What Is Sizing Like at The Frankie Shop? An Honest Stylist's Guide

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

The Frankie Shop runs large by design — that is not a flaw, it is the entire point. If you shop there without knowing that, you will end up swimming in a blazer wondering where you went wrong. Buy with that knowledge, and you will look effortlessly cool. The trick is understanding when to size down and when to lean into the oversized silhouette as intended.

The Frankie Shop Aesthetic — Why Sizing Feels Different Here

The Frankie Shop launched in New York in 2014 and has become one of the most referenced brands on fashion Instagram for good reason. Its signature is relaxed, oversized, minimalist tailoring — think wide-leg trousers, boxy blazers, slouchy knitwear. The brand has a very distinct vision, and that vision is not fitted. Once you accept that, shopping here becomes a lot more straightforward.

I remember my first Frankie Shop order like it was yesterday. I bought the Gabin blazer (the one absolutely everywhere a couple of years back) in my usual size and it arrived looking like something I’d borrowed from a much taller, broader friend. I nearly sent it back. Instead I belted it, rolled the sleeves, and wore it with wide-leg jeans. It was one of my most-complimented outfits that season. Lesson learned: this brand requires a mindset shift.

How The Frankie Shop Sizing Actually Works

The brand uses French sizing for most pieces — so you’ll see labels reading 36, 38, 40, 42 rather than the UK 8, 10, 12, 14 you’re used to. As a rough guide:

• FR 36 = approximately UK 8 / XS

• FR 38 = approximately UK 10 / S

• FR 40 = approximately UK 12 / M

• FR 42 = approximately UK 14 / L

That said, the oversized construction means a FR 36 blazer will still look roomy on someone who typically wears a UK 8. The sizing is not incorrect — it is intentional. Their website does include measurements, which I always recommend checking against a tape measure rather than relying on your usual label size alone.

Sizing by Category — What To Know Before You Buy

Tailoring & Blazers

This is where the oversized nature is most pronounced. Their iconic structured blazers are cut with extremely wide shoulders and a boxy body. Most people size down one size or even two from their usual here. If you normally wear a UK 12, start with a FR 38 (UK 10 equivalent) and consider whether you want a slightly more fitted oversized look or the full slouchy effect. There is no wrong answer — it depends entirely on how you are planning to wear it.

Trousers & Wide-Leg Bottoms

Frankie Shop trousers are high-waisted, wide-legged, and extraordinarily flattering on most body shapes precisely because they do not cling. Sizing here tends to be more standard than the blazers. I’d recommend going with your usual size or, if you are between sizes, sizing down. The elasticated waistbands on some styles give a little more flexibility. The length is generous — expect to have these hemmed if you are under around 5’6“.

Knitwear

Sweaters and knit vests are intentionally boxy and cropped or oversized depending on the style. They tend to be comfortable across a wider range of sizes. Again, if you dislike a very shapeless look, size down once. If the cropped boxy aesthetic is your goal, stay true to size or even size up slightly for a more exaggerated shape.

Dresses & Co-ords

Frankie Shop dresses vary more than you might expect. Some follow a more standard cut, others lean heavily oversized. Always check the model measurements listed on the product page and cross-reference with your own measurements — this is genuinely the most reliable method. The brand tends to use tall models (around 5’9”–5’11”) so shorter women will find that hems sit differently in person.

My Frankie Shop Sizing Tips

• Always check the garment measurements on the product page — not just the FR size number

• For blazers and outerwear, consider sizing down one full size for a more intentional oversized look rather than an accidental one

• For trousers, stick to your usual size or size down if between sizes

• If in doubt, size down — you can always go up, but most pieces are designed to be large, so erring on the smaller side rarely looks wrong

• Budget for alterations on hemlines if you are petite

Brands With a Similar Aesthetic (But Perhaps an Easier Size Run)

If The Frankie Shop’s sizing or price point is giving you pause, there are brilliant alternatives that capture a similar minimalist, elevated aesthetic — both on the high street and at premium price points.

High street options worth exploring:

• Massimo Dutti — superb quality for the price, their tailoring in particular rivals brands at triple the cost. Sizing is reliably European but consistent

• Whistles — a brilliant UK brand for understated, well-cut pieces. Their blazers and wide-leg trousers are excellent and sizing is fairly standard UK

• Jigsaw — understated, classic, and beautifully made for the high street. Their knitwear and tailoring is exactly the kind of thing Frankie Shop devotees tend to love

• Reiss — consistently brilliant tailoring with a more conventional fit. A great option when you want clean lines without sizing guesswork

• Me&Em — possibly the best quality-to-price ratio on the British high street right now. Trousers especially are outstanding and their sizing runs true

• Anthropologie — a broader, more eclectic range but excellent for elevated basics and some really interesting tailoring shapes at accessible prices

• All Saints — strong on the minimalist, slightly edgy aesthetic. Leather pieces and relaxed tailoring are solid and sizing is reliable

• Hobbs — more classic in tone but genuinely beautiful tailoring and excellent size consistency, especially for workwear-adjacent pieces

Two independent brands worth knowing about:

• Studio Nicholson — a London-based independent label that captures the Frankie Shop aesthetic almost perfectly. Relaxed, considered, beautifully constructed. Pricier, but their sizing is more straightforward and their quality is exceptional. One of those brands that genuinely rewards loyalty

• Envelope 1976 — a Swedish independent brand beloved by the fashion crowd for its clean Scandinavian lines and surprisingly wearable silhouettes. Ships to the UK, brilliant quality, and a more forgiving size run than Frankie Shop’s tailoring

Never Guess Your Size Again — Use Tellar

The Frankie Shop uses French sizing, runs intentionally oversized, and the sizing varies by category. Before you order (and before you pay for returns), use Tellar.co.uk — the UK’s leading free sizing tool that matches your exact measurements to over 1,500 brands instantly.

• Measure once — bust, waist, hip, or use an existing brand size you trust

• Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size across brands like The Frankie Shop, COS, Reiss, Arket, Everlane and 1,500+ more

• Always free — no app, no downloads, works in your browser

Tellar is completely independent — no advertising, no sponsored content, no brand deals. Just honest sizing information and free style advice from our in-house stylists.

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→ The Ultimate Clothing Sizing Guide

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→ The Ultimate Guide to Dresses & Best Buys

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