What is Sizing Like at Studio Nicholson?

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

Studio Nicholson uses its own proprietary sizing system — labelled 00, 0, 1, 2, and 3 — and the brand is intentionally cut with generous, oversized proportions, so if you're used to buying a UK 10, you may well find a Studio Nicholson size 1 swamps you in ways you weren't expecting. The key question is really this: do you want the brand's signature architectural volume, or do you want the pieces to sit closer to the body? That answer determines whether you buy your usual size or go down one.

I'll be honest — when I first discovered Studio Nicholson, I made the classic mistake of ordering my usual size in their Doring trousers (the iconic high-waisted volume leg style), and when the parcel arrived, I genuinely had a moment of wondering whether I'd accidentally ordered the men's version. I hadn't. That's just how the brand is designed to fit. Once I understood the philosophy — that the volume IS the point — I sized down, the trousers were extraordinary, and I've been a convert ever since.

Here's everything you need to know before you spend £200–£600 on a piece from one of London's best-kept cult labels.

Who is Studio Nicholson?

Studio Nicholson was founded in London in 2010 by designer Nick Wakeman, and it has built a fiercely loyal following among the kind of women who find most fashion too shouty. The aesthetic draws on Japanese architecture, 1980s sportswear, and a very particular kind of British restraint — the result is a wardrobe of wide-leg trousers, boxy shirts, fluid coats, and beautifully weighted knitwear that manages to feel both effortless and deeply considered at the same time.

Fabrics are sourced from Portugal, Italy, Japan, and the UK — their Typewriter Cotton (a dense Japanese-woven fabric with a soft, papery texture) is practically a house signature. This is not a cheap brand, but it is an extremely good one, and the pieces tend to last for years, which matters. It has stores in London, Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, and Kyoto — which tells you everything about its global cult status.

Studio Nicholson's Sizing System Explained

Rather than standard UK sizes, Studio Nicholson runs its own numerical system from 00 to 3. The conversion to UK sizing is fairly straightforward, but the important thing to layer on top of that is the intentional generosity of the cut:

Studio Nicholson SizeUK Size (approx.)EU SizeUS SizeBust (cm)Waist (cm)Hips (cm)00634280–8360–6385–880836483–8663–6688–9111038686–9066–7091–9521240890–9470–7495–99314421094–9874–7899–103

The golden rule: if you love the sculptural, voluminous look that defines the brand, buy your true size. If you prefer your clothes to skim rather than drape, go down one size — particularly for tops, shirts, and outerwear. The trousers are worth consulting measurements for individually, as different silhouettes vary.

Studio Nicholson Trousers — The Real Reason You're Here

Let's talk about the trousers, because they are genuinely what Studio Nicholson is famous for and why most people fall down the research rabbit hole in the first place. Their signature silhouettes — the Doring, the Acuna, the Chalco — are all wide-leg, high-waisted styles with serious volume through the leg. They are deliberately not meant to be slim-fitting, so trying to fight the proportions by sizing down dramatically doesn't work.

For the Doring and Acuna (the high-waisted volume styles): size to your waist measurement. The leg will take care of itself — that's the design.
For the Barra and Ruthe (the straighter-leg denim styles): these are closer to true-to-size. A UK 10 generally works well in a size 1.
If you're petite, be cautious with the full-length silhouettes — they are cut for height, and they pool. A lot.
The waistbands are often structured with exposed zips or belt fastenings, so getting the waist right is more important than worrying about the hip measurement.

Studio Nicholson Tops, Shirts & Knitwear

The shirts and tops follow the same oversized philosophy. Their shirts are boxy with wide sleeves and a dropped shoulder — if you're a UK 10 and you order a size 1, it will look very deliberately oversized. That might be exactly what you want. If you'd prefer it to look more polished and less slouchy, a size 0 is worth considering for a UK 8–10.

Knitwear tends to be cut generously, with dropped shoulders. Their heavyweight wool jumpers are designed to be oversized, so don't be spooked — work with it, not against it.
If you're between sizes, the fit tips on individual product pages are genuinely useful. Studio Nicholson are more transparent than most about how each style is meant to sit on the body.
Sleeve length runs long — if you're on the shorter side, bear in mind that cuffs may need turning up.

Studio Nicholson Outerwear & Coats

The outerwear is some of the best the brand does — clean-lined coats in beautiful fabrics, often with interesting structural details at the back or collar. Because the brand is built around layering, outerwear is cut generously enough to accommodate a serious knit underneath without looking strained.

For coats and jackets worn over fine layers, your true size will work well.
If you want a more tailored silhouette, or you're planning to wear the coat primarily over lighter pieces, go down one.
The Over jacket — one of their bestsellers, reimagined each season — is boxy by design and very much meant to be voluminous. Don't fight it.

My Honest Verdict on Studio Nicholson Sizing

The short version is: read the individual product fit notes on their website before you order, because they are actually very good. Then cross-reference against your measurements rather than just your label size — especially for the trousers. The brand rewards the effort. Once you understand how the pieces are meant to sit, the sizing makes complete sense, and you'll find the clothes incredibly easy to wear and endlessly mix-and-match. This is wardrobe-building done properly.

Where to Shop If Studio Nicholson Is a Stretch Budget-Wise

Studio Nicholson sits in the premium-to-luxury bracket, with most pieces ranging from around £150 for a simple jersey top to £600-plus for outerwear. If you love the aesthetic — that considered, low-key, architectural approach — here are the brands doing it well at different price points:

High Street Picks:

Jigsaw — Probably the best high-street equivalent to the Studio Nicholson customer. Classic British, quietly elevated, good fabrics. Their wide-leg trousers and coats in particular are genuinely excellent.
Hush — A brilliant, undersung British label with a real understanding of relaxed dressing done well. Their knitwear and easy tailoring hits a very similar note to the Studio Nicholson ethos.
The White Company — For the clean, monochromatic, quietly luxurious side of Studio Nicholson's wardrobe. Particularly good for cashmere basics and crisp shirts.
Mango — Often overlooked, but Mango's tailoring has got genuinely good in recent years. Their wide-leg trousers and structured blazers are excellent high-street options for this kind of aesthetic.
Great Plains — A quietly brilliant British label that very few people talk about enough. Beautiful fabrics, easy shapes, and a restrained palette that sits perfectly alongside the Studio Nicholson mindset.
Banana Republic — Particularly strong for wide-leg tailored trousers and structured outerwear. Often underestimated as a brand but genuinely delivers on quality at the price point.
Hobbs — British tailoring done properly. Their coats and structured pieces are excellent, and the sizing is consistent and reliable — a refreshing change.

Premium & Niche Picks:

Aeron — A Czech label that has been quietly building a serious following among exactly the kind of women who love Studio Nicholson. Architectural cuts, beautiful fabrics, considered construction — and considerably less well-known than it deserves to be. If you haven't discovered Aeron yet, start now.
Baserange — A Danish-French label making beautifully simple, body-conscious basics in natural fibres. Where Studio Nicholson is about volume, Baserange is about ease — but the two sit together in a wardrobe in a very complementary way. Perfect for building a considered, minimal foundation.

Stop Guessing. Use Tellar to Find Your Studio Nicholson Size.

Studio Nicholson's own sizing system — 00 to 3, with intentionally oversized cuts that vary by silhouette — is genuinely tricky to navigate without a reference point. That's where Tellar.co.uk comes in.

Tellar is the UK's leading free clothing sizing tool, matching your measurements to 1,500+ brands instantly — including Studio Nicholson, Jigsaw, Hush, Mango, and everything else in your wardrobe. No guesswork. No expensive returns.

Measure once — your bust, waist, and hips, or use a brand size you already trust.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise fit in Studio Nicholson and 1,500+ other brands instantly.
Always free — no app to download, no account to create, works entirely in your browser.

And while you're there, explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of hundreds of free, honest, unsponsored style posts from our team of stylists. No brand deals. No sponsored content. Just good advice, always.

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