What Is Sizing Like at Johanna Parv?

BY ELLA BLAKE — SENIOR FASHION STYLIST & FOUNDER | TELLAR · ALWAYS HONEST, UNBIASED & UNSPONSORED

Johanna Parv sizes true to standard UK sizing — the brand runs XS through to L, with a distinctly slim, body-skimming fit that is intentional rather than generous. If you're between sizes or carry your weight in your hips and thighs, sizing up is the right move here.

I'll be honest: the first time I came across Johanna Parv on the rails at Dover Street Market, I assumed the pieces would be difficult to wear — the kind of conceptual stuff that looks incredible on a six-foot model and slightly alien on the rest of us. I was wrong. What Parv has pulled off is something I hadn't seen before in the London independent designer space: clothes that are technically constructed, genuinely functional, and yet deeply flattering. It just takes a little know-how to get the sizing right.

Who Is Johanna Parv?

If you haven't heard of her yet, you will. Johanna Parv is a London-based, Estonian-born designer who graduated from Central Saint Martins' MA course in 2020 and has since been one of the most talked-about names in British fashion — a BFC Newgen recipient, a Fashion East alumna, and an LVMH Prize semi-finalist. Her concept is simple but brilliant: clothes engineered for the woman cycling to work in London, moving from the bike lane to the boardroom without so much as changing her jacket.

She worked at Balenciaga, Christian Dior, and Burberry before founding her label, and that couture-meets-performance DNA is baked into every seam. Think stretch nylon tailoring, technical mesh layering, reflective strips hidden in seams, and wrap skirts with asymmetric overlays that double as wind protection. Nothing is accidental. Every detail has been trialled and constructed by hand in her studio. It's genuinely couture-level craft in technical fabrics — and the result is unlike anything else on the market.

How Does Johanna Parv Fit?

The brand uses standard UK sizing (XS, S, M, L) with a slim to form-fitting silhouette across most styles. The stretch nylon and elastane fabrics — often 79–81% recycled polyamide with 19–21% elastane — mean there is genuine give, but these are not relaxed or oversized pieces. They are designed to follow the body.

The model on most product pages is 5'7" wearing a size S, with measurements of 32.5" bust, 24" waist, and 32" hips — which aligns roughly with a UK 8.
Most tops and shirts sit slim through the shoulders and chest. If you have broader shoulders or a larger bust (above a 36" chest), I'd recommend sizing up to a M rather than stretching an S.
The skirts and trousers are high-waisted with a form fit — they sit snugly at the waist and follow the hip line closely. Between sizes? Go up.
Longer styles like the zip-up maxi dress and skirt trousers have a second-skin quality through the legs — if you prefer a looser lower body fit, again, size up.
Tops and shirts, especially the hooded styles, are listed as "slim fit" — they feel snug initially but the stretch fabric moves beautifully once on.

Overall, I'd say: buy your true size if you're slim-hipped and narrow-shouldered; size up one if you're curvier or carry more through the chest and hips. The stretch in the fabric is your friend, but there's a difference between a flattering fit and a strained one.

Key Pieces and Fit Notes

Not all pieces fit the same way, so here's what to expect from the signature styles:

The Hooded Shirt — one of the brand's most recognisable pieces, available in stretch nylon and cotton versions. It's a slim, elongated fit with thumbholes and a concealed zip. Fitted through the torso, longline through the arms. Fits as expected on the label — true to size, but slim.
Skirt Trousers & Skirt Shorts — the asymmetric skirt overlay over a fitted trouser or short is the piece that got Johanna Parv her cult following. High-waisted with a form fit through the hips. Size up if you're a UK 12 or above, or if your hips are noticeably wider than your waist.
The Insulated Gilet — cropped and fitted, made in recycled nylon. More structured than the jersey styles but still fitted. True to size for most women. Great layered over the hooded shirt.
Mesh Hood Sleeves — a statement accessory-slash-garment: detachable sleeves with a built-in hood. These run more forgiving — stretchy mesh construction means one size works for a wider range of frames.
The Maxi Dress — a zip-up panelled piece that's become one of her best sellers. Fitted with stretch but structured. True to size for most; size up if you are a fuller UK 12–14 for comfort through the body.

What Body Types Does It Work Best For?

Johanna Parv's silhouettes are particularly flattering on women who are lean and athletic in build — the technical fabrics and body-con structures suit a more linear frame. That said, I've seen these pieces work brilliantly on hourglass figures too, particularly the high-waisted skirt styles which nip the waist and skim the hips elegantly.

If you're petite (under 5'4"), some of the longer pieces — the maxi dress and skirt trousers — may need hemming, though the fitted construction means they don't overwhelm a smaller frame the way some oversized technical wear can. If you're plus-size, I'll be upfront: the current size range only goes to an L (approximately a UK 12–14 at the fuller end), and the brand doesn't currently offer an extended size range. Worth watching as the label grows.

High Street Alternatives to Johanna Parv

Johanna Parv sits in the £300–£700 bracket, which puts it firmly in the splurge category for most of us. If you love the aesthetic — technical fabrics, sleek city-ready silhouettes, functional details — these high street brands deliver something close at a fraction of the price:

High Street Picks

COS — The undisputed high street home of minimal, architectural womenswear. Their technical jersey and nylon pieces have a similar clean-line aesthetic to Parv's work, and sizing is consistent and reliable. A UK 12 at COS is a UK 12.
Whistles — For the city-dressing crossover. Whistles does polished, understated tailoring with modern edge — great for anyone who wants the boardroom-to-evening functionality without the luxury price tag.
Me&Em — Brilliant for elevated, functional womenswear with excellent sizing consistency. Their stretch trousers and technical knits sit in a similar headspace to Parv's more wearable pieces.
Massimo Dutti — Underrated. Genuinely well-constructed pieces in technical fabrics and clean silhouettes, often on sale, with reliable true-to-size fit.
Reiss — For the formal-meets-modern pieces. Their stretch tailoring and form-fitting dresses share Parv's philosophy of clothes that move with you. Runs true to size overall, though their bodycon styles can feel snug on the hips.
All Saints — The edge is there without the price tag. Their leather and technical pieces have the urban, slightly undone energy that Parv does in a more elevated way. Sizing is generous at All Saints — often size down one.
Banana Republic — Better than it gets credit for in the UK. Their ponte and technical jersey tailoring is genuinely wearable, office-appropriate, and well-priced. True to size.
Zara — For the trend-forward technical pieces Zara does each season. Not the same level of construction, but the aesthetic language is similar. Size up one at Zara if in doubt — they cut small.

Premium Alternatives

If you want to step up from the high street but aren't ready to commit to Johanna Parv prices just yet, these premium labels sit nicely in the middle ground:

Premium Picks

Varley — A London-based brand doing elevated activewear-meets-everyday wear brilliantly. Their technical leggings and studio tops share Parv's stretch-nylon DNA. Slightly more relaxed fit overall; true to size.
Leset — A New York label with serious London traction, Leset does sophisticated jersey separates with a minimal, functional edge. Their sizing runs slim — true to size for most but size up if you have a broader frame.
Claudie Pierlot — A French label with real polish. Their tailored pieces and stretch trousers have the city-chicness of Parv without the technical performance angle. Runs fairly true to size with a neat, European cut.

Luxury & Designer Alternatives

If Johanna Parv has sparked an appetite for luxury performance wear done properly, these are the names sitting alongside her in that elevated space:

Luxury & Designer Picks

Y-3 (Yohji Yamamoto x adidas) — The original luxury-performance crossover. Technical fabrics, architectural silhouettes, and that same bike-lane-to-boardroom energy. Runs unisex and large — size down one to two sizes for a closer fit.
Stella McCartney — If you want the sustainability credentials and performance innovation at a comparable level. Stella's stretch tailoring and Falabella pieces share Parv's ethos of clothes built for real movement. Generally true to UK sizing.
Supriya Lele — Another BFC Newgen alumna and a Johanna Parv peer in the London independent designer world. Supriya's stretch satin and mesh pieces have a similar second-skin aesthetic. Slim fit — true to size or size up one.

Two Independent Niche Brands Worth Knowing

Part of what I love about writing for the Tellar Fashion Hub is that it gives me the excuse to push past the obvious. Here are two genuinely under-the-radar labels that sit in the same creative orbit as Johanna Parv:

Niche Independent Picks

Caes London — A London-based label doing sustainable, technical womenswear with a quietly radical edge. Their pieces share Parv's philosophy of functional construction meeting refined aesthetics. Small-batch production, genuinely thoughtful sizing, and a brand story worth knowing. Look them up.
Nagnata — An Australian label with strong UK stockists, Nagnata makes technical knitwear that sits in exactly the same functional-luxury space Johanna Parv occupies. Their rib-knit leggings and wrap pieces are exceptional quality and considerably more size-inclusive — running XS through to XL with a flattering stretch fit.

Never Guess Your Size Again — Try Tellar

Johanna Parv's slim, body-con fit means getting your size right matters more than usual. That's exactly what Tellar.co.uk was built for — the UK's leading sizing tool that matches your exact body measurements to 1,500+ brands instantly.

Measure once — bust, waist, hips, or use an existing brand size you already know
Get your precise size across COS, Reiss, Whistles, Zara, and hundreds more
No downloads, no faff — works in-browser, completely free

VISIT TELLAR.CO.UKUSE THE STORE SIZE LOOKUP TOOL

Plus, the Tellar Fashion Hub is a free library of honest, unsponsored style posts covering every fashion question you've ever googled. Written by real stylists. No ads, no affiliate bias. Always free.

MORE FROM THE TELLAR FASHION HUB