What Is Sizing Like at Louis Vuitton?

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

Louis Vuitton ready-to-wear runs small — typically one to two sizes smaller than UK high street sizing — and is cut to a slim, Parisian silhouette that flatters a narrow frame but can feel unforgiving if you're curvier or broader across the shoulders. Knowing this before you shop is genuinely half the battle.

I've styled enough clients in LV pieces — and made enough size-related mistakes myself — to know that the label's sizing trips up even experienced shoppers. A client of mine, a very elegant size 12 in Marks & Spencer, turned up to a fitting in a gorgeous LV monogram jacquard dress she'd ordered online. It wouldn't do up. She needed an EU 42, not the EU 40 she'd assumed. We've all been there. The fix is simple once you know the formula.

How Louis Vuitton Sizes Work

LV uses French/European sizing across its ready-to-wear collections. There are no UK size labels — everything is in EU numerics (36, 38, 40, 42, 44). The brand designs primarily around a French standard fit: narrow in the shoulder, slim through the waist, and with a slightly shorter torso than British women are often used to.

As a general rule: go up one full size from your normal UK size, and if you're between sizes, always go up rather than hoping for the best. LV fabrics are often structured and not particularly forgiving — luxurious, yes; stretchy, rarely.

Louis Vuitton Size Conversion Table

LV / EU SizeUK SizeUS SizeBust (cm)Waist (cm)Hips (cm)EU 34UK 6US 2826288EU 36UK 8US 4866692EU 38UK 10US 6907096EU 40UK 12US 89474100EU 42UK 14US 109878104EU 44UK 16US 1210282108EU 46UK 18US 1410888114

💡 Stylist tip: These are LV's standard measurements but fit varies noticeably between collections — the core ready-to-wear line, the collaborations, and the more relaxed seasonal pieces can all fit differently. Always check the individual garment's measurements on the product page before ordering online.

How Each Garment Category Fits

Dresses & Skirts

This is where LV sizing bites the hardest. Structured LV dresses — the kind with boning, defined waistlines, or heavy jacquard — can run up to two sizes smaller than UK equivalents. The shoulder seams on LV dresses tend to sit very precisely, so if you're broader across the back, you may struggle even in the correct numeric size. My advice: if you can try on in-store, do. For skirts, LV cuts close through the hip, so measure your hips carefully against the size guide and prioritise that measurement.

Tops & Shirts

Generally run one size small. The brand's shirts — particularly the monogram-print blouses and tailored poplin styles — are cut narrow through the chest and arm. If you have a full bust, go up by at least one EU size and check that the sleeve length works for you, as LV often cuts slightly short through the arm.

Knitwear & Casual Pieces

More forgiving. LV's knits and casual separates — especially anything in an oversized or relaxed silhouette — can sometimes be ordered in your standard converted size. That said, I still always recommend going up one size on your first LV knit order until you know how the brand's relaxed pieces sit on your body.

Outerwear & Jackets

LV coats and jackets are exquisitely cut but structured. Go up one to two sizes, especially if you plan to wear them over a chunky knit. The shoulder is everything in an LV coat — if it's wrong, no amount of wishful thinking will fix it. Again, in-store is your best friend here.

Shoes

LV shoes use standard European sizing and are generally true to size. If you're between sizes or have a wider foot, go up half a size — LV lasts tend to be narrow and the footbeds can feel snug to begin with. The good news is the leather softens beautifully over time.

My Honest Stylist Take on Buying LV Ready-to-Wear

Louis Vuitton is a dream to style a client in — the clothes have a confidence and authority that very few labels match. But I won't pretend the sizing isn't frustrating. The brand's reluctance to offer a wide range of sizes has improved in recent seasons, but it still lags behind what many clients need. If your measurements fall outside the standard range, pieces like bags, accessories, and shoes are where LV truly shines — sizing is irrelevant and the quality is exceptional.

For ready-to-wear, my golden rules: measure before you buy, size up, and if you're spending serious money on a garment, always try in-store or order from a retailer with a generous returns policy.

High Street & Premium Alternatives to Louis Vuitton

If you love the LV aesthetic — clean tailoring, confident structure, monogram-forward print — there are some brilliant alternatives at every price point that are far kinder on sizing. Here are my picks:

High Street Picks

Massimo Dutti — Quietly brilliant. The tailoring is precise, the fabrics feel elevated, and the structured blazers and trousers carry that same quietly luxurious energy as LV's simpler pieces.
Cos — For minimalist LV-adjacent dressing, COS nails architectural shapes and premium-feel fabrics at a fraction of the price. Size inclusively and consistently.
Reiss — One of the best on the high street for event-ready tailoring and elevated occasionwear. Sizes more generously than LV and the fit is excellent across a wider body range.
Whistles — Underrated. The knitwear and structured dresses are genuinely beautiful, and the brand runs true to UK size with a very flattering cut through the waist.
Me&Em — My go-to recommendation for clients who want that polished, grown-up look. The quality is exceptional for the price and the sizing is refreshingly reliable.
Ted Baker — If you love LV's more maximalist, logo-led pieces, Ted Baker delivers pattern and print in a similarly confident way, with forgiving UK sizing.
Hobbs — For classic tailored coats and workwear separates with a similar clean-lined sophistication, Hobbs consistently delivers. Especially strong for structured dresses.
Phase Eight — Brilliant for occasionwear. The drape and silhouette on their event pieces rivals brands three times the price, and they cater to a far wider size range than LV ever has.

Premium & Designer Alternatives

Max Mara — If you want European luxury with the tailoring gravitas of LV but slightly more forgiving sizing, Max Mara is the one. The camel coat alone is iconic.
Calvin Klein — Clean, minimal, structural. Very LV-adjacent in its restraint. Sizing is far more straightforward and the quality punches above the price point.

Two Independent Picks

The Vampire's Wife — A fiercely independent British label beloved by stylists and editors. The dresses are extraordinary — dramatic, feminine, and made in very limited runs. Nothing like the high street and genuinely unique.
Klements — A small London-based womenswear label making bold, painterly prints on beautifully draped silk pieces. If LV's more artistic collections speak to you, Klements will too — and you won't see yourself coming.

Find Your Exact Louis Vuitton Size — Instantly

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Step 1Measure bust, waist & hips (or use a known brand size)

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Visit Tellar.co.ukStore Size Lookup Tool →

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Ella Blake is a contributing stylist at Tellar Fashion Hub. All posts are honest, independent, and unsponsored. © Tellar Ltd — tellar.co.uk