What Is Sizing Like at Max & Co?

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

Max & Co runs slightly small compared to UK sizing, particularly in tailored pieces like coats, blazers and structured trousers — but dresses and knitwear tend to be closer to true to size or even a little relaxed. It's an Italian brand working off EU sizing, and if you go in expecting it to match your usual UK size precisely, you'll often find yourself a size out. Let me break it down properly so you know exactly what to do before you order.

I'll be honest — Max & Co is one of those brands I've had a genuinely mixed experience with. I picked up a beautifully cut blazer a couple of years ago and ordered my usual size. Arrived, wouldn't do up comfortably across the chest. Lesson learned. Went up a size on the next piece — a jersey wrap dress — and it was perfect. The brand has a gorgeous aesthetic: that younger, cooler sister energy to Max Mara, a bit more relaxed but still impeccably Italian in its tailoring. Once you understand the sizing logic, it's a genuinely brilliant brand to shop.

The Max & Co Sizing System Explained

Max & Co uses Italian/EU sizing on its labels, which it then converts to UK, US and other international standards. The conversion isn't always straightforward because Italian sizing tends to cut slimmer through the shoulders and chest than UK sizing assumes. The table below gives you the standard conversions, but read the garment notes underneath — they're the bit that actually matters.

Max & Co (IT/EU)UK SizeUS SizeFR SizeBust (cm)Waist (cm)Hips (cm)XXS / 36623680–8360–6385–88XS / 38843883–8663–6688–91S / 401064086–9066–7091–95M / 421284290–9470–7495–99L / 4414104494–9874–7899–103XL / 4616124698–10278–82103–107XXL / 48181448102–10682–86107–111

⚡ Quick rule of thumb: For tailored coats, blazers and structured trousers — size up one from your usual UK size. For dresses, jersey and knitwear — stick to your true UK size. When in doubt, always measure your bust and check against the table above.

Coats & Outerwear

This is where you really need to pay attention. Max & Co's outerwear is beautifully made — classic wool coats, belted trenches, quilted jackets — and the cuts are genuinely elegant. But they run narrow through the shoulders and across the chest in a way that catches a lot of UK shoppers out.

Wool and bouclé coats — size up one from your usual UK size, especially if you have broader shoulders or plan to layer underneath. The Italian cut is narrow, and you do not want to be fighting a coat zip on a cold morning.
Belted trench styles — these tend to be more relaxed in the body, so your true size usually works. But check the shoulder measurement if you're between sizes — the shoulders run narrow across the range.
Padded and quilted jackets — true to size is generally fine here as these styles are cut with more ease built in.

My advice? If you're buying a Max & Co coat online and you're between sizes, go up. You can always belt it in. A coat that doesn't sit properly on the shoulders is much harder to fix.

Blazers & Tailored Jackets

Same rule applies as outerwear. Max & Co blazers are structured, with a close Italian cut that's meant to look sharp and tailored. They look stunning on — but they are unforgiving if you order your usual UK size and you have any curve through the bust or shoulders.

Single-breasted blazers — size up one from your UK size for a proper fit across the chest. If you're a UK 12, try the IT 44 (which maps to a UK 14).
Oversized or boxy blazer styles — these are cut with deliberate roominess, so your true size or even down a size works depending on the silhouette you want.

Dresses

This is where Max & Co is actually brilliant to shop. The dress range — wrap styles, shirt dresses, jersey midi dresses — tends to be cut with far more ease than the tailored pieces, and many styles are genuinely true to size for UK shoppers.

Jersey wrap and midi dresses — true to size. The stretch in the fabric and the relaxed cut make these far more forgiving. Order your usual UK size with confidence.
Structured shirt dresses — edge towards sizing up if you're a curvier shape, as the button placket can pull across the bust. One size up sorts it.
Printed and occasion dresses — these vary by style, but generally true to size. Always check whether the style is described as "fitted" or "relaxed" on the product page — that tells you everything.

Trousers & Skirts

Trousers at Max & Co follow the same slim Italian logic as the blazers. The waistband sits snugly and the leg tends to be narrow. If you have curves through the hip and thigh, this is where you'll need to size up most reliably.

Tailored trousers — size up one. Italian cut, slim through the thigh, narrow waistband.
Wide-leg styles — more relaxed, true to size usually works well.
Knitwear and jersey skirts — true to size or even size down if you prefer a more fitted look. The stretch fabric gives you room.

Knitwear & Tops

Happily, Max & Co's knitwear and jersey tops are genuinely the most size-flexible category. The brand does beautiful fine-knit sweaters, casual tops and logo pieces, and these are typically cut with enough ease that your true UK size works perfectly.

Fine-knit sweaters — true to size. No drama here.
Logo and graphic tees — true to size or down a size if you prefer a more fitted look.
Printed blouses and shirts — as with the shirt dresses, watch the button front if you're fuller through the bust. One size up is worth it.

Where to Shop a Similar Aesthetic at Different Price Points

Max & Co sits in that sweet spot between high street and designer — Italian-influenced, contemporary, polished. Here's where I'd send clients who love the look but want to shop at different price points:

High street & premium alternatives:

Mango — the closest aesthetic match on the high street. Mediterranean-influenced, clean lines, strong on coats and blazers. Their tailored pieces are brilliant value and the sizing is fairly consistent. Check the size guide as they run slightly small too.
Ted Baker — a great choice for the more dressed-up Max & Co look. Known for beautifully detailed occasionwear and flattering cuts. Runs true to size, occasionally generous.
Phase Eight — consistently excellent for occasionwear and smart dresses. The cuts are more generous than Max & Co and very flattering for a range of body shapes.
Hobbs — a reliable go-to for polished tailoring that actually fits UK bodies well. Their blazers and coats are well-cut and run true to size. Very much the same grown-up smart-casual customer as Max & Co.
LK Bennett — brilliant for elevated workwear and occasion dressing. Good quality fabrics and consistent sizing. A strong alternative for the coats and dresses especially.
Mint Velvet — that relaxed-luxe positioning works really well as a Max & Co alternative, particularly for the jersey and knitwear pieces. Sized generously and very wearable.
Anthropologie — for the more directional, print-led Max & Co pieces. Great for dresses and tops with an individual aesthetic. Sizing varies by brand within their platform, so always check the specific label.
Reiss — for the sharp, tailored end of the Max & Co wardrobe. Reiss blazers and trousers are excellent quality, well-cut for UK frames, and true to size. A premium but accessible alternative.

Two independent brands worth knowing:

Kitri — a London-based independent brand that's earned a serious cult following for its considered prints, structured dresses and smart separates. The quality is genuinely impressive, the designs feel European-influenced in that Max & Co way, and the sizing runs true to size in UK measurements. Worth every penny.
Baukjen — a British sustainable label that does beautifully made coats, dresses and knitwear with an understated European sensibility. Quietly excellent. They size consistently to UK sizing, so none of the guesswork you get with Italian brands. A really smart find.

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