What Is Sizing Like at Lands' End?

Here's the short answer: Lands' End runs generous, and for most British shoppers that means sizing down — usually by one, occasionally by two if you like a sharper fit. The effect is most dramatic on trousers and outerwear, slightly gentler on tops, and pretty reliable once you've learned the brand's habits. It's also a US label, so the number on the label already feels unfamiliar before you've factored in the roomy cut. Don't let that put you off. Lands' End is one of the best-value heritage brands going, but you do need to order with your eyes open.

I learned this the proper way — by ordering a "size 14" cord trouser years ago and watching it fall off me. I'd assumed American sizing would run small. Wrong. I could have pulled them up to my ribs. The 12 was still comfortable. That single return taught me more about this brand than any size chart, and it's the rule I now give every client: with Lands' End, start a size down and read the reviews.

So why does it come up so big?

Lands' End was built in 1963 as a no-nonsense American outfitter, and comfort has always sat at the heart of what it does. The cuts are deliberately relaxed because the brand assumes you want room to move, to layer, and to wear the thing for a decade. That philosophy is brilliant for longevity and slightly maddening for first-time buyers, because "Medium" here tends to land where a UK 12–14 sits rather than a 10–12. It isn't vanity sizing exactly — it's a genuinely roomier block.

How it fits, garment by garment

Trousers, cords and chinos: the most generous category by a mile. Size down one as standard, and if you're between sizes go for the smaller one. The waists are forgiving and many styles have adjustable or elasticated backs, so a snugger choice rarely backfires.
Coats and jackets: cut roomy on purpose, so you can layer a jumper underneath. Lovely for proper British winters, but if you want a clean line over a shirt, size down. The hoods, by the way, are genuinely excellent — they actually stay up in a gale.
Tops and shirts: closer to true-to-size but still on the relaxed side. They tend to fit well across the bust and looser through the waist and hip, so consider your shape before defaulting down.
Knitwear: generous and substantial. The cotton and lambswool hold their shape after endless washes, but they're roomy — a Medium wears like a UK 14. Size down if you like knit close to the body.
Swimwear: the hero category and where Lands' End genuinely outperforms the high street. Structured, supportive, properly engineered for real bodies, with separate cup sizing on many styles. This is the one area I'd say buy your measured size rather than instinctively dropping down.

A few stylist tips before you order

Read the fit descriptor on each product. "Relaxed", "classic" and "traditional" are your cue to size down; "slim" or "fitted" you can usually take as written.
Use the garment measurements, not just the size label — Lands' End lists them clearly, and they don't lie the way a US-to-UK conversion can.
Returns are refreshingly painless and the customer service is something of a legend, so ordering two sizes to compare is a perfectly sensible move with this brand.

Where else to shop if you love the Lands' End look

If it's that quality, classic, weatherproof casual wardrobe you're after, here's where I'd send clients across the price tiers — all picked because they share Lands' End's comfort-led, built-to-last spirit.

High street:

Boden — the closest British equivalent, with the same colourful, well-cut classics but a more true-to-size fit, so it's a useful sizing benchmark.
Seasalt Cornwall — coastal, comfortable and made for weather, with the same easy relaxed cuts and a strong sustainability story.
Fat Face — relaxed, outdoorsy casualwear that hits the same notes for everyday layering pieces and soft jersey staples.
Crew Clothing — nautical British casual; brilliant for breton tops, rugby shirts and the preppy-by-the-sea look Lands' End does so well.
Joules — heritage country casual with excellent rainwear and wellies, cut for real life rather than the catwalk.
Barbour — the outerwear specialist; if you want a wax jacket or quilted coat that lasts decades, this is the upgrade.
Gant — preppy American sportswear done properly, and arguably the most on-theme match for Lands' End's New England roots.
The White Company — elevated relaxed basics and beautiful knitwear, with a more consistent UK fit if generous sizing frustrates you.

Premium:

Brora — Scottish cashmere and lambswool of a quality that genuinely lasts a lifetime; the knitwear upgrade worth saving for.
Toast — relaxed, natural-fabric pieces with a quiet, considered aesthetic and the same generous, comfortable cut.

Luxury / designer:

Ralph Lauren — the heritage Americana benchmark; everything Lands' End gestures towards, in its most polished, investment-piece form.
Max Mara — for the one perfect camel coat that outlives every trend, beautifully cut and worth every penny.

Two independents worth knowing:

Community Clothing — Patrick Grant's UK-manufactured label making honest, classic wardrobe staples at fair prices, with proper ethical credentials. A real left-field gem.
Lavenham — Suffolk-made quilted jackets with serious heritage; if it's the practical, weatherproof outerwear side of Lands' End you love, this is a beautiful alternative.

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