What Is Sizing Like at Paul Smith Clothing?

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

Paul Smith womenswear runs small — typically one to two sizes smaller than standard UK sizing — and if you walk in expecting your usual size, there's a fair chance you'll leave empty-handed and slightly baffled. It's one of the most common frustrations I hear from clients who are new to the brand, and honestly, it catches people out time and again. The label uses Italian-influenced sizing across most of its womenswear, which means a Paul Smith UK 12 will fit more like a UK 10, sometimes even a UK 8 on the body.

I've been styling clients in Paul Smith for years — it's one of those genuinely exciting British designer brands that still has a real point of view. Sir Paul Smith's whole aesthetic is built around the idea that classic British tailoring doesn't have to be stuffy: you get beautifully cut blazers in unexpected rainbow stripes, silk blouses with a cheeky floral lining, trousers that fit properly. But you do need to know how to navigate the sizing before you invest, because these are not impulse-purchase price points.

Paul Smith Size Conversion Guide

Paul Smith womenswear is sized using Italian/EU conventions, which run considerably smaller than UK high-street sizing. As a general rule, go up one to two sizes from your usual UK size. The table below gives you the full picture:

Paul Smith IT/EUPaul Smith UK LabelStandard UK EquivalentUS SizeBust (in)Waist (in)Hips (in)IT 36UK 6UK 8US 2–433"25.5"35.5"IT 38UK 8UK 10US 4–634.5"27"37"IT 40UK 10UK 12US 6–836"28.5"38.5"IT 42UK 12UK 14US 8–1037.5"30"40"IT 44UK 14UK 16US 10–1239.5"32"42"IT 46UK 16UK 18US 12–1441.5"34"44"

💡 Ella's tip: When shopping Paul Smith in-store, always try two sizes. In tailoring especially, the cut is precise and there's very little stretch in the fabric — if it pulls across the shoulders or gaps at the bust, go up. The fit at the shoulder is everything with a Paul Smith blazer; you can always have the body taken in, but you cannot fix a shoulder seam.

Sizing by Category — What You Need to Know Before You Buy

Paul Smith spans tailoring, knitwear, denim, silk separates and accessories — and the sizing logic shifts slightly depending on what you're buying. Here's my honest, category-by-category breakdown:

Tailoring — Blazers & Jackets: This is where Paul Smith excels and where the sizing is most unforgiving. Cuts are narrow through the body and structured at the shoulder in the British tailoring tradition. Size up at least one — often two — from your normal size, particularly if you're fuller across the bust or back. The pay-off when it fits correctly is extraordinary: a Paul Smith blazer is one of the most flattering, character-filled pieces you'll ever own.
Trousers: True to the Italian sizing scale — so again, size up one to two from your UK high-street size. The leg cuts vary from straight to wide; the wide-leg styles are more forgiving around the hip and thigh. Waistbands are cut to sit at a natural to mid-rise, and the inseam is generous — good news if you're tall, less so if you're petite (account for hemming).
Knitwear: Marginally more forgiving than tailoring, as there's some natural give in the fabric, but still runs small. Fitted jumpers and cardigans — size up one. Oversized and boxy silhouettes — your usual IT/EU size will work fine, as they're designed to be worn loose.
Silk Blouses & Shirts: These are cut slim through the body and shoulder. If you're broad-shouldered or fuller through the bust, size up without hesitation. The silk quality is genuinely exceptional and the prints are unlike anything else on the market — worth the investment, but only in the right size.
Dresses: Paul Smith occasion dresses and shirt dresses tend to run small through the bust and waist. Size up one as a starting point; if there's a belt or defined waist, use your waist measurement as your guide and go from there.
Denim: The denim range runs true to Italian sizing — so one to two UK sizes up from what you'd normally reach for. Fits are slim and the fabric has minimal stretch, so if you're between sizes, go up.

🧵 Styling note: Paul Smith pieces are at their best when the rest of the outfit keeps things simple. A stripe Paul Smith blazer over a white tee and tailored wide-leg trousers is a complete look. The brand's joy is in the detail — the lining, the buttons, the unexpected stripe — so you don't need to pile on. One statement Paul Smith piece per outfit is enough; two starts to look like you're trying too hard.

My Honest Stylist Take on Paul Smith Womenswear

Paul Smith womenswear is one of the great underrated choices for women who want to dress with genuine personality rather than just following the trend cycle. It doesn't get the same column inches as some of its luxury contemporaries, but in terms of craft, originality and sheer Britishness, it's hard to beat.

The brand's real sweet spot is tailoring with a twist — blazers and trousers that are cut to a genuinely high standard but come in colourways and fabrics that feel joyful rather than corporate. I've built entire wardrobe capsules for clients around a single Paul Smith blazer: it becomes the anchor piece that makes everything else feel more considered.

The honest caveat: the size range caps at IT 46 (roughly a UK 16–18) in most styles, which is a real gap in the offering. The price points are significant — you're looking at £300–£600 for tailoring, £200+ for knitwear — so it's worth treating this as an investment category rather than a regular shop. Buy one exceptional piece rather than three mediocre ones.

The Best Alternatives to Paul Smith — Across Every Budget

If the sizing doesn't work for your shape, the price point is a stretch, or you simply want to explore similar British tailoring energy elsewhere, here are my picks:

High Street Alternatives

Whistles — The closest high-street brand in terms of aesthetic sensibility. Grown-up, well-cut, and quietly stylish. Their tailoring and silk blouses are regularly praised in Grazia and Harper's Bazaar for looking considerably more expensive than they are.
COS — For that same clean, architectural approach to tailoring that Paul Smith does in brighter colours. COS does it in a more muted palette but with excellent construction for the price point. Sizing runs true on the smaller side — similar to Paul Smith, so size up.
Reiss — A reliable British brand for smart tailoring at a mid-market price. Their blazers and trousers are consistently well-reviewed for fit and quality, and sizing is true to UK standard.
Massimo Dutti — For the continental tailoring sensibility without the designer price tag. Beautifully made basics and separates that work as the quieter companions to a louder Paul Smith piece.
Anthropologie — For the playful, print-led, characterful side of Paul Smith. Anthropologie does personality-rich pieces at a much friendlier price point and in a broader size range.
Hobbs — Particularly strong for occasion tailoring and smart separates in a British context. Reliable sizing, quality fabrics, and a brand that genuinely understands dressing for real life.
Ted Baker — Shares Paul Smith's love of hidden detail and unexpected print. Ted Baker's workwear and occasion pieces are well-reviewed for their feminine tailoring and the quality of their fabrication.

Premium Alternatives

Me&Em — A brilliant British brand that understands the working wardrobe completely. Their blazers and tailored trousers punch well above their price point and sizing is honest, consistent and runs to a UK 18.
Claudie Pierlot — French, playful, and beautifully made. If you love Paul Smith's feminine-but-clever approach, Claudie Pierlot scratches a very similar itch with a Parisian accent. Runs small — apply similar sizing logic.
Hugo Boss — For sharp, serious tailoring with a European sensibility. Less playful than Paul Smith but impeccably constructed. Sizing is consistent and runs from an XS to an XL in most styles.

Independent & Left-Field Picks

Mother of Pearl — A beautifully made British brand with a strong sustainable ethos and a real love of print and personality. Their tailoring and silk blouses occupy a genuinely similar space to Paul Smith womenswear but with a quieter, more romantic feel. Stocked at Selfridges and available online — sizes UK 6–16.
Beulah London — An independent British label with strong tailoring credentials and a commitment to ethical production. Worn by the Princess of Wales on multiple occasions, so the quality speaks for itself. Their blazers and occasion dresses are outstanding and sized in standard UK measurements, which is a relief after Paul Smith's Italian scale.

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