What Is Sizing Like at The Elder Statesman?

The Elder Statesman runs broadly true to size with a relaxed, gently oversized feel — the cult LA cashmere house keeps things simple with XS–XL alpha sizing, and its own fit advice is unusually clear: take your normal size for a true fit, size down if you want something closer to the body, or size up for that proper slouchy drape. So if you're a UK 10 you'll comfortably be a small here, and you really don't need to overthink it. But cashmere is a living thing, and there are a few quirks worth knowing before you part with £700-plus, so let me walk you through it properly.

So what does "true to size" actually mean here?

The Elder Statesman doesn't do vanity sizing or sneaky shrinkage built into the pattern. Their core pieces — the Simple Crew being the one everyone starts with — are cut for an easy, lived-in fit rather than anything skintight. On their own site the brand spells it out garment by garment: for a true fit, take your regular size; for a more fitted look, size down; for the full oversized silhouette, size up. I love a brand that tells you the truth rather than making you guess, and after years of styling cashmere I can confirm their guidance actually holds up.

The bigger variable isn't the label — it's the weight of the knit. A heavy-gauge crew sits structured and close to its measurements, while the lighter, looser styles (anything described as "Lite" or "Nimbus") drape and grow a little with wear. That's the bit most size charts won't tell you.

The fit quirks worth knowing

Cashmere relaxes. Natural fibres soften and lengthen slightly after a few wears. If it feels perfect and snug in the changing room, it may end up a touch roomier — so don't panic-size-up on a fitted style.
Mind your shoulders and bust. The relaxed cut is generous through the body but the shoulders can feel narrow if you're broader up top. If you're between sizes and carry width across the back, take the larger one.
Heavy vs light knits behave differently. A chunky rib turtleneck wears cosier and closer; a fine featherweight crew has more give and drape.
It's pricey, so check the returns. Online orders are returnable within 14 days — but markdowns and any custom/personalised pieces are final sale. Worth knowing before you click buy on a sale bargain.
Resale runs honest. If you're buying pre-loved (and at these prices, who could blame you), the S/M/L labelling translates reliably, so a vintage small really is a small.

How I'd choose my size

My rule of thumb: order your everyday size for that signature easy fit, size down one if you want it neat and tucked-in friendly, and only size up if you're specifically chasing the cocoon-y, oversized-with-leggings look. As a reference point, the brand's own womenswear models — roughly a UK 8–10 frame — wear a small in the classic crews, which tells you the small isn't cut mean.

A quick confession from my own wardrobe: years ago I bought a gorgeous tie-dye cashmere crew in a size up because I'd convinced myself "oversized = chic." Reader, it ate me alive — the drop shoulder hit my elbow and I looked like I'd borrowed it from a much taller friend. Lesson learned. With this kind of relaxed knitwear, going up a size rarely makes you look effortlessly slouchy; it usually just makes you look smaller inside a big jumper. My genuine win came later when I took my true size in a heavy crew and it became the most-worn, most-complimented thing I own.

Where to shop if The Elder Statesman is out of budget

Four-figure cashmere isn't for every occasion (or every payday), so here's where I'd look for that same soft, relaxed knitwear feel across the price spectrum.

On the high street:

Uniqlo — the benchmark for affordable cashmere; true to size and brilliant for building a basics rotation.
M&S — consistently the best-value British cashmere on the high street, with reliable, generous fits.
Hush — relaxed, slouchy knits that echo the TES easy-fit silhouette almost exactly.
Mint Velvet — soft, drapey knitwear with a deliberately laid-back cut.
The White Company — understated, beautifully made cashmere in quiet neutral tones.
Massimo Dutti — elevated, slightly slimmer knits if you prefer a more tailored line.
Seasalt Cornwall — cosy, textured knits with a softer, true-to-size fit.

Premium picks:

Brora — the British cashmere specialist; gorgeous colour and a fit that sits between classic and relaxed.
Toast — relaxed, natural-fibre knitwear with that same artisanal, lived-in feel.
By Malene Birger — Scandi-elevated knits with a clean, modern drape.

Luxury & designer:

Loro Piana — the gold standard of cashmere if you want the ultimate hand-feel; cut clean and true.
Max Mara — refined, sculptural knitwear that runs fairly true with a polished finish.
Toteme — minimalist Scandi luxury with a relaxed, architectural cut.

And two to seek out — my left-field independents:

Lisa Yang — a cashmere-obsessed independent label doing buttery, slouchy knits that rival the big houses for a fraction of the noise.
&Daughter — a family-run British-Irish knitwear house making honest, beautifully fitted pieces with real heritage credentials.

Never squint at a size guide again

Tellar is the UK's leading sizing tool — your body matched exactly to 1,500+ brands instantly. Measure once using your bust, waist, hip, or an existing brand size, and we'll tell you your precise size in any label, including knitwear cuts like The Elder Statesman.

Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your exact size in COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket & more
Always free, no downloads — it works straight in your browser
Plus the Tellar Fashion Hub: a library of honest, unbiased, independent style posts. Always free.

Find my size on Tellar →