What Is Sizing Like at iBlues? Everything You Need to Know Before You Buy

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

iBlues sizing runs small by UK standards — because it uses Italian sizing, which is typically two sizes up from what we're used to in the UK. So if you're a UK 10, you'll almost certainly need an IT 42 at iBlues, not the 38 you might instinctively reach for. Get that conversion right from the start and you're in for a treat, because this is a genuinely lovely brand that doesn't get nearly enough attention on these shores.

I stumbled across iBlues properly a few years back when I was styling a client who wanted something "Italian and interesting but not Max Mara prices." iBlues was the answer. We ordered the wrong size the first time — entirely my fault for not checking the Italian conversion — and when the right one arrived, it was one of those brilliant fashion moments where everything clicks. So let me save you that detour.

What Actually Is iBlues?

iBlues is a sub-label of the Max Mara Fashion Group — the same Italian fashion house behind Max Mara, Weekend Max Mara, Marella and Sportmax. Founded in 1975 as a knitwear collection (it was originally designed to complement and complete the other Max Mara lines), by the late 1980s it had evolved into a full ready-to-wear brand. Today it offers clothing, footwear and accessories, and knitwear and dresses remain the absolute heart of the collection.

Where mainline Max Mara is all about timeless restraint and investment tailoring, iBlues has a bit more personality — bolder colour, playful prints, feminine shapes. It's aimed at a woman who loves fashion and wants to be a little bit daring with her wardrobe, but still within a framework of genuine Italian quality. Think vibrant knit dresses, graphic-print blouses, and relaxed-luxe separates that feel considered rather than throwaway.

The Italian Sizing System — Why It Trips Everyone Up

Here's where it gets confusing if you're new to Italian brands: Italian sizing runs approximately two sizes higher than UK sizing across the board. A UK 8 is an IT 40, a UK 10 is an IT 42, a UK 12 is an IT 44. Simple enough in theory, but in practice, Italian cuts are also built around a proportionally slimmer, more structured silhouette than UK high street brands. That means even if the number conversion is right, the fit through the bust, hip or thigh can still feel snug if you're curvier than the Italian standard.

UK SizeItalian (IT) SizeInternational436XS638S840S–M1042M1244M–L1446L1648L–XL1850XL

The above is a starting point — not a guarantee. Always cross-reference with the specific garment measurements where possible, particularly for knitwear (which varies by stitch and weight) and structured dresses (which can be quite precise through the body).

How iBlues Fits by Garment Type

Knitwear — The Brand's Heartland

Knitwear is the category iBlues was literally built on, and it shows. The knits are beautifully made — often in rich merino blends, with interesting textures and bold colour choices that make them the kind of piece you reach for again and again. Sizing here tends to be the most forgiving across the range, with a naturally relaxed structure that allows for a little give.

Fine-knit pieces: generally true to your converted IT size — they sit close to the body without feeling tight
Chunkier knits and oversized styles: you may be able to size down if you prefer structure
Fuller bust: size up — knit rib can pull across the chest if the fit is too close

Stylist tip: iBlues knitwear is the ideal entry point to the brand. It's where the Italian craft really shines, and the sizing is the most straightforward. Start here if you're buying blind online for the first time.

Dresses

The dress range is the other great strength of iBlues — and also where the sizing requires the most care. The cuts are feminine and often quite fitted through the body, especially the more structured styles and shirt dresses. Knit dresses follow the same logic as the knitwear: relatively forgiving. Woven dresses — particularly anything with a defined waist or fitted skirt — can run narrow through the hips.

Knit dresses: true to converted IT size for most shapes
Fitted woven styles: size up if you're fuller through the hip or bust
Wrap and draped styles: generally more accommodating — true to size or size up for ease

Tops & Blouses

Blouses and printed tops are where iBlues' bolder personality really comes through — this isn't a brand for the beige-and-neutral crowd. The sizing on tops tends to be reasonably straightforward: mostly true to your converted IT size, with structured blouses occasionally feeling slightly narrow through the shoulder. If you're broad across the back or have a fuller bust, go up a size. Lightweight jersey tops are the most forgiving.

Trousers & Skirts

Italian tailored trousers are cut with a sleek, narrow silhouette — flattering if you're a slimmer build, but worth sizing up for if you carry any shape through the hip or thigh. iBlues trousers are not cut with the same ease as UK high street — they're structured, precise, and don't have a lot of stretch. As a general rule: go by your hip measurement, not your waist, when deciding between sizes.

Coats & Outerwear

iBlues outerwear has that same Italian-quality stamp you'd expect from anything in the Max Mara stable. Coats tend to be more generously cut than the dresses and trousers — often with enough room to layer underneath comfortably. Stick to your converted IT size, but if you're taller or have broader shoulders, check the measurements carefully before ordering online.

Style Tips — Getting the Most Out of iBlues

Part of what makes iBlues worth knowing about is how well the pieces work together. The brand was designed as a coordinated "total look" collection, so the prints and colours across a season are genuinely made to mix. A few thoughts from me on getting the best out of it:

Lean into the colour. This isn't a brand to play safe in navy and black. The bold knits and printed dresses are where iBlues earns its keep.
Size up if in any doubt. Italian tailoring is unforgiving when it's too small, but a slightly looser knit dress or blouse can look chic and intentional.
Mix with simpler pieces. A bold iBlues knit or printed blouse earns its keep over straight-leg jeans or simple tailored trousers.
Check the fabric composition. iBlues uses quality fabrics, but a 100% wool knit versus a wool-blend will behave differently. Pure wool has less give — size up if it's a very close cut.

Alternatives to iBlues — For When the Sizing Doesn't Work or You Want Options

If Italian sizing is a consistent headache for you, or you want alternatives that hit a similar vibe at different price points, here are my picks:

High Street & Premium:

Mango — Probably the closest high street equivalent to iBlues in terms of aesthetic direction. Feminine cuts, strong colour, and bold knitwear, with European-leaning sizing that's generally consistent and reliable.
Anthropologie — Brilliant for the bold print and feminine silhouette crowd. Sizes in UK terms which makes life easier, and the dress and knitwear range in particular has a similar playful-yet-polished energy to iBlues.
Ted Baker — For the dressed-up occasions where you might otherwise reach for an iBlues statement piece. Beautiful fabrication, feminine shapes, and sizing that's well understood by UK shoppers.
Mint Velvet — A strong UK option for those who love iBlues' relaxed-luxe knitwear but want to avoid the Italian sizing conversion altogether. Consistent, flattering, and well-made.
LK Bennett — Perfect alternative for the more structured iBlues dresses and occasion pieces. Excellent quality and well-known for flattering UK sizing across a wide range of shapes.
French Connection — Punchy, bold, and fashion-forward at a more accessible price point. Good for those who want iBlues' attitude without the premium spend.
Zara — For bold, colourful knitwear and printed dresses with genuine style credentials. The quality isn't on the same level, but Zara consistently nails seasonal colour and silhouette trends in a way that overlaps with iBlues' strengths.
All Saints — A great alternative for the tonal, relaxed end of the iBlues range. Excellent fabrication, understated cool, and UK-based sizing.

Two Independent Brands Worth Discovering:

Kitri — A brilliant London-based independent that has quietly become one of the best-kept secrets in UK fashion. Known for beautifully cut dresses and separates in bold prints and rich colours — very much in the iBlues spirit, but sized for UK women and at a slightly lower price point. Highly recommended.
Rixo — If you love the print-led, feminine side of iBlues, Rixo is essential. A London-born brand that built its name on vintage-inspired print dresses, it now offers knitwear and separates too. The fit is relaxed and generous — a welcome change if Italian sizing has been leaving you frustrated.

Get Your Exact iBlues Size in Seconds — Free on Tellar

Italian sizing, combined with the variation between knit and structured pieces, makes iBlues genuinely tricky to size online. That's exactly the problem Tellar.co.uk was built to solve.

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👉 Visit Tellar.co.uk | Store Size Lookup Tool