Choosing your size online without getting it wrong
Wrong-size returns are half of all fashion returns. Three measurements are enough to avoid them.
Sizes are standardised nowhere. A 40 at a Portuguese brand is not a 40 at an Italian one. The only reliable data is the measurement table in centimetres.
Measure a garment, not your body
Take a garment that fits you well, lay it flat, and measure three things: chest width seam to seam, total length, sleeve length. Compare those three numbers to the table on the page. It beats measuring your chest.
Read the material before the size
- Untreated linen and cotton shrink 2 to 3 % on the first hot wash.
- Jersey and knit widen with wear.
- Leather moulds to the body but does not lengthen.
Warnings worth checking
“Runs small”, “size up”: these notes usually come from reviews, not the brand. Check that several recent comments confirm them.
When the shop offers an exchange
A free size exchange beats a refunded return: you keep the product and the shop avoids a dead return. Many sellers offer one per order without advertising it — you just have to ask through messaging.
This advice comes from the marketplace
Browse products from the shops our guides talk about.
