Size Guide

We deal in vintage and archive pieces from Italian, French, Japanese and Belgian houses — the size on the label rarely tells the whole story. Use the charts below to convert between systems, and always check the garment measurements listed on each product page. Measurements beat labels, every time.

How We Label Sizes

Every listing shows a size the way it reads best for that piece. Here is how to decode them:

Womens M / Mens XL

The size on the garment’s label, converted into international letter sizes using the charts below. This applies to tops and bottoms alike.

32 (Bottoms)

Where a bottoms listing shows a number instead, it is the waist size as labelled, in inches. See the trousers & denim charts to convert.

EU 38 (Footwear)

Footwear is always listed by its European size exactly as labelled on the shoe. Use the footwear charts below to convert to UK/US.

One Size

Bags, eyewear, jewellery and unsized pieces. Dimensions are listed on the product page where relevant.

Reading Vintage Labels

Dolce & Gabbana
24 / 38
Made in Italy

Many vintage Italian labels carry a double size like 24/38 or 26/40. The first number is the waist in inches (jeans-style sizing), the second is the Italian size — the one that converts. A 24/38 top is an IT 38, roughly an XS.

Label vocabulary: Tg. / Taglia = Italian size · Taille = French size · Größe = German size. What most platforms display as “EU size” is the German scale. Pieces from the ’80s–’00s typically run one to two sizes smaller than the same number today. Since our letter sizes are converted directly from the label, always double-check the garment measurements listed on the product page before ordering.

Quick Rules

IT − 4 = FRWomen’s: an Italian 42 is a French 38.
IT − 6 = DE/EUWomen’s: an Italian 42 is a German/EU 36.
UK − 4 = USWomen’s: a UK 10 is a US 6.
EU = US + 10Men’s jackets: a US/UK 40 is an EU/IT 50.
EU = waist″ + 16Men’s trousers: a 32″ waist is an EU 48.

Womenswear

tops, dresses, knitwear & outerwear

Int’l Italy (IT) France (FR) Germany / EU (DE) UK US Japan (JP)
XXS 36 32 30 4 0 5
XS 38 34 32 6 2 7
S 40 36 34 8 4 9
S–M 42 38 36 10 6 11
M 44 40 38 12 8 13
L 46 42 40 14 10 15
XL 48 44 42 16 12 17
XXL 50 46 44 18 14 19

French sizes are also used in Belgium, Spain and Portugal; German sizes in Austria, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and Switzerland; UK sizes in Australia and New Zealand. Letter sizes are approximate — every house draws the lines differently.

trousers, skirts & denim

Int’l Waist (inch) Waist (cm) Italy (IT) Germany / EU (DE) UK US
XS W24 61 38 32 6 0
XS–S W25 63.5 38–40 32–34 6–8 0–2
S W26 66 40 34 8 2–4
S–M W27 68.5 42 36 10 4
M W28 71 42–44 36–38 10–12 6
M W29 73.5 44 38 12 8
M–L W30 76 44–46 38–40 12–14 8–10
L W31 79 46 40 14 10
XL W32 81 48 42 16 12

Bottoms are listed in international letter sizes converted from the label (or by the labelled waist in inches). Vintage denim shrinks and stretches with wear — always compare against the garment measurements on the product page.

footwear

EU / IT UK US Foot length (cm)
35 2 5 22
36 3 6 22.5–23
37 4 7 23.5
38 5 8 24–24.5
39 6 9 25
40 7 9.5–10 25.5–26
41 8 10.5–11 26.5
42 9 11.5–12 27

Italian designer shoes often run about half a size small compared to standard EU sizing. We list insole length in cm where possible — compare it against a shoe that fits you well.

Menswear

jackets, suits, knitwear & outerwear

Int’l EU / IT / FR / DE UK / US Chest (cm) Chest (inch)
XS 44 34 86–89 34
S 46 36 90–94 36
M 48 38 95–99 38
L 50 40 100–104 40
XL 52 42 105–109 42
XXL 54 44 110–114 44
3XL 56 46 115–119 46

Unlike womenswear, menswear shares one numeric scale across Italy, France and Germany. UK and US jacket sizes both equal the chest measurement in inches. Note that Japanese menswear (e.g. Yohji Yamamoto, Undercover, Julius) is cut smaller — a JP 3 ≈ M on the label often fits like a slim M or S.

trousers & denim

Waist (inch) Waist (cm) EU / IT Int’l
W28 71 44 XS
W30 76 46 S
W32 81 48 M
W34 86 50 L
W36 91 52 XL
W38 97 54 XXL
W40 102 56 3XL

Italian tailored trousers are sometimes labelled with the jacket size instead (a “50” trouser ≈ W34). When in doubt, go by the waist measurement in cm on the product page.

shirts

Int’l EU collar (cm) UK / US collar (inch)
XS 36 14
S 37–38 14.5–15
M 39–40 15.5
L 41–42 16–16.5
XL 43–44 17–17.5
XXL 45–46 18

footwear

EU / IT UK US Foot length (cm)
39 5.5–6 6.5–7 24.5
40 6.5 7.5 25
41 7.5 8.5 26
42 8 9 26.5
43 9 10 27.5
44 10 11 28
45 11 12 29
46 12 13 29.5

A Note on Fit

There is no enforced sizing standard — every house cuts to its own block, and archive blocks were smaller than today’s. Treat every conversion above as a starting point with a margin of one size in either direction. Every listing includes flat garment measurements (pit-to-pit, length, waist and more where relevant). If you’re unsure, lay a similar piece you own and love flat, measure it, and compare.

Questions about a specific piece? DM us on Instagram or message us on WhatsApp — we’ll measure anything on request.


Measuring Guide

All measurements are taken by hand with the garment laid flat. Measurements may vary.

How to measure tops?

Chest

Measure straight across from armpit to armpit.

Length 

Start at center back and measure straight down from base of collar/neck to bottom hem.

Shoulder 

Measure straight across highest point of shoulders (from seam to seam if applicable).

Sleeve length 

Measure from top shoulder seam to bottom edge of sleeve.



How to measure bottoms?

Waist 

Button and lay flat. Measure waistband straight across from edge to edge.

Inseam 

Measure inside seam of pant leg from crotch to bottom hem.

Leg opening 

Measure straight across bottom hem of pant.


Thigh 

Measure straight across pant leg from crotch to outseam.


You have more questions?

Please fill out the contact form below and we will be happy to assist you!

Contact form

Please refer to our privacy policy.