Size Guide: Italian, French, UK & US Sizes

Finding your size

The clothing world doesn't run on a single standard. A size 40 from one brand is not a size 40 from another, and in luxury fashion, this variation tends to be more pronounced, not less. The charts below are a starting point. The goal is to help you arrive at a size with confidence.

Why a size 40 isn't always a 40

Different countries use different numeric scales: what a French label calls 40, an Italian one calls 44, a German one 38 and a British one 12. The label is a reference, not a universal measure.

Luxury brands tend to follow the sizing conventions of their country of origin. A Milanese house sizes differently from a Parisian one, and from season to season, cuts and silhouettes shift even within the same brand. A tailored jacket is designed around a specific silhouette; a loose knit has far more tolerance. The same label means different things depending on the garment.

Body measurements are more reliable than the number on the label. The charts below pair size conversions with centimetre measurements for exactly this reason.

Men's jackets, suits and knitwearIT − 10gives your UK/US chest size. IT 48 is a 38.

Men's trousersIT − 16gives your waist in inches. IT 48 is a W32.

Women's clothingIT − 32gives your UK size, and IT − 36 your US size. IT 40 is a UK 8 and a US 4.

These rules are most precise in the middle of the range. In the largest sizes they drift slightly, and the centimetre measurements below are the better guide.

How to take your measurements

Use a soft tape measure. Keep it parallel to the ground where indicated and don't pull it tight. Measure over light clothing or underwear for accuracy.

Measurement	How to take it
Chest / bust	Around the fullest part of your chest, tape parallel to the ground.
Waist	Around your natural waistline, the narrowest part of your torso.
Hips	Around the fullest part of your hips and seat, approximately 20 cm below your waist.
Inseam	From the crotch seam to the bottom of your leg, along the inside of the leg.
Collar	Around the base of your neck, adding 1–2 cm for comfort.
Head	Around the widest part of your head, approximately 2 cm above the ears.
Hand	Around the widest part of your hand, excluding the thumb.
Foot	Stand on a piece of paper, trace your foot, and measure from heel to longest toe.

Women's clothing

Tops, dresses and jackets

Size	IT	FR / EU	DE / CH / AT	UK	US	Bust (cm)	Waist (cm)	Hips (cm)
XXS	36	32	30	4	0	76–78	58–60	84–86
XS	38	34	32	6	2	79–81	61–63	87–89
S	40	36	34	8	4	82–84	64–66	90–92
M	42	38	36	10	6	85–87	67–69	93–95
L	44	40	38	12	8	88–91	70–73	96–99
XL	46	42	40	14	10	92–95	74–77	100–103
XXL	48	44	42	16	12	96–99	78–81	104–107
3XL	50	46	44	18	14	100–104	82–86	108–112

Italian and French numbers are four apart: an Italian 42 is a French 38. French houses such as Saint Laurent use French sizing, Italian houses such as Gucci use Italian sizing, so always check which system a label uses. Letter sizes vary most from brand to brand.

Trousers and skirts

Size	IT	FR / EU	DE / CH / AT	UK	US	Waist (cm)	Hips (cm)	Inseam (cm)
XXS	36	32	30	4	0	58–60	84–86	76
XS	38	34	32	6	2	61–63	87–89	77
S	40	36	34	8	4	64–66	90–92	78
M	42	38	36	10	6	67–69	93–95	79
L	44	40	38	12	8	70–73	96–99	80
XL	46	42	40	14	10	74–77	100–103	81
XXL	48	44	42	16	12	78–81	104–107	82
3XL	50	46	44	18	14	82–86	108–112	83

Men's clothing

Tops, shirts and jackets

Size	IT / FR	UK / US	Chest (cm)	Waist (cm)	Collar (cm)
XS	44	34	86–90	74–76	37
S	46	36	90–94	78–80	38
M	48	38	94–98	82–84	39–40
L	50	40	98–102	86–88	41
XL	52	42	102–106	90–92	42
XXL	54	44	106–110	94–96	43–44
3XL	56	46	110–114	98–100	45
4XL	58	48	114–118	102–106	46

In menswear, Italian and French numbers are the same. The UK/US number roughly matches your chest in inches, and the Italian number is about half your chest in centimetres. In the larger sizes, trust the centimetres.

Trousers

Size	IT / FR	UK / US waist	Waist (cm)	Hips (cm)	Inseam (cm)
XS	44	28	72–74	86–88	78
S	46	30	76–78	90–92	79
M	48	32	80–82	94–96	80
L	50	34	84–86	98–100	81
XL	52	36	88–90	102–104	82
XXL	54	38	92–94	106–108	83
3XL	56	40	96–98	110–112	84
4XL	58	42	100–102	114–116	85

Italian sizes go up in 4 cm steps and US waist sizes in 2-inch (5 cm) steps, so in the larger sizes the centimetres are the more reliable guide.

Shoes

Shoe sizing varies significantly between brands. For the most reliable fit, measure your foot length: stand on a piece of paper, trace your foot, and measure from heel to longest toe. Use that measurement to find your size below.

Italian and French shoe sizes follow the same European system, so an Italian 38 and a French 38 are the same length. Some Italian houses label men's shoes in UK sizes: a Gucci men's 9, for example, is a European 43.

Women's shoes

EU / IT	UK	US	Foot length (cm)
35	2.5	5	21.5–22.0
35.5	3	5.5	22.1–22.5
36	3.5	6	22.6–23.0
36.5	4	6.5	23.1–23.5
37	4	6.5	23.6–24.0
37.5	4.5	7	24.1–24.5
38	5	7.5	24.6–25.0
38.5	5.5	8	25.1–25.5
39	6	8.5	25.6–26.0
39.5	6.5	9	26.1–26.5
40	6.5	9	26.6–27.0
41	7.5	10	27.1–27.5

Men's shoes

EU / IT	UK	US	Foot length (cm)
39	5.5	6.5	24.5–25.0
40	6.5	7	25.1–25.5
40.5	7	7.5	25.6–26.0
41	7	8	26.1–26.5
42	8	8.5	26.6–27.0
42.5	8.5	9	27.1–27.5
43	9	9.5	27.6–28.0
43.5	9.5	10	28.1–28.5
44	9.5	10	28.6–29.0
44.5	10	10.5	29.1–29.5
45	10.5	11	29.6–30.0
46	11	12	30.1–30.5

Accessories

Belts

Belt sizes are measured from the buckle end to the middle hole. Most belts have 5 holes spaced 2.5 cm apart.

Size	EU (cm)	UK / US (inches)	Waist range (cm)
XS	75	30	65–70
S	80	32	70–75
M	85	34	75–80
L	90	36	80–85
XL	95	38	85–90
XXL	100	40	90–95
3XL	105	42	95–100

Hats and caps

Measured at the widest point of the head, approximately 2 cm above the ears. European sizes are that measurement in centimetres. UK sizes run an eighth smaller than US sizes.

Size	EU (cm)	UK	US
XS	53–54	6½–6⅝	6⅝–6¾
S	55–56	6¾–6⅞	6⅞–7
M	57–58	7–7⅛	7⅛–7¼
L	59–60	7¼–7⅜	7⅜–7½
XL	61–62	7½–7⅝	7⅝–7¾
XXL	63–64	7¾–7⅞	7⅞–8

Gloves

Measured around the widest part of the hand, excluding the thumb. The glove size is that measurement in inches.

Size	Glove size	Hand circumference (cm)
XS	6.5	16–17
S	7	17–18.5
M	7.5	18.5–19.5
L	8	19.5–21
XL	8.5	21–22
XXL	9	22–23.5

Rings

Measured as inner circumference in millimetres. To find your size, measure the circumference of the finger at the intended knuckle. In Italy, Switzerland and Spain, ring sizes are that circumference minus 40. Conversions can differ by half a size between jewellers, so the millimetre measurement is the one to trust.

EU (mm)	IT / CH / ES	US	UK	Inner diameter (mm)
44	4	3	F	14.0
46	6	3¾	G½	14.6
48	8	4½	I	15.3
50	10	5¼	J½	15.9
52	12	6	L	16.6
54	14	7	N	17.2
56	16	7¾	O½	17.8
58	18	8½	Q	18.5
60	20	9¼	R½	19.1
62	22	10	T	19.7
64	24	10¾	U½	20.4

When to order your usual size, and when to write first

Knitwear, jersey and unstructured pieces have more tolerance: if your measurements sit near the boundary between two sizes, the larger will usually work. Tailored jackets, structured outerwear and shirts with specific collar or chest dimensions are less forgiving. Here, body measurements matter more than the label.

Luxury brands vary in their sizing even when using the same number. A size 40 in one brand may fit differently from a size 40 in another, particularly when comparing brands from different countries of origin. When in doubt, refer to the specific measurements rather than the label.

If you're buying from a brand for the first time, or if the garment is tailored or structured: write before you order. It's simpler than a return.

A return for size happens. But arriving at a size you know will work is better for everyone. That's what this page is for.

Luca Paolucci

Not sure about a specific size? Write before you order.

Ask about sizing