Why Finding the Right Trouser Brand Is So Complicated — And How to Make It Easy

Let’s be honest — buying trousers is one of the hardest clothing decisions we make. Whether you're shopping online or in-store, there's always that nagging question: Will these actually fit me?

If you're anything like me, you've probably stood in front of the mirror wondering why a size 12 fits in one store, yet feels two sizes too small in another. This isn't your fault — it's the industry’s.

I built tellar.co.uk to solve exactly this. By matching your body measurements to real brand sizing data, Tellar tells you exactly what size to buy in over 1,500 brands — from Zara to Reiss to Good American — without all the trial and error.

In this post, I’m breaking down what makes trouser shopping so difficult, which brands are worth your time (and money), and what to look for if you’re petite, tall, curvy, or anything in between.

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The Truth About Trouser Sizing

Trousers are one of the most technical garments you can buy. Unlike tops or dresses, trousers rely on multiple measurement points: waist, hips, inseam, rise, thigh, and sometimes even calf.

Now layer in all the confusing style variations — wide-leg, tapered, straight, cropped, high-rise — and suddenly you're in sizing chaos.

Here’s what I’ve learned from analysing thousands of brand charts at Tellar.co.uk:

• Brands don’t agree on what a “UK 12” is

• Fit varies based on cut, fabric stretch, and even manufacturing batch

• Inconsistencies between high street and designer sizing can span two full sizes

So no, you’re not imagining it. And yes, there’s a smarter way.

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How Tellar.co.uk Works (and Why It’s Free)

We’ve built a free tool at tellar.co.uk where you can:

1. Enter your chest, waist, and hip measurements

2. Create a free profile (it takes 30 seconds)

3. Instantly see your correct size across 1,500+ brands

You’ll never need to guess a size again — especially for tricky trousers.

👉 Start here and see your size

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Best Trouser Brands by Body Type (Based on Actual Fit Data)

Let’s break it down by category, because what works for someone 5’2” with curves won’t work for someone 5’10” with a straight build.

For Curvy Bodies (hip-to-waist ratio >0.75)

• Good American – Stretch fabric, gap-proof waistbands, brilliant for curves

• Boden – Room in the hips, especially in tailored and cropped styles

• White Stuff – Softer cuts, natural fabrics, ideal for day-to-day wear

📌 Find your size in Good American

For Straight or Athletic Shapes

• COS – Minimalist tailoring, works well if your waist and hips are similar

• Arket – Streamlined, and better suited to longer torsos

• Reiss – Gorgeous tailoring but designed for narrower hips

📌 Try COS, Arket, or Reiss on Tellar

If You’re Petite (Under 5’3”)

• ME+EM – Some of the best leg-length ratios I’ve seen for petites

• Mango Petite – A bit snug on sizing, but fits shorter proportions well

• Jigsaw Petite – Reliable classic cuts in petite-adjusted fits

📌 Tellar shows your petite size in seconds

If You’re Tall (Over 5’9”)

• Long Tall Sally – Built specifically for longer legs and rises

• Everlane – US-based, but long inseams and clean lines

• COS – Naturally long in the leg and cut for height

📌 Not sure which inseam works for you? Tellar has you covered

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The Fabric Really Does Matter

Fit is one thing. Feel and durability? That’s all in the fabric.

Here’s a quick cheat sheet from our Tellar database of thousands of trouser types:

• Cotton Twill – Classic workwear fabric, breathable, good drape

• Wool Blend – Keeps structure, ideal for tailored or office trousers

• Linen – Fantastic for summer, but yes — it creases

• Ponte – A stretchy, double-knit fabric that’s comfy and flattering

• Polyester Mixes – Easy-care, but breathability varies

• Viscose/Modal – Fluid drape, great for casual and tailored cuts

📌 Check out our full guide to trouser materials here

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Sizing: Which Brands Run Small or Large?

This is the golden question. Based on Tellar.co.uk user profiles and conversion data, here’s what we see most consistently:

Brand	How It Fits
Zara	Runs small (especially at hips)
H&M	Inconsistent sizing between styles
M&S	Generous sizing – size down for a slimmer fit
Reiss	True to size, but tailored snug
ME+EM	Slightly generous, especially around the waist
The Fold	Narrow through the thighs, best for straighter builds

📌 Use Tellar to find your best size across all these brands

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What Style of Trousers Should You Choose?

There’s no one-size-fits-all here, but based on cut and fit consistency, here’s my personal breakdown:

Style	Best For	Try These Brands
Wide-Leg	Pear, hourglass, taller frames	COS, ME+EM, M&S
Straight Leg	Most shapes	Reiss, Massimo Dutti, Arket
Cropped	Petite or mid-height	Boden, & Other Stories
High-Waisted	Everyone! But especially short torsos or curves	Good American, Mango
Tapered Workwear	Smart casual, slim build	The Fold, Theory, Jigsaw

📌 Want more guidance? Read our full trouser style guide

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Why I Use Tellar Every Time I Buy Trousers

Even as someone who works in fashion tech, I don’t trust generic size charts. Tellar’s size-matching tool is brand-specific, meaning it accounts for brands that consistently size up (like M&S) or run small (like Zara).

Plus, it works for trousers, skirts, dresses, jeans — and it’s completely free.

✅ Match your measurements to the right size in real-time

✅ Save your profile so you don’t have to re-enter anything

✅ Covers 1,500+ brands, including designer and high street

✅ Available on web — with an app coming soon

👉 Get started here – It’s Free & Easy

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— we’re always happy to help.