White Sand Sizing Guide: What Size Should You Buy?

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

White Sand (stylised as WhiteSand) runs small — it's an Italian brand using Italian sizing, which means as a UK shopper you should typically go up one full size, sometimes two, depending on the garment. I'll be upfront: I fell for a pair of their gorgeous linen utility trousers before properly reading the label, bought what I thought was my size, and spent a frustrating afternoon trying to convince myself they "just needed to be broken in." They didn't. Size up, measure yourself, and thank me later.

What Is White Sand?

If you haven't come across WhiteSand yet, it's an Italian contemporary label from the Emilia-Romagna region — the same part of Italy responsible for Parmigiano-Reggiano, Ferrari, and a disproportionate amount of really excellent fashion. The brand is best known for its signature utility trousers featuring an adjustable lace closure and a small black stone affixed to the pockets — a subtle, distinctive detail that marks every WhiteSand garment. Once you know what you're looking at, you spot it everywhere.

The brand describes itself as "essential comfy" — and that's genuinely accurate. The women's collection is grounded in beautifully made trousers: chinos, cargos, palazzo cuts, wide-leg linen styles, and military-inflected silhouettes. Beyond trousers, they do tops, dresses and outerwear, all in natural fabrics — cotton, linen, denim, organza and technical weaves. The palette is earthy, warm and dark in equal measure, with the occasional bold print thrown in. It's the sort of brand that photographs beautifully, wears even better, and makes you feel effortlessly put-together rather than try-hard.

How Does White Sand Sizing Work?

WhiteSand uses standard Italian sizing throughout. For women, this means the numbers look higher than UK sizes — an Italian 40 is a UK 8, not a UK 14 — and the cut is tailored for a slimmer, more fitted Italian silhouette than British sizing typically assumes. The waist and hip measurements follow Italian convention closely, so if you're between sizes, always err on the larger side. You can take in a waistband; you can't add fabric.

One thing worth noting specifically about the trouser fit: because the lace waist closure is adjustable, there's a little more room to manoeuvre in the waist than you'd have with a rigid waistband. That's actually quite brilliant in practice — it makes sizing slightly more forgiving than you might expect. That said, the hip and thigh fit is fixed, so it's still your hip measurement you need to nail.

White Sand Size Conversion Table

Italian SizeUK SizeUS SizeEU SizeBust (cm)Waist (cm)Hips (cm)38623480–8564–6987–9140843685–9070–7592–97421063890–9574–7997–102441284095–10080–84101–10746141042100–10585–90107–11048161244105–11091–96110–115

Key rule: Find your hip measurement in the table above and use that as your guide for trousers. For tops and dresses, go by bust. If your measurements fall between two sizes, always go up.

Trousers: The Signature Piece

This is what WhiteSand does better than almost anyone. The iconic lace-waist trousers come in everything from light linen for summer to velvet and cotton drill for colder months, and the adjustable closure is genuinely brilliant — it's not a gimmick, it actually makes the fit more versatile than a standard button-and-zip. For these, measure your hips first (the widest point), cross-reference with the table above, and if you're sitting right on the line between two sizes, go up. The waist will adjust; the hip won't. The wide-leg and palazzo styles have a relaxed, generous leg cut that drapes beautifully, especially in the linen versions. These are very much trousers that reward the right size rather than a squeezed one.

Tops and Shirts

WhiteSand's tops tend to follow the same Italian sizing logic — they're cut close to the body through the shoulder and bust, with a more relaxed hem. If you're between sizes and you carry more volume through the bust or upper back, size up without hesitation. The military-inspired and utility tops in particular have structured details at the shoulder that don't respond well to being overstretched. Go by bust measurement here, and remember: a slightly larger top tucked into the lace trousers looks a thousand times better than a top that pulls across the shoulders.

Dresses

The dress range is smaller but lovely — often featuring the same fabric DNA as the trouser range (linen, organza, technical weaves) with fluid silhouettes and minimal fuss. Because there's no adjustable waist closure on the dresses, sizing is more exacting. Measure your bust AND hips, identify where you're larger relative to the size chart, and buy for that measurement. You can always belt or tuck to adjust the waist; there's no fix for a dress that's too small across the back.

Outerwear and Jackets

Italian cuts through the shoulder are notoriously unforgiving, and WhiteSand's outerwear is no exception. If you have broad shoulders, are planning to layer underneath (which honestly, with linen-and-stone-detail Italian utility wear, you probably will), or simply find Italian jackets catch you under the arms, go up a full size. The silhouettes tend to be boxy and relaxed enough that a size up looks intentional rather than oversized — which is absolutely fine because that's rather the point.

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Brands to Try If You Love White Sand

WhiteSand has a very specific aesthetic — Italian utility with artisan credentials, quality natural fabrics, and that understated confidence that comes from not trying too hard. Here's where to look for similar energy at different budgets.

High Street Options

Massimo Dutti — this is the closest high street match in terms of quality and Italian-inflected casual tailoring. Their linen trousers and wide-leg styles are consistently excellent and the fabric quality is genuinely impressive for the price point.
COS — if you love WhiteSand's minimalist, architectural approach to trousers and utility styling, COS is your natural starting point. Precise cuts, interesting proportions and restrained design. Very much the same philosophy, albeit Scandinavian rather than Italian.
Mango — reliable for good-quality linen and utility-inspired trousers at accessible prices. The wide-leg linen styles in particular often have a very similar relaxed-but-considered feel to WhiteSand.
Jigsaw — one of the best British high street labels for quality trouser cuts. Their linen and cotton styles translate well alongside WhiteSand pieces, and the fabric quality is above average for the price.
Whistles — for polished versions of utility and relaxed tailoring. Whistles has been quietly doing excellent work with natural fabrics and easy, wearable silhouettes for years. Reliable and consistently underrated.
Fat Face — don't underestimate them for linen and casual cotton pieces. The relaxed, outdoors-inflected version of utility dressing they do actually works surprisingly well alongside more elevated Italian pieces like WhiteSand's trousers.
Seasalt Cornwall — excellent for linen separates, easy-wearing cotton pieces and earthy, nature-inspired palettes that sit naturally in the WhiteSand aesthetic. Great if you want to build a holiday capsule around your lace trousers.
Me&Em — beautifully cut, investment-quality pieces at a premium high street level. Their tailored trousers and easy separates are well made and pair effortlessly with statement Italian pieces.

Premium Picks

Sandro — French label with excellent utility-inflected pieces, relaxed tailoring and that same effortless quality-meets-ease energy WhiteSand does so well. Often available in UK boutiques and department stores.
A.P.C. — for those who love the minimal, artisan-quality philosophy but want something with a French edge. Their simple, well-made trousers and easy separates are the premium companion to a WhiteSand wardrobe.

Two Independent Labels Worth Knowing

Beaumont Organic — a British independent label making beautiful, sustainably produced pieces in organic cotton and natural fabrics. Very much in the same philosophical territory as WhiteSand — quality you can feel, design that respects your intelligence. Find them at beaumontorganic.com.
Lucy & Yak — a cult UK indie label best known for their utility dungarees and distinctive cargo trousers, made sustainably and sold direct. If you love WhiteSand's practical, characterful approach to utility trousers, Lucy & Yak will delight you — and they're considerably more accessible price-wise. Find them at lucyandyak.com.

My Final Styling Notes on White Sand

The best thing you can do with a pair of WhiteSand lace trousers — once you've got the right size — is keep the rest of your outfit simple. A white or ivory fitted tank, loafers or sandals, and nothing more. These pieces have enough character to carry an entire look on their own. Overcrowding them with competing prints or accessories dilutes exactly what makes them special.

For the military and cargo styles, try a simple fitted ribbed long-sleeve and white trainers for a considered but effortless daytime look. And if you're buying the linen wide-leg styles for summer — and you absolutely should — size up even slightly more than the table suggests. Linen can be stiff when new, and you want it to drape, not grip.

Measure yourself before you order. Commit to your Italian size. And enjoy the small stone on the pocket — it's a genuinely lovely detail that never gets old.