What Is Sizing Like at Kenneth Cole?

Kenneth Cole generally runs true to size, so in the vast majority of cases your usual size is the right one — the catch is that it's cut with a sharp, slim American profile, so "true to size" here means closer to the body than you might expect from a British high street label. I've styled enough clients in Kenneth Cole over the years to know it rarely surprises you on the tape measure; it surprises you on the silhouette. Below is exactly how it fits, category by category, so you can buy once and skip the returns queue.

The short answer: trust your normal size, expect a tailored cut

Kenneth Cole has followed a modern American fit since 1982 — think contemporary, urban, slightly architectural. Garments skim the body rather than drape over it. If you live in relaxed, generous British cuts, the shoulders and waist will feel more defined than you're used to. That's the house style, not a sizing error, so resist the urge to panic-size-up the moment it feels fitted.

Dresses

True to size, with a subtle bit of stretch woven through most fabrications.
Cut to skim the body — flattering, but not roomy. Stick with your usual size unless you genuinely want a looser line.
I once sized up in a Kenneth Cole sheath dress for a wedding "just to be safe" and spent the whole day hoiking it back onto my shoulders. Lesson learned: their sizing is honest, so believe it.

Outerwear and jackets

Blazers and moto jackets run slim to tailored — sleek, close to the body.
If you're a committed layerer (chunky knit underneath in January), size up one. If it's going over a shirt or fine knit, take your normal size.
Coats sit close by design and allow for one light layer comfortably. They are not built to swallow a jumper, so factor that in.

Denim

Mid-rise is the default, and the jeans can feel snug straight off the hanger.
They relax with a wear or two, so don't be tempted to jump up a size on first try-on — that's how you end up with a waistband gap by week two.

Shoes — the category Kenneth Cole is best known for

Women's footwear uses standard US sizing and converts cleanly to UK and EU scales.
Most styles are true to size, occasionally true-to-slightly-large — so if you're between sizes, take the smaller. Do not go up half a size on instinct.
Leather styles ease and mould with wear; synthetics hold their shape, so they need to fit properly from day one.
Dress shoes are cut narrower for a sleek profile; trainers and sneakers are more forgiving across the foot.

A quick honest word: the diffusion line, Kenneth Cole Reaction, can be less consistent on both fit and durability than the main line, so check reviews on the specific style before committing.

If Kenneth Cole isn't quite right, here's where I'd send you

Kenneth Cole sits in that smart, contemporary, tailored-American lane. If you love the look but want a different fit or price point, these are the labels I reach for with clients who want the same energy.

High street

Reiss — the closest British cousin for sharp, modern tailoring and polished workwear; consistently true to size.
Massimo Dutti — refined, grown-up basics and beautifully cut blazers with a slightly more generous fit than Kenneth Cole.
Mango — strong on of-the-moment tailoring and coats at a gentle price; runs true to size but slim through the shoulder.
Calvin Klein — the obvious American minimalist parallel; clean lines and the same pared-back attitude.
Tommy Hilfiger — smart-casual Americana with a touch more relaxation in the cut.
Banana Republic — workwear tailoring with that US contemporary polish, generally true to size.
Whistles — modern British minimalism for anyone who wants the architectural feel without the snug fit.

Premium

Theory — if you adore Kenneth Cole's clean tailoring, Theory is the upgrade; precise, minimalist, beautifully constructed.
Joseph — quietly luxurious separates and trousers with impeccable line and cut.

Luxury / designer

Max Mara — the gold standard for coats and tailoring; an investment, but the fit and fabric are faultless.
Ralph Lauren — elevated American classicism, perfect if you want heritage polish over urban edge.

Two independents worth knowing

Aligne — a contemporary London label doing elevated tailoring and modern wardrobe staples; true to size and quietly excellent.
Albaray — a British independent with smart-casual, considered pieces and a more forgiving cut; a lovely left-field find I keep recommending.

Stop guessing your size — let Tellar do the maths

Tellar is the UK's leading sizing tool: your body, matched precisely to 1,500+ brands in seconds. Measure once — using bust, waist, hip, or your existing size in a brand you already own — and never squint at a size guide again.

Use the Store Size Lookup to get your exact size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.
Always free. No downloads. Works straight in your browser.
Plus the Tellar Fashion Hub: a library of free posts from our stylists covering every fashion query. Honest. Unbiased. Independent. Always free.

Visit Tellar Find My Size