What Is Sizing Like at Route One?

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

Route One sizing runs generously — particularly in their own-brand pieces, which lean heavily into relaxed, oversized and unstructured silhouettes rooted firmly in skate culture. If you're shopping their in-house O.B. line or picking up a hoodie or graphic tee, expect a roomier fit than you'd get from a standard UK high street retailer.

I'll be honest — Route One wasn't always on my radar as a stylist. I tend to live in Scandi minimalism and tailored cuts, so the first time a client asked me about it, I had to do a proper deep dive. And I'm genuinely glad I did. There's something refreshing about a brand that's been doing its own thing since 1989, completely unbothered by trends. It's the UK's leading skate shop, but women are absolutely shopping there — for baggy jorts, heavyweight hoodies, and third-party brands like Carhartt WIP and Dickies that have crossed firmly into mainstream fashion territory.

Here's what you actually need to know about sizing before you order.

Route One's Own-Brand Sizing: Expect to Size Down

Route One's in-house O.B. (Own Brand) collection is designed with a skate-first aesthetic — which means the cuts are deliberately oversized and relaxed. Their signature baggy jeans and Super Baggy Jorts, for instance, are built with a low crotch, voluminous leg and a wide waistband. They're also made from a heavy 13oz denim, which has less give than your average high street fabric. If you're used to shopping standard UK sizing in brands like Zara or M&S, you'll almost certainly want to size down at least one, sometimes two sizes.

Hoodies and sweatshirts: These run large and boxy. A customer I helped recently — a solid size 12 in most places — picked up a Route One hoodie in a large and was absolutely swamped by it. We went back in at a small and it was perfect for that intentional oversized look, or an XS if she'd wanted a more fitted silhouette.
Graphic tees: Similarly boxy, with shorter lengths in some styles and longer drop-shoulder cuts in others. They vary by season and design so it's worth checking individual product measurements.
Baggy jeans and jorts: Deliberately oversized — that's the whole point. But do cross-reference your waist measurement, as the fit around the hips and thighs is wide by design.
Jackets and outer layers: These vary more. Some utility-style jackets come up quite true to size; others have that deliberately unstructured skate fit. When in doubt, size down once.

Third-Party Brands at Route One

Route One also stocks a strong edit of third-party streetwear and skate brands — and this is where sizing gets a bit more nuanced, because each brand has its own sizing logic.

Carhartt WIP: Runs true to size or slightly large — the canvas fabrics and workwear silhouettes have generous proportions, but in a more structured way than Route One's own pieces.
Dickies: Generally true to UK sizing, though their trousers use a waist/length measurement rather than numbered dress sizes, which trips people up. Measure your waist in inches.
Thrasher: Runs large — their hoodies and tees are notoriously oversized. Size down at least once, sometimes twice if you're petite.
Nike SB and Vans: More consistent with standard UK sizing for tees and fleeces, though footwear sizing is a separate matter entirely.
RIPNDIP: These run generous too — another skate-culture brand where the oversized fit is part of the aesthetic.

The short version? Route One isn't a brand you can shop on autopilot using your usual size. It rewards doing a bit of homework first — which, incidentally, is exactly what Tellar is built for.

Tips for Shopping Route One as a Woman

Route One has a dedicated women's section, but a lot of their most-loved pieces — the hoodies, the baggy jeans, the graphic tees — are unisex or men's fits that women are absolutely buying and styling. There's nothing wrong with this at all; the oversized menswear look is genuinely brilliant if you know how to balance proportions.

If you're going for the oversized-hoodie-with-slim-jeans look, size down twice from your usual men's size.
Baggy jorts or wide-leg trousers? Pair with a fitted crop or tucked-in tee to keep the proportions intentional rather than shapeless.
For women's-specific fits from brands like Vans or Dickies on the site, these tend to come up more true to size than the menswear options.
If you're petite, tread carefully with their longer, heavier pieces — they can easily overwhelm a smaller frame unless you're deliberately going for that extreme oversized aesthetic.

High Street Alternatives for the Skate & Streetwear Look

If Route One's sizing feels like a bit of a lottery, or you want to try the aesthetic with a more reliable sizing structure, these high street options deliver brilliantly for the same vibe:

Urban Outfitters — Genuinely one of the best high street options for skate-adjacent streetwear. Their sizing is more consistent than Route One's, with a good edit of graphic tees, baggy jeans and oversized hoodies that feel current without requiring a total size recalibration.
ASOS — The sheer volume of streetwear and skate-influenced pieces here is unmatched. The own-brand pieces tend to run slightly large, but the product descriptions usually flag this clearly. Great for testing the aesthetic without a big spend.
Levi's — If it's the baggy denim you're after, Levi's is the gold standard. Their sizing is far more predictable, they stock half sizes, and the quality is exceptional for the price point.
Hollister — Better than it gets credit for in the streetwear space. Their relaxed fit tees and casual hoodies have a clean, unfussy aesthetic that works brilliantly with wide-leg denim. Sizing runs US, so do check their conversion guide.
Abercrombie & Fitch — Their recent glow-up is real. The baggy jeans and oversized fleeces are genuinely good, and they've nailed that casual-cool aesthetic without screaming skate brand. Sizing is generally reliable and runs fairly true.
All Saints — For a slightly elevated take on the same dark, laid-back aesthetic, All Saints is brilliant. Their graphic tees and relaxed leather-trim pieces have a cool, uncompromising edge. Sizing is UK standard and generally very consistent.
Superdry — Long a go-to for action sports-adjacent clothing, Superdry does a solid range of relaxed hoodies and casual outerwear. Their sizing does run large though — worth checking reviews before ordering.
Topshop (via ASOS) — The Topshop edit on ASOS has some genuinely great unisex and relaxed-fit pieces that sit perfectly in the skate-influenced aesthetic. Sizing is standard UK and one of the more reliable buys in this space.

Two Independent Picks Worth Knowing About

If you want to step even further away from the mainstream and into genuine subculture territory, these two are doing something special:

Yardsale — A London-based skate brand that's earned serious credibility in the scene without ever selling out. Their graphics are brilliant, the quality is excellent, and the sizing runs generous in true skate fashion — but they're upfront about it. A genuinely cool independent pick if you want the real thing rather than a high street approximation.
Minga London — An independent UK brand doing brilliant things in the alt and skate-adjacent space. Graphic tees, oversized fits, edge — all at a price point that doesn't sting. Sizing is more consistently UK-standard than many skate brands, which makes them an easier shop for women crossing over from the high street.

Premium and Luxury Options

If you love the skate-influenced aesthetic but want to invest in elevated, long-lasting pieces, there are some brilliant options at the premium end:

Carhartt WIP — Premium skate and workwear crossover that genuinely lasts. An investment, but the quality justifies it entirely.
Stüssy — The original streetwear premium pick. Sizing runs oversized as standard, but their pieces are considered wardrobe staples for a reason.
A.P.C. — For a luxury take on relaxed denim and clean streetwear silhouettes, A.P.C. is outstanding. Their sizing runs small and true to European measurements, which is a complete contrast to the skate brands — something to bear in mind when switching between them.
Acne Studios — If you want oversized done at the absolute luxury level, Acne's heavyweight hoodies and relaxed denim pieces are unbeatable. Sizing is consistent but lean — you may need to size up compared to your usual premium brand sizing.

Never Guess Your Size Again — Use Tellar

Route One's sizing is notoriously inconsistent across brands — and now you know why. Whether it's the in-house O.B. line, Carhartt WIP or Dickies, getting it right the first time saves a frustrating return. That's exactly what Tellar.co.uk is built for.

Tellar is the UK's leading free sizing tool — matching your body measurements to over 1,500 brands instantly. No downloads. No subscriptions. Just your perfect size, every time.

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