What Is Sizing Like at Paul & Shark?

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

Paul & Shark sizes in Italian sizing and runs small compared to UK sizing — as a rule of thumb, you'll want to go up one to two sizes from your usual UK number. I've dressed enough clients in this brand to know that the sizing trip-up is the single biggest source of frustration, so if you take nothing else from this post, take that. An Italian 40 is roughly a UK 12, and an Italian 42 is closer to a UK 14. Start there and work outward.

A Bit of Background on Paul & Shark

Paul & Shark is an Italian luxury sportswear label founded in 1975, originally built around sailing and high-performance outerwear. The name itself comes from a racing yacht — and that nautical, sea-ready DNA runs through every piece the brand makes. Their technical jackets, heavyweight knitwear, and water-resistant outerwear are genuinely some of the best in the business. This is not a brand that shouts about itself, but anyone who knows quality recognises it immediately.

The women's collection mirrors the men's in ethos — clean, understated, and built to last. Think robust zip-up fleeces, immaculate polo shirts, beautifully constructed windbreakers, and chunky ribbed knitwear in navy, cream, and rich earthy tones. It's the kind of wardrobe that looks equally at home on a coastal walk, a sailing trip, or a smart-casual lunch. I had a client who wore her Paul & Shark waterproof jacket for three years solid and it still looked brand new. That's the level we're talking about.

Paul & Shark Size Guide — UK Conversion

The brand uses Italian numeric sizing across its womenswear. Here is your conversion to UK dress sizes, EU, and letter sizing:

Italian SizeLetter SizeUK Dress SizeEU SizeBust (inches)Waist (inches)36XS63431–32"23–24"38S8–103633–34"25–26"40M10–123835–36"27–28"42M–L12–144037–38"29–30"44L14–164239–40"31–32"46XL16–184441–42"33–34"48XXL18–204643–44"35–36"

Important: Because Paul & Shark cuts with a more structured, performance-fit silhouette — particularly in outerwear and knitwear — I almost always recommend sizing up one from the conversion above if you plan to layer underneath, or if you are fuller in the shoulder or bust. Italian sizing is typically cut for a narrower, straighter frame. Going up is not a defeat — it's just smart shopping.

Category by Category — What to Expect

The women's range isn't huge, but what's there is very well made. Here's how sizing plays out across the key categories:

Technical & waterproof jackets — The brand's heartland. These are structured, performance-led pieces with a close-but-not-tight silhouette. Size up one from your standard conversion, particularly if you want to layer a midlayer underneath. The shoulder seams tend to sit quite narrow on these, which is the most common fit complaint I hear from clients. If you're broader in the shoulder, definitely go up. The quality of the waterproofing and fabric technology is exceptional — worth every penny.
Knitwear — jumpers & cardigans — Paul & Shark's knitwear is outstanding. Heavy Shetland-style wools, merino blends, and chunky ribbed textures that wear beautifully over years. These tend to run true to the Italian size conversion but feel quite close-fitting through the body. If you prefer your knitwear with any ease or movement, go up one. I styled a client in their navy cable knit and she went up two from her usual UK size — and it was the right call, it looked polished rather than stretched.
Polo shirts & T-shirts — More true to size here. The cotton is dense and high quality, and these sit in a fairly classic, relaxed-but-not-baggy shape. Use the conversion table and you'll be fine. Women who prefer a looser fit should still consider going up one.
Fleeces & midlayers — Generous in fit and very cosy. These are probably the most size-forgiving pieces in the range. True to the Italian conversion is usually spot on, though again, broader shoulders may need a size up.
Trousers & shorts — Quite narrow through the hip compared to UK cutting. I'd suggest sizing up one here without question if you carry any weight through the hip or thigh. The waistbands are fairly straight-cut and not designed to accommodate a pronounced waist-to-hip ratio.

Styling Paul & Shark — Getting the Look Right

This is not a brand that does fussy. The aesthetic is clean, coastal, and quietly affluent — and the styling should reflect that. Here's how I'd approach it:

Wear their technical jacket over a slim turtleneck and straight-leg trousers for an effortlessly polished winter look. Navy or olive colourways work brilliantly here.
Their polo shirts are a wardrobe staple tucked into high-waisted wide-leg trousers — very Riviera, very chic, and surprisingly versatile across seasons.
The heavyweight knitwear looks brilliant belted over a midi skirt. It subverts the sporty heritage in the most flattering way and gives the whole look a grown-up, editorial edge.
Don't overthink the footwear. Loafers, clean white trainers, or leather ankle boots. The clothes do the talking — keep everything else simple.

High Street Alternatives to Paul & Shark

The nautical, technical-heritage aesthetic is a rich territory and the high street does it better than you might expect:

Gant — The closest high street match to Paul & Shark's coastal, preppy DNA. Excellent knitwear, great quality polo shirts, and solid outerwear at a fraction of the price. A genuine go-to for this aesthetic.
Barbour — A British institution for exactly this kind of heritage coastal dressing. Their quilted jackets and technical outerwear are justifiably iconic, and the quality-to-price ratio is excellent.
Seasalt Cornwall — Beautifully crafted British coastal womenswear with a genuine nautical heritage. Brilliant for knitwear and waterproof layers, and the sizing is generous and straightforward.
Fat Face — Excellent for relaxed, coastal-casual pieces in good quality fabrics. Their fleeces and knitwear in particular sit in similar territory to Paul & Shark at a very accessible price point.
Tommy Hilfiger — The nautical preppy aesthetic done with real confidence. Their striped knits, polo shirts, and outerwear are consistently well received and the quality has improved markedly in recent years.
White Stuff — A wonderful option for the softer, more relaxed take on coastal dressing. Lovely fabrics, thoughtful design, and a brilliant mid-price range for knitwear specifically.
Joules — A natural fit here. Their technical waterproof jackets and coastal-inspired knitwear are genuinely good quality, and the brand's heritage is very much rooted in the same outdoor, rural-meets-nautical world as Paul & Shark.

Premium & Designer Alternatives

If you love the idea of technical luxury heritage but want to explore before committing to Paul & Shark's prices:

Herno — An Italian outerwear house with a very similar commitment to technical performance and understated luxury. The quality is comparable to Paul & Shark and the aesthetic shares that same clean, European sportswear confidence.
Mackintosh — Scottish heritage outerwear brand with impeccable technical credentials. Their bonded cotton coats and waterproof jackets are investment pieces in the truest sense.
Hugo Boss — A strong option for the smarter, more tailored end of the Paul & Shark wardrobe. Their performance outerwear and knitwear is well made and the aesthetic is equally clean and minimal.

Two Independent Picks Worth Seeking Out

Musto — A British technical sailing brand with an extraordinary reputation on the water and increasingly strong credibility as a fashion choice on land. Their offshore and performance collections are as technically accomplished as anything Paul & Shark produces, and the British brand loyalty element is a genuine selling point. Sizes in UK sizing — bliss.
Henri Lloyd — Another iconic British sailing brand with a wonderful heritage story. They were the original technical sailing outerwear innovators, and their jackets remain some of the best-made waterproof pieces you can buy. A brilliant under-the-radar alternative that most people outside sailing circles haven't discovered yet.

Final Thoughts on Paul & Shark Sizing

The golden rule with Paul & Shark: assume Italian sizing, assume it runs small, and size up. Use the conversion table above as your starting point, then go up one for outerwear and knitwear — especially if you're broader in the shoulder or plan to layer. The quality absolutely justifies the price, and these are pieces that will earn their place in your wardrobe for years. The key is just getting the size right first time — which is easier said than done when you're shopping a brand that doesn't follow the UK sizing logic you're used to.

That's precisely where Tellar comes in.

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