What Is Sizing Like at Ottolinger?

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

Ottolinger runs small — sometimes quite significantly so — and if you're not aware of that going in, an investment in one of their pieces can go very wrong very quickly. The Swiss-Danish label, founded by Christa Bösch and Cosima Gadient, uses European sizing that starts at 34 and rarely stretches beyond 42, and the cuts are intentionally sharp, close and architectural. This is not a brand where you blithely order your usual size and hope for the best.

I'll be honest — Ottolinger is one of those brands I hold in real admiration but approach with a healthy respect for its eccentricities. The deconstructed tailoring, the slashed hems, the raw edges and asymmetric drape — it's genuinely exciting fashion. But it also means the fit logic is not conventional, and you need to understand that before you spend several hundred (or several thousand) pounds on a piece. Let me break it all down for you.

Understanding Ottolinger's Sizing Scale

Ottolinger uses standard European sizing throughout. There is no UK or US labelling, so you'll need to convert — and the fit runs narrow, so if you're at the upper end of a size, always go up. Here's the conversion table you need:

The key thing to note: even within these EU sizes, Ottolinger's actual garment measurements tend to run narrower than the standard chart suggests. I'd say across most structured pieces, you should be thinking about going up one full size from your usual EU equivalent. On looser, draped styles — and there are some — you have a little more latitude.

The Garment-by-Garment Reality

Ottolinger is not a brand with a single, predictable fit formula. The whole point of the label is that it pushes silhouette into unconventional territory, which means each piece has its own sizing logic. Here's what I've found:

Tailoring & Blazers: This is the heart of the brand and also where sizing is most unpredictable. The tailoring is cut slim and often with unusual shoulder constructions — dropped, distorted or extended. Measure your bust carefully and size up if in any doubt. The reward is genuinely extraordinary: these are the pieces that make people stop you on the street.
Trousers: Generally low-rise and cut slim through the leg, with many styles featuring raw hems, slashed details or asymmetric finishes. Size up one if you have curves at the hip, and check the inseam — many Ottolinger trousers are cut long deliberately, so Petite wearers may need alterations.
Dresses: A real mix here. The draped, jersey-based dresses have more give and tend to be more forgiving — they can suit a broader range of bodies than the tailored styles. The structured dresses, however, are close-fitting and unforgiving; measure against the actual garment measurements before ordering.
Knitwear: Interestingly, this is one of the easier categories to size in. Ottolinger's knits often have a more relaxed, oversized intention built into the design — size as you normally would, or down if you're on the smaller end of your usual size.
Outerwear & Coats: The coats are spectacular — sculptural, often gender-fluid in their silhouette, and beautifully constructed. They tend to be slightly more generous than the tailoring, designed to be worn over layers. Still, check shoulder measurements specifically, as Ottolinger plays with shoulder proportions in ways that can affect fit significantly.
Denim: Ottolinger's denim is treated, distressed and often altered in ways that change how conventional sizing applies. The waist-to-hip ratio is cut quite straight — if you're curvy, size up. The distressed and cut-away details are pre-done, so what you see is what you get.

My Honest Advice Before You Buy

I cannot stress this enough: for any Ottolinger purchase, you must look at the actual garment measurements in the product listing rather than relying on your EU size equivalent alone. The brand frequently publishes these, and the stockists who carry Ottolinger well — Net-a-Porter, Matches, SSENSE — tend to include them. Use those numbers. Compare them to a well-fitting piece you already own. That is genuinely the only safe way to shop this brand remotely.

The other thing worth knowing is that Ottolinger designs are intentionally avant-garde — which means some of the "fit quirks" are actually design intentions. A hem that looks unfinished is meant to look unfinished. Asymmetry is the point. Don't expect it to fit like a Reiss blazer; that's not what it's there to do. The magic of the brand is in leaning into the unconventional, and once you understand that, the sizing anxiety starts to feel much less daunting.

Alternatives Worth Knowing — From High Street to Designer

Whether you love Ottolinger's aesthetic but can't quite justify the price, or want something with a similar deconstructed edge at a different budget, here's where I'd point you:

High Street — Edge on a Budget:

COS — The closest the high street gets to Scandinavian minimalist-meets-architectural dressing. Consistent, considered sizing and a design ethos that echoes Ottolinger's clean, unconventional lines without the price tag.
Zara — When Zara is on form with its designer-adjacent pieces, it's genuinely excellent. Their deconstructed tailoring and asymmetric pieces can scratch the Ottolinger itch meaningfully. Sizing runs small; check reviews per item.
ASOS — The breadth of brands on ASOS means you can often find avant-garde independent labels sitting alongside their own ranges. Good for discovering niche pieces with a similar experimental energy. Sizing varies enormously by brand.
All Saints — One of the high street's best options for an edgier, darker aesthetic. Their leather pieces and tailoring have real attitude. Sizing is generally true to UK standard.
Whistles — A more understated option but with strong tailoring credentials. The cut and quality punches well above the price point. Good for clients who want clean, architectural dressing that's wearable day-to-day.
Urban Outfitters — For the looser, more experimental end of Ottolinger's appeal — the drapey, layered, slightly chaotic styling. UO has got better at this and there are some genuinely interesting pieces in their edit.
Mango — Their premium and studio lines in particular have been doing some strong deconstructed tailoring and fluid dressing that sits well in this aesthetic space. Sizes run true to EU standard.

Premium Picks:

Claudie Pierlot — French, polished and with a strong tailoring game. A natural step between the high street and full designer territory. Sizing is EU-based and reliable.
Massimo Dutti — Beautifully made, understated, and consistently sized. If you want the architectural dressing sensibility of Ottolinger without the experimental edge, Massimo Dutti delivers it in spades.
Reiss — Excellent tailoring for the price. If a sharp blazer or structured trouser is what drew you to Ottolinger, Reiss does it reliably and well. Runs true to UK size.

Independent Finds — Two Left-Field Picks:

Ahluwalia — A London-based label from LVMH Prize finalist Priya Ahluwalia, built on radical reworking, deconstructed sportswear and deeply considered design. A natural soul-mate to Ottolinger for anyone who wants something genuinely independent and boundary-pushing. Sizing is relaxed and inclusive.
Remain Birger Christersen — A Copenhagen label that shares Ottolinger's Scandi DNA but operates at a slightly more accessible price point. Bold colours, strong tailoring, and real design intention. Sizes run EU standard and fit well. One to know if you're not already across it.

Shopping Ottolinger? Get Your Size Right First.

When you're spending serious money on a designer piece, the last thing you want is to get the size wrong. That's exactly what Tellar is built for. It's the UK's leading clothing sizing platform — matching your exact measurements to over 1,500 brands instantly, including designer and luxury labels where sizing really matters.

Here's how it works:

✦ Measure once — input your bust, waist and hips, or a size you already know fits you well
✦ Use the Store Size Lookup tool to find your precise size across 1,500+ brands — from Ottolinger to COS, Net-a-Porter to ASOS
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The Tellar Fashion Hub is also home to hundreds of honest, unsponsored posts like this one — covering sizing, brand guides, style advice and more. Independent, expert and always free.