What Is Sizing Like at Salon 1884? An Honest Stylist's Guide

Salon 1884 runs true to size but slightly snug in its tailoring — the blazers, jackets and high-waisted trousers are cut close through the shoulder, waist and hip, so if you're between sizes, carrying a fuller bust, or you simply like a little room to layer, sizing up is almost always the smarter move. The softer side of the range — jersey, silk separates and anything with stretch — is far more forgiving and sits much closer to true to size.

I've spent years fitting clients into New York-made luxury labels, and Salon 1884 is one of those brands where the cut does exactly what it promises: it sculpts. That's wonderful when you get the size right and frustrating when you don't, so let me walk you through it properly before you spend a few hundred pounds and hope for the best.

First, who actually is Salon 1884?

Salon 1884 is a luxury womenswear label, locally made in New York and designed around sharp, considered tailoring for the modern woman. Think superfine wool blazers, lambskin jackets, leather trenches and high-waisted trousers, sitting alongside silk slips, mesh bodysuits and jersey vests. Prices reflect the make — a wool blazer sits around the £1,500 mark, leather pieces climb higher, and the softer separates start more accessibly. You'll find it stocked at Net-a-Porter, Moda Operandi and Neiman Marcus, as well as the brand's own site.

How Salon 1884 sizing actually works

Two things to know up front. The tailoring tends to use French numerical sizing (you'll see FR34 through to FR44 on dresses and structured pieces), while the jersey and silk styles often come in simple S/M/L. As a rough anchor, a FR 38 lands close to a UK 10 — but the number on the label matters far less than the shape of the cut, which is where most people come unstuck.

Here's how the different pieces behave on the body:

• Blazers & jackets — this is the signature: a strong, defined shoulder and a nipped-in waist. Beautiful for a structured silhouette, but unforgiving if your shoulders are broader or your bust is fuller. Size up here.

• Trousers (the Cecily wool trouser, for example) — high-waisted and slim through the hip, designed to elongate. Match these to your waist and hip measurement, not your usual trouser size, or the hip will catch.

• Silk & jersey separates — slip dresses, mesh bodysuits, vest tops. These are intended as a close fit but the fabric has give, so most people sit true to size. Only size up if you genuinely dislike anything body-skimming.

• Leather pieces — gorgeous, but leather has no stretch and won't relax much. Don't be tempted to size down for a sleeker line; you'll regret it by lunchtime.

A fit win and a fit fail (so you don't repeat mine)

My honest confession: the first structured blazer I ever ordered from a brand cut like this, I took my "usual" size on autopilot. The waist was glorious — and the shoulders pulled so badly across the back that I couldn't reach for my coffee without the whole thing riding up. Lesson learnt. The win came later with a client who has a fuller bust: we went up one size, had the sleeves shortened by a tailor for around £20, and the result looked genuinely made-to-measure. With tailoring this precise, a small alteration is worth far more than squeezing into the "right" number.

My styling tips for getting it right

• Measure your shoulder width, not just bust and waist — it's the make-or-break dimension on structured jackets.

• Read the garment notes. Salon 1884 will often tell you when something is designed to be snug or relaxed; believe it.

• Be honest with your real measurements. Vanity sizing won't save you with tailoring this exact.

• Budget for a quick tailor's tweak on sleeves or hem — on luxury pieces it's the difference between "nice" and "perfect".

If structured outerwear is your thing, my ultimate guide to jackets and body-shape matching goes much deeper on getting the shoulder line right.

Where to find a similar look at every budget

Love the clean, sculpted Salon 1884 aesthetic but want options across price points? These are the brands I'd genuinely send a client to, chosen for how well they handle structured, minimal tailoring.

High street — smart tailoring without the luxury price tag:

• Massimo Dutti — arguably the best high-street tailoring going; the blazers have a real luxury hand-feel.

• COS — pared-back, architectural shapes that echo Salon 1884's minimalism beautifully.

• Reiss — polished suiting and occasion pieces with a sharp, grown-up finish.

• Whistles — modern, slightly relaxed tailoring with lovely fabrics.

• Jigsaw — quietly excellent quality and a timeless, understated cut.

• Mango — consistently nails of-the-moment tailoring at a brilliant price.

• Me&Em — elevated, clever workwear-meets-luxury pieces designed to flatter.

Premium — a step up in fabric and finish:

• Joseph — the connoisseur's choice for minimalist tailoring and beautiful trousers.

• Theory — precise, fuss-free suiting built for real wardrobes.

• Toteme — Scandi restraint and quiet luxury; the closest premium cousin to Salon 1884's mood.

• Sandro — Parisian tailoring with just enough edge.

Luxury / designer — if you're investing properly:

• Max Mara — the gold standard for luxury coats and tailoring; impeccable construction that lasts decades.

• Ralph Lauren — timeless, sharp tailoring with that unmistakable polished-American elegance.

And two left-field independents worth knowing:

• The Deck London — a small British house that makes tailoring cut specifically for the female frame, so the shoulders and waist actually sit where they should.

• Albaray — a lesser-known UK label doing quietly elevated, considered everyday pieces at gentler prices.

If a structured dress is more your end goal, browse my ultimate guide to dresses by body shape for more brand picks, and for denim to layer underneath, my edit of the best jean trends for 2026.

Skip the size-guide guesswork with Tellar

Here's the honest truth: French sizing, S/M/L, slim hips, strong shoulders — cross-referencing all of that across a brand you've never tried is exactly where expensive mistakes happen. That's why I built Tellar, the UK's leading sizing tool. Measure once using your bust, waist and hip (or just tell us your existing size in a brand you already own), and we match your body to over 1,500 brands instantly — including Salon 1884. Already know your size in Reiss or Massimo Dutti? Tellar converts it straight across.

• Measure once, then never squint at a size guide again.

• Use the Store Size Lookup tool for your precise size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.

• Always free, no downloads, works straight in your browser.

There's also the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library stacked with free posts from our stylists. Honest, unbiased, independent and always free: style advice, top picks and the best brands for every body. New to all this? Start with the ultimate clothing sizing guide.

Get your perfect Salon 1884 fit in 10 seconds

Stop gambling on luxury tailoring. Let Tellar match your exact measurements to Salon 1884 and 1,500+ other brands — free, instant, in-browser.

Try Tellar Free → Use the Store Size Lookup →

Honest, unbiased and never sponsored — just genuine stylist advice from the Tellar Fashion Hub.