What Is Sizing Like at Paige Jeans?

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

Paige jeans run small — most women find they need to size up one, sometimes two sizes compared to their usual, particularly in the skinny and slim-cut styles. It's genuinely one of the most commonly asked questions I get about the brand, and the answer is consistent: do not assume your usual size will work, measure your waist in inches, and check the specific fabric technology before you order.

How Paige Sizing Works: The Basics

Paige uses US sizing throughout their range, which means jeans and trousers are labelled by waist measurement in inches (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32) rather than the UK dress sizes (8, 10, 12 etc.) you might be used to. This alone trips people up. Here's how to translate:

Paige (inches)UK Dress SizeUS SizeEU SizeWaist (cm)Hips (cm)24623461–6386–8825843664–6689–91268–104–636–3867–6992–94271063870–7295–972810–126–838–4073–7598–100291284076–78101–1033012–148–1040–4279–81104–1063114104282–84107–1093214–1610–1242–4485–87110–112

Important: These conversions are a guide, not a guarantee. Because Paige runs small and uses stretch denim technology, your actual best size at Paige is often one inch size up from what this table suggests. Always measure your natural waist in inches and compare directly against the garment measurements on the Paige website before ordering.

Understanding Paige's Fabric Technologies

This is the bit that most people skip — and it's actually the key to getting your Paige size right. The brand uses several different denim technologies, and they fit quite differently from each other:

Transcend fabric — Paige's most popular and most stretchy fabric. Made with a high elastane content, it has a real give to it and molds to your body after a few hours' wear. You can often size down in Transcend styles, or at least trust your waist measurement more confidently. The Hoxton, Margot, and Verdugo styles frequently use this fabric.
Vintage denim — Significantly less stretch than Transcend. More authentic, worn-in denim feel — which is brilliant if that's your aesthetic, but means you should size up if you're between sizes. These styles will soften with wear but won't give the way a high-stretch fabric does.
Lennox and high-rise styles — These can feel snugger through the seat and thigh than the waist measurement alone suggests. If you carry more volume through the hip and thigh, go up a size from your waist measurement in these cuts.

Fit By Style

Skinny & Slim-Cut Jeans (Margot, Verdugo, Hoxton Skinny)

This is where Paige really made their name, and where the sizing conversation gets most heated. In a Transcend skinny, most women find going up one size from their usual works well — the fabric stretches and shapes itself around you after a few wears. In a non-stretch or low-stretch skinny, size up without question. The Margot skinny in Transcend fabric is genuinely one of the best-fitting skinny jeans on the premium market — once you've found your Paige size, you'll know it for life.

Straight-Leg & Wide-Leg (Noella, Anessa, Claudine)

Paige's straight and wide-leg cuts are more forgiving than their skinnies. These are sized primarily at the waist, with a more relaxed fit through the leg, so if you're between sizes your usual waist measurement will typically work. The Noella wide-leg in particular has been a massive hit — it's beautifully cut, sits high on the waist, and the leg is generous enough that you don't need to overthink the fit. Go true to your waist measurement in these styles.

High-Rise Styles

Paige's high-rise range can feel particularly snug if you have a fuller hip or tummy. The waistband is designed to sit at the natural waist and it doesn't give much. If you're between sizes in a high-rise style, I'd always recommend going up. A slightly looser waistband that you can belt looks infinitely better than one that digs in.

Petite & Tall Options

Paige offers a petite range (typically a 25" or 27" inseam) and longer inseam options for taller women. The petite range is genuinely well-executed — the proportions are adjusted properly rather than just hemmed down, which makes a real difference to how the jean hangs. If you're 5'3" or under, it's absolutely worth looking at the petite fit first. For taller women (5'9"+), check the inseam measurement carefully — standard Paige jeans tend to run with a 30" inseam, which can fall short on a longer leg.

My Honest Advice for First-Time Paige Buyers

Measure your waist in inches — not your hip, your waist — and use that as your starting point.
Check which fabric technology your style uses before ordering. Transcend = more forgiving. Vintage denim = size up.
If you're between two sizes, go up. Paige runs small and a slightly looser fit will still look polished.
If buying your first pair online, try the Hoxton straight or the Noella wide-leg first — they're the most consistently sized and easiest to get right without trying on.
If you can, try Paige in a department store (John Lewis, Selfridges, and Fenwick stock them) before committing to online shopping. Once you know your Paige size, reordering is easy.
The jeans soften and stretch slightly after the first few wears, so don't panic if they feel snug when brand new in a Transcend fabric.

Great Alternatives at Every Price Point

Paige sits firmly in the premium denim bracket. If you love the aesthetic but want to explore different price points — or just fancy a change — here's where I'd look:

High Street Picks

Levi's — The absolute benchmark for denim at a more accessible price. Their 501, 724, and Ribcage styles have been all over style press for good reason. Consistently well-made, with a wide size range and good petite and tall options. A genuine wardrobe cornerstone.
Abercrombie & Fitch — Massively underrated for denim and frequently praised by fashion editors. Their 90s straight and curve love range are brilliant for a variety of body shapes, with an impressive size and fit range. Their denim quality has improved enormously in recent years.
Mango — Excellent for trend-led denim at a fair price. Their wide-leg and barrel-leg styles in particular get consistent praise in Grazia and Stylist magazine. Good quality for the price point, and the fits are refreshingly consistent.
Calvin Klein — Calvin Klein Jeans offers a really solid mid-range option for premium-feeling denim without the Paige price tag. The 90s straight is a favourite, and the quality of their stretch denim is genuinely impressive.
Banana Republic — Often overlooked for denim, but their premium denim range — particularly the high-rise straight and slim styles — is excellent. Sophisticated, well-finished, and a reliable true-to-size fit.
Topshop (via ASOS) — Still one of the best places for affordable denim with a fashion-forward edge. The Jamie and Editor styles have been wardrobe staples for a reason. Their petite range is also one of the most comprehensive on the high street.
River Island — Brilliant for curve-friendly denim at a very accessible price. Their Molly and Tall ranges are consistently well-reviewed, and their high-rise straight styles are regularly featured in budget-conscious fashion edits.

Two Independent Picks Worth Discovering

Agolde — A Los Angeles denim brand that sits in the same premium bracket as Paige but with a slightly more relaxed, vintage-inspired sensibility. Their 90s Pinch Waist and Riley styles have become cult pieces among fashion insiders, and the quality of their denim is exceptional. If you love Paige but want something a little more under-the-radar, Agolde is exactly where to look. Available at Net-a-Porter and Selfridges in the UK.
Boyish Jeans — A genuinely exciting sustainable denim brand making waves in fashion press. Their jeans are made using eco-conscious fabrics and production methods without any compromise on fit or finish. The cuts are beautiful — lots of 70s-inspired wide-legs and relaxed straights — and the brand has been featured in Vogue and Refinery29 for their approach. A brilliant independent alternative for the conscious denim buyer.

Find Your Paige Size Without the Guesswork — Use Tellar

Paige's inch-based US sizing and run-small reputation make getting the right size genuinely tricky — especially online. That's exactly the problem Tellar was built to solve. Tellar is the UK's leading clothing sizing tool, matching your exact measurements to 1,500+ brands instantly — including Paige, Levi's, Agolde and hundreds more.

Measure once — enter your waist in inches, your hip, bust, or simply your size in a brand you already know.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise recommended size at Paige, Citizens of Humanity, Calvin Klein and more — before you order.
Always free — no app to download, no subscription. Works instantly in your browser.

And don't miss the Tellar Fashion Hub — a growing library of honest, unsponsored style posts covering sizing guides, trend edits, and brand reviews. Written by stylists who actually wear the clothes. No ads, no paid partnerships, just genuinely useful content.

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