What Is Sizing Like at Paul & Joe?

Paul & Joe runs small and is cut on the slim, narrow side, so most women are safest sizing up by one — particularly through the bust and shoulders. It's a French house, which means the proportions follow that classic Parisian silhouette: nipped, neat and a little unforgiving if you have a fuller chest. I've styled enough Paul & Joe over the years to know the brand rewards you when you respect the cut and punishes you when you order your "usual" size on autopilot.

Let me walk you through exactly how the fit behaves, where it catches people out, and how to land the right size first time.

The short answer on fit

Overall: cut slim and slightly small — size up if you're between sizes.
Bust: the most common sticking point. Anything tailored runs tight across the chest.
Shoulders & armholes: narrow, in true French-tailoring style.
Waist & hips: closer to true-to-size, so a fuller hip can usually stick to size.
Knitwear & relaxed pieces: more forgiving — often true to size.

Understanding Paul & Joe's French sizing

Paul & Joe uses French numbering, so you'll see 36, 38, 40, 42 rather than 8, 10, 12, 14. As a rough guide, a French 36 lands at a UK 8, a 38 at a UK 10, a 40 at a UK 12 and a 42 at a UK 14. You'll also spot alpha sizing (XS to XL) and a 0–4 system on some lines — they all map to the same garments.

Here's the bit that trips people up: French alpha sizing is less generous than the UK equivalent. An XS in Paris is a genuinely small XS. If you're a UK 12 who happily wears a "M" on the high street, don't assume Paul & Joe's M will play nicely — the L is often the smarter call.

Paul & Joe vs Paul & Joe Sister — don't confuse them

This is the single most important thing to get right, and it's where I see the most returns. There are two lines:

Paul & Joe (main line): the premium, more refined collection. Sharper tailoring, better fabrics, and the slimmer, truer-to-French fit. This is the one that runs small.
Paul & Joe Sister: the younger, playful diffusion line. Looser, more relaxed shapes — often genuinely roomy. A Sister size 2 can swamp a UK 10, so you may even size down here.

I once styled a client for a spring lunch in a Sister blouse she'd ordered in her "safe" size up — it billowed like a tent. Meanwhile her main-line Paul & Joe blazer in the same nominal size was snug across the back. Same brand name, two completely different fits. Always check which line you're buying.

Fabric and cut: what to expect

Paul & Joe is print-led and romantic — think delicate florals, silk, fine cotton, linen and that whimsical, garden-inspired aesthetic (the brand's quirky cat motif is a giveaway). Because so much of it is woven silk and crêpe rather than stretch jersey, there's little give. A fitted silk shirt with no stretch is the classic "I should have sized up" moment. My rule: if it's tailored and woven, size up; if it's knit or deliberately oversized, hold your size.

My styling advice

The beauty of Paul & Joe is the print, so let it lead. A bold floral blouse wants a quiet bottom half — a straight trouser or a clean midi skirt — so the print does the talking. If you've sized up for the bust and the waist is now a touch loose, a slim leather or suede belt sorts it instantly and adds polish. For their feminine dresses, a structured jacket over the top grounds the prettiness and stops it tipping into twee. And if a shirt pulls at the bust, don't fight it — wear it open over a fine cami. That's the stylist's trick that turns a fit problem into a deliberate look.

Where to shop for the Paul & Joe look

If you love that French, print-led, feminine-but-tailored aesthetic, here's where I'd send you across the price points.

High street

Whistles — clean, modern prints and contemporary tailoring; the closest high-street match for Paul & Joe's grown-up femininity.
Jigsaw — understated, quality fabrics and a refined cut that ages well.
Boden — joyful prints and colour with a far more generous, easy fit if Paul & Joe's slimness puts you off.
Hush — effortless, French-leaning separates with a relaxed lived-in vibe.
Mint Velvet — soft, feminine relaxed-luxe pieces that layer beautifully.
Nobody's Child — pretty, sustainable print dresses at a fraction of the price.
Monsoon — occasion florals and embellishment when you want the romance dialled up.

Premium

Sézane — the Parisian-chic benchmark; arguably the most natural step up from Paul & Joe.
Sandro — refined French tailoring with an edge, similarly slim in cut.
Maje — playful, print-happy and feminine, very much in Paul & Joe's world.
Claudie Pierlot — polished Parisian separates with a softer, wearable femininity.

Luxury / designer

Joseph — impeccable cut and fabric for elevated, minimalist tailoring.
By Malene Birger — bold prints and statement femininity with serious quality.
Max Mara — the gold standard for coats and tailoring if you're investing.

Two to discover

RIXO — a London independent built on hand-drawn, vintage-inspired prints; if you fell for Paul & Joe for the florals, this is your next obsession.
YOLKE — a small British label doing dreamy printed silk and slip dresses that feel quietly luxurious and a little off the beaten track.

Never guess a Paul & Joe size again

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Written by Ella Blake, Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder of Tellar.