What Is Sizing Like at Xacus? An Honest Guide to Getting Your Perfect Fit

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

Xacus runs true to Italian/European sizing, which means if you typically wear a UK 12, you'll want to reach for an EU 40 — and if you're in between, sizing up is always the safer call with this brand's fitted cuts.

Let me be honest with you: I discovered Xacus the way most people probably do — through a partner's wardrobe raid. I borrowed a white Xacus shirt to style for a shoot, fell completely in love with the fabric weight, and promptly spent the next hour on their website working out whether any of it came in women's sizes. (The answer, thankfully, is yes.) But Italian shirt sizing isn't always intuitive for UK shoppers, so let's get into it properly.

A Bit About Xacus First

Founded in 1956 in Castelfranco Veneto in northern Italy, Xacus is what you'd call a shirtmaker's shirtmaker. They're not a huge household name here in the UK — and honestly, that's part of the appeal. They sit in that sweet spot between premium and luxury, obsessing over collar construction, cotton sourcing, and cut in a way that most high street brands simply don't. Their women's line is smaller than the men's, but every piece is beautifully considered — from their relaxed linen styles to the Active Shirt line, which uses a clever Japanese polyamide-elastane blend that looks formal but moves like jersey. If you've ever ruined a good shirt sleeve reaching overhead at work, you'll understand why that matters.

How Xacus Sizes Work

Xacus uses standard European sizing throughout their women's collection. This is the same numerical system you'll see across Italian, French, and Spanish designer brands — and it tends to run a size smaller than what you might expect from UK high street labels. A few things to know:

Xacus sizing runs true to Italian sizing — which is typically one size smaller than UK equivalent. If you're a UK 12, go EU 40.
Their cuts are more fitted than the high street. If you're broader across the shoulder or fuller in the bust, I'd size up. I've seen this catch people out — beautiful shirt, but the chest gapes if you don't account for it.
The Active Shirt line has some stretch built in thanks to the elastane content, so you may find you can size down slightly on those styles compared to the cotton shirts.
Xacus also measures some shirts by collar size (in cm), particularly in the more tailored styles — this is very much an Italian shirtmaker's tradition. If you're unsure, use your bust measurement to cross-reference on their size chart.

Xacus Women's Size Guide: EU, UK & US Conversion

Always measure your bust at the fullest point and compare against Xacus's own size chart at checkout — their individual product pages carry garment-specific measurements which are worth checking, particularly for more structured styles.

The Different Fits Explained

One thing I genuinely admire about Xacus is that they're upfront about fit. They don't just sell "the shirt" — they offer different cut options, which makes a real difference when you're shopping online and can't try before you buy:

Classic Fit — more room through the body, good if you prefer a relaxed drape rather than a tucked-in silhouette. Also more forgiving if you're between sizes.
Tailor Fit — slightly more shaped through the waist. Lovely if you're going for a smart, polished look. I'd advise checking the chest measurement carefully here.
Active Shirt Fit — the stretch fabric means this is a more forgiving cut overall. Great for wearing untucked over wide-leg trousers or under a blazer.

My Honest Styling Take

If I'm spending Xacus money (and yes, these are investment pieces — shirts sit between roughly £150–£280), I want to know I'm getting it right. Here's what I'd do:

Measure your bust first and use that as your anchor measurement — not your dress size, not your UK label habit.
If you're between a UK 10 and 12 across the chest, go EU 40. The shirts are cut close enough that having a little room is far more comfortable than wrestling with a gaping button.
For the linen styles specifically: linen relaxes and drops slightly when you wear it, so a slightly snugger fit off the rail is fine.
White shirts especially — if yours is prone to pulling at the chest, the whole point of a good quality shirt is lost. Be honest with yourself and size up.

Brilliant Alternatives at Every Budget

Xacus is very much a considered purchase, and there are brilliant options at every price point if you love the aesthetic — that clean, Italian-influenced shirt dressing — but want more flexibility:

High Street Picks

Massimo Dutti — my top recommendation if you love the Xacus look but want a more accessible price point. The Spanish brand has a genuinely Italian feel in terms of quality and cut. Their slim-fit cotton poplin shirts are exceptional value.
Reiss — great for tailored shirts that work in a professional context. Their fitted cotton shirts are cut cleanly and size consistently for UK shoppers.
Me&Em — a brilliant British brand that really understands how women actually wear shirts. Sizing is generous enough to feel relaxed without looking sloppy.
Whistles — reliable shirt dressing for the woman who doesn't want fuss. Their stretch-cotton styles are consistently well-reviewed for fit and longevity.
Cos — if you love the clean minimalism of Xacus but want something more relaxed in silhouette, Cos does beautifully considered shirts in natural fibres. Runs slightly large, so you may want to size down one.
Jigsaw — genuinely underrated for shirt quality on the UK high street. Their Oxford cotton styles are a wardrobe staple and size true to UK sizing.
Hobbs — smart, considered, and built to last. Particularly good if you're looking for a shirt that works in a formal or office environment without looking stuffy.

Independent Picks Worth Knowing

Emmett London — a quietly brilliant British shirt specialist based in London. They do a women's line that borrows heavily from traditional men's shirting, with gorgeous prints and collar details. Sizing is true to UK and they size by collar measurement on some styles — unusual and brilliant.
Proper Cloth — technically a made-to-measure shirt specialist, but they've expanded significantly and offer women's styles now. If you've struggled with shirts your whole life because of shoulder-to-bust ratio, this is your answer. Properly worth bookmarking.

Premium & Luxury

Eton Shirts — a Swedish brand but cut in the Italian tradition. If you love Xacus, you'll love Eton. Comparable price point and outstanding quality in long-staple cotton.
Emma Willis — Jermyn Street meets feminine sensibility. Made in the UK, beautifully tailored women's shirts that are genuinely heirloom quality. A treat for yourself, not an impulse.

Never Guess Your Size Again — Use Tellar

Xacus sizing trips people up. So does every other Italian or European brand that doesn't translate neatly to UK sizing. That's exactly why Tellar.co.uk exists.

Tellar is the UK's leading clothing sizing tool — free to use, no downloads, no sign-up. Here's how it works:

Measure once — your bust, waist, and hips, or use your existing size in a brand you know
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your exact size across 1,500+ brands instantly — including Italian and European labels
Always free. Always unbiased. Always works in-browser.

Plus, head to the Tellar Fashion Hub for hundreds of honest, unsponsored style guides written by real stylists. No ads, no affiliate bias — just solid advice.