What Is Sizing Like at Hayley Menzies? Your Complete Fit Guide

By Ella Blake – Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder | Tellar – Always honest, unbiased, & unsponsored post

Hayley Menzies fits true to size, so in the vast majority of cases you can order your usual size with confidence. The brand works in lettered sizing (XS through XL rather than UK numbers), and as a rough guide an XS sits around a UK 6–8, a Small around a UK 8–10, a Medium around a UK 10–12 and a Large around a UK 12–14. That said, this is a brand built on statement knitwear and bold jacquard cardigans, and those pieces are designed with a deliberately relaxed, slightly oversized cut — so there are a few things worth knowing before you click buy.

So, Does Hayley Menzies Run Big or Small?

In short: it runs true, but generously. The cardigans, dusters and jumpers — which are really the brand’s signature — are cut for an easy, throw-it-on-over-everything feel. They’re not boxy or shapeless, but they do sit away from the body, which is exactly the point. If you love that slouchy, layered look, take your normal size. If you prefer something neater, the brand’s own advice is the same as mine: cinch it in with a belt and you instantly get a more defined waist.

The denim is a slightly different story — it’s cut in Italy and sized by waist measurement (think 28, 29, 30) rather than letters, and like a lot of European denim it tends to run a touch snug through the hip and thigh before softening with wear. The dresses and tailoring are the most reliably true-to-size of the lot.

My honest fit tips

Always read the individual product notes. A handful of styles are cut more fitted or more voluminous than the standard, and the brand flags this on the product page. I once had a client size up in a midi knit dress based on the size letter alone, when the description clearly said it ran generous — it swamped her. Lesson learned: read the words, not just the label.
Between sizes? Stay true for knits, size up for anything fitted. The relaxed pieces have enough give to flatter, but a tailored trouser or a structured dress benefits from the extra room.
Mind the resale numbers. If you’re buying pre-loved, don’t blindly trust a listed UK number — cross-check the actual garment measurements, as conversions between the brand’s lettered sizing and UK numbers aren’t always consistent.
It’s an investment brand. Cardigans sit around the £300–£600 mark and dresses can climb higher, so getting the fit right first time genuinely matters here.

Why the Fit Behaves the Way It Does

Hayley Menzies is a London label known for its joyful, maximalist prints — tigers, leopards, florals, the lot — rendered in beautiful natural fibres. We’re talking soft merino, luxurious alpaca, breathable cotton and silk, much of it spun in premium Italian mills. Natural yarns like these have a bit of natural stretch and drape, which is why the knits feel forgiving and tend to mould to you over time. It’s also why I’d gently hand-wash or dry-clean rather than risk a hot machine cycle — my own personal fashion fail was felting a gorgeous alpaca cardigan years ago, and I’ve been precious about natural knits ever since.

Where to Shop If You Love the Hayley Menzies Look

If the bold-print, statement-knit world is your thing but you want options at every price point, here’s where I’d send my clients.

On the high street

Oliver Bonas — arguably the closest high-street match for that quirky, print-led, statement-knit energy, with genuinely fun cardigans.
Monsoon — brilliant for embellished, occasion-led pieces and bold prints with a boho-luxe feel.
Anthropologie — eclectic, texture-rich knitwear and prints; Hayley Menzies has even collaborated with them, so the aesthetic overlap is real.
Boden — the British go-to for playful colour and pattern done in good-quality fabrics.
Hush — relaxed, easy boho-luxe with a softer, more wearable take on print.
Mint Velvet — for elevated, slouchy knits with that effortless off-duty polish.
Whistles — contemporary and print-forward when you want something a little more pared-back but still distinctive.
Joules — cheerful, character-filled knits and prints at a friendly price.

Premium picks

Me&Em — clever, considered design and statement knitwear with excellent fit engineering, ideal if you want longevity.
Rixo — the London label practically built on joyful prints and vintage-inspired silhouettes.

Luxury & designer

La DoubleJ — the Milanese queen of maximalist, clashing prints if you want to go full statement.
Farm Rio — vibrant, tropical, unmistakably joyful prints with a designer finish.

Two left-field independents to know

Lowie — a small, sustainability-minded London label doing playful, beautifully made knitwear in natural yarns; a lovely under-the-radar alternative to a Hayley Menzies cardigan.
YOLKE — an independent London brand celebrated for its silk prints and statement pieces, perfect if you want something genuinely no-one-else-will-have-it.

The Bottom Line

Order your usual size in Hayley Menzies and you’ll be in good shape — just expect the knits to wear relaxed and reach for a belt if you want more definition. Check the product notes for the occasional style that runs differently, and treat those natural fibres kindly.

Never Look at a Size Guide Again

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