What is Sizing Like at Lauren Manoogian?

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

Lauren Manoogian runs small-to-true to size, and because her pieces are designed with a deliberately relaxed, artisanal drape, most women find they can comfortably size down by one band — though the brand’s banded sizing (XS/S, S/M, M/L) does give you a little breathing room either way. If you’re in any doubt at all, my advice is always to go for the smaller band. I’ve seen the S/M swamp more than a few people who assumed “medium” meant ordinary high street medium. It doesn’t. This is New York artisan knitwear, and it’s generously cut almost across the board.

Who Is Lauren Manoogian?

If you haven’t heard of Lauren Manoogian yet, you’re in for a treat — and possibly a slightly dangerous discovery for your bank account. Lauren Manoogian is a New York-based designer who has been quietly building one of the most covetable knitwear archives in contemporary fashion. Her pieces are hand-loomed using natural fibres — alpaca, cotton, silk blends, linen — and the result is clothing that feels genuinely special. Not “luxury for luxury’s sake” special, but slow-fashion, considered, artisan-craft special.

I first came across her work scrolling through a “quiet luxury” Pinterest board about four years ago, and the cocoon-like chunky knit I spotted stopped me mid-scroll. The palette is almost always earthy — oatmeal, clay, dusty sage, warm taupe — and the silhouettes are generous and unstructured. It’s the kind of brand that appeals to women who are done chasing trends and have arrived somewhere altogether more interesting.

Lauren Manoogian Sizing: How Does It Run?

Right, let’s get into the detail. Lauren Manoogian uses a banded sizing system rather than standard numerical sizes. That means you’ll be choosing between XS/S, S/M, and M/L — occasionally you’ll see One Size on certain accessories and cocoon shapes. Here’s how that maps to UK sizing:

Lauren ManoogianUK SizeUS SizeEU SizeBust (cm)Waist (cm)Hips (cm)XS/S6–102–634–3882–8862–6888–94S/M10–146–1038–4288–9668–7694–102M/L14–1810–1442–4696–10476–84102–110One Size8–144–1036–4284–9664–7690–102

* Measurements are approximate. Garment dimensions vary by style. When in doubt, size down one band — pieces are intentionally generous.

Garment by Garment: What to Expect

It’s worth breaking this down by category because the sizing behaviour does vary slightly depending on what you’re buying. Here’s my honest take on each:

Knitwear & Jumpers: This is where Lauren Manoogian is most famous, and the fit is designed to be deliberately oversized and slouchy. If you’re usually a UK 12, the S/M is technically your band — but the XS/S will still give you a lovely relaxed drape without drowning you. I’d actually recommend most women try the smaller band first on knitwear.
Trousers & Wide-Leg Bottoms: These tend to be high-waisted with a very wide leg. The waist is your key measurement here. If you’re between bands, go up rather than down for trousers — the waistband can’t be let out.
Dresses & Cocoon Shapes: Often listed as “One Size” or banded very generously. These are meant to drape and wrap rather than fit precisely. Most women from a UK 8–14 will find One Size works well.
Tops & Tanks: Her tops run slightly more true to size than her knitwear, particularly the linen and cotton pieces. Still relaxed in the body, but less dramatically oversized.
Accessories & Bags: Sizing is not applicable, but her natural-fibre bags are absolutely beautiful and well worth a look if the clothing is a stretch for the budget.

My Honest Sizing Verdict

Here’s the thing about Lauren Manoogian that tripped me up the first time I considered buying: she’s not a brand where the size label corresponds to the body measurement in any conventional sense. These garments are architectural. They’re designed to work with the body, not cling to it. So when I say “size down,” I don’t mean squeeze yourself in — I mean trust that the XS/S or S/M will still give you that beautiful, languid, draped quality you’re shopping for, without it becoming a poncho situation.

I’d also flag that the natural fibres she uses — particularly alpaca — can have a little stretch-out over time with wear and washing. That’s another reason I lean towards the smaller band where you’re on the cusp. Store carefully, air dry flat, and these pieces will last you a decade.

Styling Lauren Manoogian

Because the silhouettes are so relaxed and voluminous, the golden rule is: balance proportion. A chunky, oversized Manoogian knit looks extraordinary tucked loosely into a pair of wide-leg tailored trousers, or belted very softly at the waist over a maxi skirt. Don’t try to fight the volume — lean into it. Slim-leg trousers underneath a massive cocoon knit can look brilliant if you’re happy to go full fashion moment, but it’s not for everyone.

Footwear-wise, her aesthetic is begging for clogs, simple leather loafers, or minimal sandals. Nothing overly polished — that’d clash with the handcrafted, earthy quality of the clothes. And the palette is so neutral that you can build an entire capsule wardrobe around her pieces without anything clashing.

Brands with a Similar Vibe

Lauren Manoogian sits at a high price point (roughly £250–£900 per piece). If you love the aesthetic but are looking for more accessible entry points, here are my honest recommendations across three tiers:

🏬 HIGH STREET

COS — The closest high street match for Lauren Manoogian’s relaxed, sculptural aesthetic. Their knitwear and loose-fit trousers consistently land well in reviews.
Massimo Dutti — Brilliant for natural-fibre knits in neutral palettes. The quality is genuinely impressive for the price point, and the relaxed tailoring hits a similar note.
Whistles — Strong on considered, grown-up knitwear. Not as artisan as Manoogian, but the palette and restraint are there.
Anthropologie — Great for textured, artisanal-feel pieces. Hit and miss on quality, but when they get it right, it’s really special.
The White Company — Perfect for natural fibres and a pared-back neutral palette. Their cashmere and linen ranges are genuinely good value.
Me&Em — A solid British option for elevated knitwear with an intelligent fit. Consistent quality and well-reviewed by the fashion press.
Hush — Underrated for relaxed, natural-fabric pieces with a quiet, unfussy aesthetic. Very wearable Lauren Manoogian energy at a fraction of the cost.

✦ PREMIUM

Toteme — Swedish minimalism with serious quality credentials. Very similar customer. Slightly more structured than Manoogian, but the aesthetic overlap is strong.
Aeron — An under-the-radar premium brand doing beautiful relaxed knitwear and easy separates in a very similar natural palette.

💎 INDEPENDENT & NICHE PICKS

Baserange — A Copenhagen-based brand working in organic and natural fibres with a beautifully minimal, unstructured aesthetic. Proper slow-fashion credentials and a very similar sensibility to Manoogian — just less well known. Worth every penny.
Kowtow — A New Zealand label using 100% organic fairtrade cotton with a genuinely impressive ethical supply chain. The shapes are relaxed and easy, the quality is excellent, and the brand is a real find if you care about where your clothes come from as much as how they look.

Not Sure of Your Size in Lauren Manoogian?

Tellar is the UK’s leading free sizing tool — we match your exact measurements to 1,500+ brands instantly. No more guessing, no more returns.

Visit Tellar.co.uk Try the Store Size LookupAlways free • No downloads • Works in-browser • tellar.co.uk

Tellar is the UK’s leading free sizing tool. You measure once — bust, waist, hip, or your existing brand size — and Tellar instantly matches your body to the right size across 1,500+ brands. There’s nothing to download, no subscription, no faff. It lives in your browser and it’s completely free.

The Store Size Lookup tool is particularly useful for brands like Lauren Manoogian where the sizing is non-standard — you get a precise recommendation rather than the vague “we suggest sizing down” that every brand seems to put on their product pages. And alongside the sizing tool, the Tellar Fashion Hub is a library of free posts from our stylists — honest, unbiased, independent and always free. Style advice, top picks, best brands — no sponsorship, no agenda.