What Is Sizing Like at Max Mara? A Complete Guide to Getting Your Fit Right

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

Max Mara runs small by UK standards — typically one to two full sizes smaller than you'd expect — and because the brand uses Italian sizing, most UK shoppers will need to size up at least once to find their correct fit. I know this sounds like the kind of thing that should be printed on every product page, but it really isn't, and it's cost me a personally painful coat return more than once. So let's get into exactly what's going on, and how to get it right the first time.

Understanding Max Mara's Italian Sizing System

Max Mara operates on Italian sizing, which runs notably smaller than UK sizing.

As a rule of thumb: if you're a UK 12, you'll likely be looking at a Max Mara 42. If in doubt, always go one size up — especially for tailored pieces and knitwear. The brand's outerwear can be slightly more forgiving given the intentional oversized cuts (more on that below), but the structured tailoring and jersey pieces really do come up small.

The Coat: Max Mara's Iconic Piece — and How It Fits

Let's start with the thing most people actually come to Max Mara for: the coat. The 101801 camel coat is probably the most coveted item in the entire brand's arsenal, and it has a deliberately relaxed, slightly oversized silhouette — this is by design, not error. I tried on a 42 (my usual UK 12 size) and it was, frankly, perfect for layering over chunky knitwear. But a friend of mine in a UK 10 sized up to a 40 and found it slightly swimming on her — she went back to a 38.

My advice for the coat specifically:

If you want that classic, relaxed Max Mara coat look — go true to your Italian size conversion (so UK 12 = IT 42)
If you're between sizes or on the smaller end, consider going down one — especially if you're petite
The coat hits differently depending on your height — if you're under 5'5", the midi length can overwhelm you, so check the model heights on the site carefully

Tailoring, Trousers and Suits

This is where Max Mara sizing gets really important to understand, because their tailored pieces — blazers, cigarette trousers, suits — come up the smallest of all. I once made the rookie mistake of ordering a blazer in my standard Italian size conversion and had to return it because the shoulders were tight and the button gap was doing things it had no business doing. Not my finest fashion moment.

For tailored jackets and blazers: size up by one from your standard Italian conversion
Trousers tend to be cut with a longer rise than many high street equivalents — great news if you've always found trousers too low; less great if you're shorter-waisted
The brand cuts for a European body shape, which typically means a less defined waist — if you're very hourglass, you may find the waist of blazers looks boxy even in your correct size

Knitwear and Jersey Pieces

Max Mara's knitwear is genuinely beautiful — their cashmere and wool blends are the kind of thing you keep forever. The sizing here is a little more relaxed in cut, but the fabric is often dense and doesn't have a lot of stretch, so I'd still recommend going up one size if you're between sizes. Their jersey pieces (the Weekend by Max Mara line particularly) have a more casual, relaxed fit and can be a little more true to size.

Weekend by Max Mara: Does It Fit the Same?

The Weekend line is Max Mara's more affordable diffusion brand, and it does fit slightly differently. In my experience, Weekend pieces run a fraction closer to standard UK sizing than the main line — but I'd still size up. The fabrics are often more relaxed (think casual shirts, linen trousers, soft knits) which means there's a little more room to play with, but don't assume your UK 12 is a Weekend 40 without checking.

Style Advice: How to Wear Max Mara Properly

Max Mara is all about quiet luxury — effortless, expensive-looking minimalism. Here's how I'd style key pieces:

The camel coat — wear over simple tailored trousers and a fine knit, let it do the heavy lifting. Resist the urge to over-accessorise.
Tailored trousers — high-waisted with a tucked-in silk blouse or a fine merino roll neck. Classic for a reason.
Knitwear — belted loosely over straight-leg jeans with loafers. Understated and genuinely chic.
If you're petite — stick to cropped jacket styles or the shorter Weekend pieces to avoid being overwhelmed by Max Mara's typically generous proportions.

Where to Buy If Max Mara Is Out of Budget

Okay, so not everyone is spending £2,000+ on a coat (including me, most of the time — I treat my Max Mara pieces as investment buys). Here are my honest picks across every budget for similar tailored, luxurious aesthetics:

High Street Options (with that elevated edge):

Massimo Dutti — probably the closest high-street equivalent to Max Mara's aesthetic; their wool coats and tailoring are excellent and the quality-to-price ratio is genuinely impressive
COS — consistently brilliant for minimalist tailored pieces; the cuts are cleaner than most and the camel tones they do are lovely
Jigsaw — great for investment knitwear and beautifully cut trousers; a more British take on the same refined aesthetic
Me&Em — particularly strong on coats and blazers; worn by every stylish woman I know in their 30s and 40s
Reiss — excellent tailoring and their wool-blend coats punch well above their price point
Hobbs — underrated for tailored pieces; the quality is solid and the sizing is more generous than Max Mara
Whistles — clean, understated separates and outerwear; a solid choice for the minimalist aesthetic without the Italian sizing headache

Independent Brands Worth Knowing:

Studio Nicholson — a London-based brand with a deeply considered, architectural approach to women's clothing; their tailoring is exceptional and increasingly stocked at Selfridges. A genuine left-field gem.
Margaret Howell — British and brilliantly understated; wool coats, simple knitwear and relaxed tailoring that shares a lot of Max Mara's DNA. Slightly more accessible price point too.

Premium:

Totême — Swedish minimalism at its finest; the scarves, coats and tailoring are stunning and sizing is consistent
Arket — H&M's premium line has genuinely impressed me with its wool outerwear

Luxury/Designer:

The Row — if you love Max Mara but want to go even further into quiet luxury, The Row is the natural next step
Loro Piana — exceptional cashmere and outerwear for those who want the finest Italian craftsmanship money can buy

Never Get Your Max Mara Size Wrong Again — Use Tellar

Sizing across Italian luxury brands is genuinely confusing, and Max Mara is one of the trickier ones to navigate. That's exactly why Tellar.co.uk exists.

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There's also the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of free, honest, unsponsored style posts from our stylists. No ads. No affiliate fluff. Just real advice.

👉 Visit Tellar.co.uk