Designer clothing size conversion has no single answer, because each house sets its own chart. In the table below, an Italian 40 matches a French 38 and a UK 8, and certain brands may differ slightly. Use a conversion as a starting point, then confirm it against the brand’s chart and the product page.
How does designer clothing size conversion work across Italian, French and British sizes?
In the table below, French numbers sit two below Italian ones and UK numbers sit 32 below. An Italian 40 is a French 38 and a UK 8. German sizes sit two below French, and US sizes two below UK.
Women’s clothing, example conversion:
| Label | Italian | French | UK | German | US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 36 | 34 | 4 | 32 | 2 |
| S | 38 | 36 | 6 | 34 | 4 |
| S-M | 40 | 38 | 8 | 36 | 6 |
| M | 42 | 40 | 10 | 38 | 8 |
| M-L | 44 | 42 | 12 | 40 | 10 |
| L | 46 | 44 | 14 | 42 | 12 |
| L-XL | 48 | 46 | 16 | 44 | 14 |
| XL | 50 | 48 | 18 | 46 | 16 |
| XXL | 52 | 50 | 20 | 48 | 18 |
Conversions are approximate, and certain brands may differ slightly. The table lists no bust, waist or hip measurements, so check the brand’s own chart before ordering.
Explore women’s
Find your size in considered pieces from Italian, French and British houses.
Why convert from the number and check the letter against it
Some houses add in-between sizes. In the table, S-M is an Italian 40, between S at 38 and M at 42. A letter on its own can point to more than one number, so read the number printed on the label first. Use the letter to confirm you are in the right range.
Italian, French and British labels at Fashion Roots
Four houses show how far scales vary. Max Mara is Italian, founded in 1951 by Achille Maramotti in Reggio Emilia. AMI Paris is French, founded by Alexandre Mattiussi in 2011. Alexander McQueen was founded in London in 1992 by Lee Alexander McQueen, and Burberry by Thomas Burberry in 1856.
Size options in the Fashion Roots filters:
- Max Mara: S, M, L and XL; numbers 36 to 44; in-between sizes S-M and M-L; one-size UNI.
- AMI Paris: XS to XL; jeans 25 to 32; numbers 34 to 40.
- Burberry: XS to XL; 4, 6, 8 and 10; waist sizes 29 to 33; numbers 36 to 54; 100, 105 and 110; UNI.
- Alexander McQueen: S, M and L; shoes in EU 35 to 47, including half sizes; UNI.
How to convert designer clothing sizes, step by step
- Read the size scale on the product page, because designer clothing size conversion starts there. Note whether it shows letters, a two-digit number, a waist size or a UK number. The list above shows how much the scales differ between four labels.
- Find the brand’s own chart. A brand chart outranks a general one. Fashion Roots product pages also carry a general chart in centimetres: size M lists chest 88 to 92 cm, waist 70 to 74 cm and hips 92 to 96 cm. That chart does not name a country scale, so use it for measurements only.
- Measure chest, waist and hips in centimetres. Compare the figures with the chart. Measurements settle a choice that a conversion cannot.
- Read the cut. AMI Paris advises sizing up between sizes in a fitted T-shirt and sizing down in a boxy one. For its unisex styles, women usually take one to two sizes down. That guidance covers T-shirts, so apply it to other pieces with care.
- Check the product page again. Fashion Roots notes on its clothing collection page that men’s and women’s sizes follow different systems, so size details on each product page matter most with Italian and French brands.
Explore men’s
Check each piece’s size details before you choose.
Why do men’s and women’s sizes not match?
Men’s and women’s sizes follow different systems, so a number on a women’s label cannot be read across to a men’s one. This article gives no men’s designer clothing size conversion table, because a table helps only when it comes from the brand. For shirts and trousers, use the men’s chart on the product page.
How do shoe sizes convert?
Shoes sit on their own scale and do not follow clothing numbers. A typical shoe conversion pairs European sizes with UK and US sizes as follows:
| European | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | 3 | 5 |
| 36 | 4 | 6 |
| 37 | 5 | 7 |
| 38 | 6 | 8 |
| 39 | 7 | 9 |
| 40 | 8 | 10 |
| 41 | 9 | 11 |
| 42 | 10 | 12 |
| 43 | 11 | 13 |
| 44 | 12 | 14 |
| 45 | 13 | 15 |
Certain brands may differ slightly. Some ranges, such as Alexander McQueen’s European sizes 35 to 47, include half sizes, which this table does not cover, so use the brand’s own chart for those.
Common mistakes in designer clothing size conversion
- Converting from the letter. Letters straddle numbers, as the S-M example shows. Convert from the printed number.
- Using one table for every house. Conversions are approximate, and certain brands may place the same number elsewhere. Check each brand’s chart.
- Ignoring the cut. A boxy shape carries more room, which is why AMI Paris advises sizing down between sizes in that cut. Read the fit note before you decide.
- Reading men’s numbers as women’s. The two follow different systems. Use the chart for the section you are shopping in.
Key takeaways
- Designer clothing size conversion starts with the brand’s own chart.
- In the example table, Italian 40 matches French 38, UK 8, German 36 and US 6.
- Convert from the number and check the letter against it.
- Men’s and women’s sizes follow different systems, and shoes sit on their own scale.
FAQ
What is an Italian size 40 in UK and French sizes?
In the table above, an Italian 40 is a UK 8, a French 38, a German 36 and a US 6. Conversions are approximate, and certain brands may place the same Italian number differently, so check the brand’s own chart before you order.
How do I convert a French size to a UK size?
In the table above, subtract 30 from the French number: French 38 is UK 8, and French 44 is UK 14. Treat the result as an estimate. Check the brand’s chart and your chest, waist and hip measurements before ordering, because the same arithmetic may not hold at another house.
Can I use one conversion chart for every designer brand?
A single chart gives a starting point at best. Conversions are approximate, and AMI Paris adjusts its advice by cut, with fitted, boxy and unisex styles each handled differently. Use the brand’s chart where one exists and read the product page for fit notes.
Can I return an item if the size is wrong?
Fashion Roots words its policy as “14 days to change your mind”. Read the full terms under Delivery & returns before you order, since they set out how a return works. Measure first and compare the figures with the brand’s chart, so the size you choose is more likely to fit.
Designer clothing size conversion works best as two steps: find a starting size in a table, then confirm it against the brand’s chart and your own measurements. Browse women’s and men’s clothing and shoes with the numbers in hand.
Delivery & returns
Read the full terms before you order.