What Is Sizing Like at Vaquera?

Vaquera sizing runs big on purpose — the New York label builds exaggerated, oversized proportions into almost everything it makes, so the size on the label tells you far less than the silhouette does. Most pieces come in a simple S/M/L (occasionally XS–L), and the more structured items like trousers and jeans generally sit true to size, while dresses, shirts and outerwear are designed to swamp you. So before you panic about the number on the tag, understand the intent: with Vaquera, the drama is the point.

I learned this the slightly embarrassing way. I once ordered a Vaquera shirt in my "safe" size for a press day, assuming a crisp tailored fit, and it arrived looking like I'd borrowed it from someone three sizes up — which, it turned out, was exactly how it was meant to look. Once I stopped fighting it and styled it as the statement piece it is, it became one of the most photographed things I own. Lesson learned.

First, who actually are Vaquera?

Vaquera is a New York City-based collective founded in 2013 by Patric DiCaprio and Bryn Taubensee, and it sits firmly in the avant-garde, "fashion fan fiction" corner of the industry. Think deconstructed Americana, lingerie details layered over shirting, ironic graphics and silhouettes that are intentionally distorted. It's a cult designer label rather than a high-street one, so you're buying a point of view as much as a garment. That matters enormously for sizing, because almost nothing here is cut to hug the body in a conventional way.

So how does the sizing actually run?

Here's my honest, category-by-category read after handling a fair few pieces:

Tops, shirts and dresses: Expect generous, oversized volume. The "true" fit is the loose one — these aren't running large by accident, they're meant to drape and balloon.
Trousers and jeans: The most reliable category. These tend to fit true to size, so take your usual size unless you specifically want a slouchier leg.
Outerwear and tailoring: Dramatic and roomy. Brilliant for layering, but don't expect a sharp, fitted shoulder.
Knitwear: Relaxed and elongated — lovely, but check the length so it doesn't overwhelm a petite frame.

The single most useful tip: if you crave a sleeker, more tailored result, size down. Sizing down one notch is the classic trick for getting a Vaquera piece to read as "considered" rather than "engulfing."

How I'd buy it — a stylist's take

The mistake I see most often is people treating Vaquera like a tailoring brand and ordering for a snug fit. Don't. Decide first whether you want the full exaggerated drama or a pared-back version, and let that — not your usual number — drive the size you pick.

Want maximum statement? Take your normal size and lean into the volume.
Want it wearable for everyday? Size down and anchor it with something fitted underneath.
Always check the model's height and the listed garment measurements — proportions vary wildly piece to piece, which is half the fun and half the risk.

My styling rule for anything this bold: balance one oversized hero piece with something sleek. A swamping Vaquera shirt over slim trousers and a clean boot looks intentional; the same shirt with wide-leg everything just looks like you've lost a fight with your wardrobe. (I've done both. The second one was a wedding. We don't talk about it.)

Where to shop if you love the Vaquera look

If Vaquera is out of budget — and as a designer label, it often is — here's where I'd send you for that exaggerated, deconstructed, statement-led energy, across three price tiers.

High street

COS — the high street's most Vaquera-adjacent label, all sculptural, architectural cuts and clever oversized proportions.
Zara — the fastest at translating runway drama into wearable, of-the-moment statement pieces.
Urban Outfitters — youthful, irreverent and full of the slightly chaotic edge that suits this aesthetic.
ASOS — vast range, and the ASOS Design line carries the bolder, deconstructed shapes.
AllSaints — leather, washed denim and a proper downtown grit when you want the harder edge.
Mango — increasingly elevated, with sculptural tailoring that punches above its price.
Topshop — back and thriving, and still brilliant for trend-led statement dressing.

Premium

Ganni — Copenhagen's playful-cool label, big on statement prints and confident proportions.
Zadig & Voltaire — that effortless Parisian rock'n'roll edge, perfect for the slightly subversive shopper.
Toteme — for the sleeker end of the look: elevated, oversized minimalism done beautifully.

Luxury / designer

Maison Margiela — the godparent of deconstruction; if you love Vaquera's logic, this is the source.
Comme des Garçons — conceptual, sculptural and gloriously rule-breaking.
Simone Rocha — romance meets subversion, with the exaggerated volumes Vaquera fans adore.

And two left-field independents worth knowing

Collina Strada — a fellow New York label built on joyful, chaotic upcycling; a true spiritual cousin to Vaquera.
Di Petsa — the London cult name behind the "wet-look" draping that's quietly everywhere; properly directional and still under the radar.

Stop guessing your size — let Tellar do it

Sizing is exactly the headache Vaquera makes you confront, and it's why I built Tellar. It's the UK's leading sizing tool: you measure once — bust, waist, hip, or just give us your existing size in a brand you already own — and we instantly match your body to over 1,500 brands. No more squinting at a size guide, no downloads, it all works straight in your browser.

Measure once and you're set across 1,500+ brands.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.
Always free, always in-browser.

There's also the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library stacked with free posts from our top stylists. Honest, unbiased, independent and always free: style advice, top picks and the best brands, all in one place.

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Written by Ella Blake, Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder of Tellar.