaine, Massimo Dutti, Gant, Ted Baker, and 1,500+ more brands

• Always free — no app to download, no account needed, works instantly in your browser

Tellar is fully independent — no advertising, no sponsored posts, no brand relationships that could influence what we tell you. Just honest sizing information and free style advice from our in-house stylists.

Browse the Tellar Fashion Hub for hundreds of free, unbiased posts on brands, trends, body shape guides, and style picks. Honest. Unsponsored. Always free.

Find My Harmont & Blaine Size →

More from the Tellar Fashion Hub:

→ The Ultimate Clothing Sizing Guide

→ The Best Jeans Trends for 2026

→ The Ultimate Guide to Dresses & Best Buys

→ The Ultimate Guide to Jackets & Best Buys