The single most common reason a parcel comes back is that the size was wrong — and almost never because the customer made a careless choice. Sizing simply is not standardised. A 34 cut on a European block and a 34 cut on a South African one can differ by several centimetres, and the same label can size differently between a woven shirt and a knit.
The fix is not guessing better. It is measuring once.
Take four measurements
- Bust or chest — around the fullest part, tape level, arms down.
- Waist — the narrowest part of your torso, usually just above the navel. Do not pull the tape tight.
- Hip — the fullest part, roughly 20 cm below the waist.
- Inside leg — from the crotch seam to where you want the hem to sit, measured on trousers that already fit you.
Write them down. They change slowly, so you will use the same numbers for a long time.
Measure a garment you already own
This is the step most people skip and the one that helps most. Lay a shirt or a pair of trousers you like flat and measure it across the chest, the waist and the length. Comparing garment to garment removes every question about how much ease a brand builds in.
Read the fit description, not just the number
“Relaxed”, “tapered” and “regular” are doing real work. A tapered trouser in your usual size will feel a full size smaller through the thigh. If a product page describes the fit and gives the model’s height, use both.
When you are between sizes
For woven fabrics with no stretch — linen, poplin, denim without elastane — size up. For knits and anything with stretch, size down or stay true. A garment that is slightly large can be altered; one that is slightly small usually cannot.
Before you order
Check the returns terms so you know where you stand if it still is not right. Ours are set out on the Returns & Exchanges page, and if anything is unclear it is faster to ask us first than to send a parcel back.