What Is Sizing Like at Philipp Plein?

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

Philipp Plein sizing runs small — the brand itself admits it on their own size guide, describing their prêt-à-porter as "slightly tight" and advising customers to size up when in doubt — but there's a twist, because not everything in a Plein collection fits the same way. The tailored pieces and leather jackets are where sizing down will get you into trouble; the graphic tees and hoodies often run boxy and oversized. Getting your head around which camp your chosen piece falls into is the difference between a triumphant purchase and a very expensive return. Trust me, at these prices, you want to get it right first time.

The Philipp Plein Aesthetic — Who Is This Brand?

If subtlety is your thing, Philipp Plein might not be your natural territory. Founded by German designer Philipp Plein in the late 1990s and headquartered in Switzerland, this is a brand that operates at full volume — skull motifs, crystal embellishments, aggressive logo work, leather everything, and an unapologetic love of excess. It's the kind of label that gets people staring, and that is very much the point.

Despite the maximalist aesthetic, or perhaps because of it, Plein has built a genuinely global following — from athletes and musicians to anyone who wants their wardrobe to have a statement to make. The quality of the materials is genuinely high. The price tags are genuinely eye-watering. And the sizing? Genuinely inconsistent enough to warrant reading this guide before you click buy.

Philipp Plein Size Conversion Table

Philipp Plein uses Italian EU sizing throughout their women's ready-to-wear. As a rule, this runs a full size smaller than standard UK sizing, so a UK 10 typically corresponds to an EU 40 — but at Plein, that EU 40 will often fit more like a UK 8. When in doubt, go up.

Philipp Plein (IT/EU)UK Size (approx.)US Size (approx.)Bust (cm)Waist (cm)Hip (cm)366–82–480–8362–6588–91388–104–684–8766–6992–954010–126–888–9170–7396–994212–148–1092–9574–77100–1034414–1610–1296–9978–81104–1074616–1812–14100–10382–85108–111

💡 Key rule: If you are between sizes at Philipp Plein, always size up. Their own website is unusually candid about this — the fit is designed to be tight, and there is very little ease built into most of their garments. Don't try to squeeze into your usual number.

Garment by Garment: The Full Breakdown

This is where Philipp Plein gets genuinely complicated — because the brand spans everything from bodycon cocktail dresses to oversized logo hoodies, and those two things fit completely differently. Here's what you actually need to know:

Tailored blazers & structured jackets — These are the pieces that catch people out most often. The shoulders are cut close and precise in the Plein tradition of sharp, almost aggressive tailoring. Size up by one from your usual EU equivalent — and if you're broad through the shoulders or chest, consider going up by two. These are not forgiving pieces. They're stunning when they fit, but there is zero stretch and zero ease.
Leather jackets & biker styles — Plein's leather work is among the best things they make, and the leather jackets run small in the shoulders and through the upper body. This is where an incorrect size will be most immediately obvious and most uncomfortable. Measure your bust and shoulders before ordering, and always size up if uncertain. A leather jacket that pulls across the back is not the look.
Dresses — bodycon & fitted styles — Their stretch bodycon dresses are designed to fit like a second skin, which means the sizing is unforgiving in a different way — not structured, but extremely close to the body. These can work in your standard size if you're happy with the skin-tight intention; size up if you want any ease at all. Their more structured occasion dresses follow the same rule as the blazers — size up.
Graphic T-shirts, hoodies & sweatshirts — Here's where Plein flips the script. These pieces are typically designed oversized or boxy as a deliberate style choice — it's part of the streetwear-couture aesthetic. In these styles, true to size works well; size down if you prefer a more fitted look. This is the one category where you're unlikely to regret staying in your usual size.
Jeans & denim — Plein jeans use waist measurements in Italian sizing and can vary considerably by cut — slim-fit styles run tight through the hip and thigh, while their wider-leg denim is more generous. Always check the specific cut, and always measure your waist and hip before ordering. Their denim is genuinely beautiful, but the sizing variance between styles is wider than you'd expect from a brand at this price point.
Knitwear & jumpers — Sizes are generally true to size in their knits, but without much stretch, so if you're between sizes, go up. The quality of the cashmere-blend pieces in particular is excellent — properly heavy and luxurious. Worth getting the size right.
Trainers & footwear — The one category where the opposite rule applies. Plein trainers run large — the brand itself advises sizing down by one if you're unsure. This catches people out in the other direction. Check this before you order shoes and apply a different logic entirely to the rest of your purchase.

My Honest Take on Shopping Plein

I'd be lying if I said Philipp Plein was an easy brand to shop. The sizing inconsistency between categories genuinely requires you to approach each garment type on its own terms, which is more homework than you should need to do at luxury prices. That said, when you get it right — particularly with the leather pieces and the tailoring — these are genuinely spectacular clothes. The crystal-embellished tops, the biker jackets, the bold denim: all extraordinary when they fit. The key is treating every purchase as a considered decision, not a quick click.

And if you're shopping online without the ability to try before you buy? Get your measurements down properly — bust, waist, hip — before you go anywhere near the product pages. It's the only way to approach a brand with this much variation.

If You Love the Plein Aesthetic — Where Else to Shop

Philipp Plein is a very specific brand serving a very specific appetite for drama. If you love the energy but want options at different price points, or simply want something with more predictable sizing, here's where I'd point you:

High street — for the bold & embellished aesthetic:

River Island — Genuinely underestimated for their party and occasion wear. Strong on embellished tops, leather-look pieces, and statement denim. Sizing is consistent and true to UK standard — a very useful contrast to Plein.
Urban Outfitters — For the oversized, graphic, streetwear-influenced side of the Plein aesthetic, UO is a natural alternative. Their sizing is clear and their graphic pieces are well-reviewed.
Topshop — Still the go-to for elevated high-street tailoring with attitude. Their blazers and leather-look pieces in particular share the Plein sensibility, at a fraction of the price and with UK-standard sizing.
ASOS — Enormous range, and they stock several brands that overlap with the Plein customer — embellished occasionwear, leather-look jackets, bold denim. Use their filter tools carefully and always check the brand-specific sizing on third-party labels they stock.
Zara — Strong on structured, fashion-forward tailoring and sharp leather-look pieces. Their sizing is consistent and their quality at the price point is genuinely good. A more understated take on the same confident dressing energy.
Hugo Boss — For the sharp, precision-tailored side of the Plein wardrobe without the maximalism. Excellent on structured blazers, leather accessories and considered dressing. Sizing is clear and true to standard UK sizing.
All Saints — Brilliant for leather jackets and edgy separates with a darker, rock-influenced aesthetic that overlaps with parts of the Plein customer base. Quality well above the price point, and sizing is notably consistent.

Premium alternatives:

Calvin Klein — The more restrained side of the bold-fashion equation. Their leather and denim in particular are impeccably made, with confident, clean sizing and a brand cachet that holds up at the premium level.
Tommy Hilfiger — The premium American heritage answer to Plein's European excess. Bold logo work, strong outerwear, and consistent sizing make this a reliable alternative for the statement-conscious shopper.

Luxury & designer alternatives:

Versace — The natural Italian luxury sibling for Plein devotees. Similarly bold, similarly unafraid of embellishment, but with decades more heritage behind the house codes. Versace's sizing also runs on the smaller side — apply a similar approach.
Roberto Cavalli — Another Italian luxury house in the same maximalist, ultra-confident territory. Known for body-con cuts and statement prints. If you love Plein's energy but want something with a stronger fashion heritage, Cavalli is the move.

Two independent picks you might not know yet:

Retrofête — A New York-based independent label that has built a cult following for its sequinned, embellished occasionwear. Genuinely spectacular for parties and events — some of the best embellished dresses outside of true luxury. Sizing is consistent and detailed on their site. Very much in the same glamorous register as Plein, at a more accessible price.
Alexandre Vauthier — A Parisian independent designer working at the luxury end of the bold, body-conscious aesthetic. His pieces share Plein's love of drama and confidence, but with a more architectural precision. If you're drawn to Plein's showstopper dresses in particular, Vauthier is the elevated alternative worth knowing.

Don't Guess Your Philipp Plein Size — Use Tellar

Philipp Plein sizing varies by garment type, runs small through their tailoring, and uses Italian EU sizing on top of that. At these prices, guessing is not a strategy. Tellar matches your real measurements to your exact size across 1,500+ brands — including Philipp Plein — in seconds, completely free.

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