What is sizing like at Threadbare menswear?

Threadbare menswear runs largely true to standard UK high-street sizing — but the fit genuinely wobbles from one category to the next. As a rule: buy true to size in tees, jersey and denim, go up a size for chunky knitwear and outerwear, and drop down for loungewear. Nail those three habits and you'll rarely need a returns label.

Threadbare is a UK, family-run label that's quietly built one of the bigger casualwear empires on the high street. You'll spot it stocked through ASOS, Next, Debenhams, Very and Matalan, and it's the kind of brand men end up ordering three sizes of the same hoodie from, hoping one lands. It doesn't have to be that way. The sizing is perfectly manageable once you know how each category behaves — so let me break it down properly.

How Threadbare fits, category by category

T-shirts & jersey — the slim and regular cuts sit true to size. If you're broad or athletic through the chest and shoulders, size up one so the arms and body don't cling.
Jeans & joggers — the most predictable part of the range. Waist and leg numbers are reliable, so just buy your usual and get on with your day.
Knitwear — chunky jumpers and cardigans are cut with a little room for layering. Between sizes? Take the larger for a proper over-a-shirt fit.
Coats, puffers & borg jackets — designed to go over a jumper, so true to size for most men. If you're slim through the shoulders, drop one so it doesn't swamp you.
Loungewear & pyjamas — comes up generous. Size down unless you actively want that oversized, sink-into-the-sofa feel.

One honest caveat: Threadbare's own size chart isn't perfectly consistent between categories. A medium tee and a medium overshirt won't always feel like the same medium — that's the trade-off you make at this price point, and it means checking the individual product matters more here than at a brand with stricter fit control.

A couple of winters ago I was kitting out a client for a run of casual shoots and ordered him a Threadbare borg-lined jacket with a matching hoodie set, both in his usual medium. The jacket was spot on — roomy enough for a mid-layer, exactly what you want from that kind of piece. The hoodie? Enormous. He looked like he'd borrowed it off a much larger brother. Lesson filed: I now treat Threadbare loungewear as a size-down job, every single time.

What's actually worth buying — and how to wear it

Threadbare punches above its price in a few clear places. The borg jackets and puffers are the standout — genuinely good winter outerwear for the money. The knitted polos and overshirts are your smart-casual workhorses, and the denim is reliable enough to be a wardrobe staple in a straight or slim leg.

Styling-wise, keep it disciplined. Threadbare does a bold print or a loud borg texture well, but one statement piece per outfit is plenty. Anchor a printed overshirt with plain trousers and clean trainers, and let the piece do the talking. That restraint is the difference between looking styled and looking like you got dressed in the dark.

Nine brands to shop if you like Threadbare

If affordable casualwear with a bit of personality is your thing, here's where I'd send you across three price points — often with more consistent fit than Threadbare itself.

HIGH STREET

Next — where you'll often find Threadbare anyway. Its own-label menswear is reliably true to size and brilliant for smart-casual basics and easy tailoring.
River Island — a more polished, going-out feel at a similar price. True to UK sizing across most categories, with sharper cuts.
H&M — the king of affordable basics and trend pieces. Fitted styles run slightly small, so size up if you're caught between.

INDEPENDENT & BOUTIQUE

Percival — a London label with real character in its knitwear, cuban-collar shirts and cabana pieces. Cut on the slim side, so size up if you like a bit of room.
Wax London — considered, sustainably minded casualwear. The Whiting overshirt is a modern classic and the fit is regular and true to size.
Universal Works — British, workwear-leaning menswear with a relaxed silhouette. Buy your usual and expect a roomier, utilitarian cut.

DESIGNER & LUXURY

A.P.C. — French minimalism, famous for its raw denim. Cut lean and small, so size up from your usual number.
Acne Studios — the elevated Scandi take on jersey, denim and casual outerwear. Sizing skews oversized by design, so factor that in.
C.P. Company — if you're the Threadbare borg-jacket shopper who wants the real technical-outerwear thing, this is the upgrade. True to size with a slightly boxy cut.

STOP GUESSING YOUR SIZE

Never look at a Threadbare size guide again

Here's the honest truth: even I check measurements rather than trust a label, because Threadbare's own chart shifts between categories. That's exactly what we built Tellar.co.uk for — the UK's leading free sizing tool, matching your body to your precise size in 1,500+ brands, instantly.

Measure once — use your chest, waist and hip, or just tell it a brand and size you already own.
Use the Store Size Lookup to get your exact size in Threadbare and beyond — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.
Shop with confidence — no guesswork, fewer returns, better-fitting kit.
Always free, no download needed — it works right in your browser.

Find your Threadbare size →

Find your exact fit: Store Size Lookup for menNew to measuring? How to measure — men

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