The difference between fits is mostly in the amount of room around the body. A regular fit falls straight and roomy, with freedom of movement in chest, waist and sleeves. A slim fit sits closer and follows the body, especially at the waist and the arms. A tailored fit sits between regular and slim fit. The cut is shaped, but still offers enough room to move. With trousers, terms such as slim-straight, tapered and flared mostly say something about the shape of the leg. In this guide we explain each term, with when to choose it and how to determine your size.
Fits for tops and shirts
| Fit | Room | Effect | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular fit | Roomy, straight cut | Relaxed, comfortable | Anyone who wants freedom of movement, wears layers underneath or has a broader build |
| Tailored fit | Shaped at the waist, room at chest and shoulders | Polished and sleek, but not tight | Office, anyone who wants a fitted silhouette without feeling cramped |
| Slim fit | Close to the body | Modern, slim | Slim build, anyone who wants a sleek line |
| Relaxed fit | Extra roomy | Nonchalant, supple | Weekend, shirts with satin look, layering |
Regular fit: room and calm
A regular fit is cut straight and has room around the chest, waist and sleeves. A good regular fit should still fit well at the shoulders and in length. The advantage is comfort and versatility. You can wear a layer underneath and it looks relaxed.
An example is the Theodore in charcoal, a fine-knit open polo made of lyocell with a regular fit. The knit falls softly along the body without sitting tight, which makes it suitable for office and weekend. The Cordelia blouse in white also has a regular fit: with the V-neck, the centre back pleat and the soft drape it falls airy and elegant.
Tailored fit: fitted but comfortable
Tailored fit is the middle way. The cut follows the body, often with princess seams at the back or waist. At the chest and shoulders there is still enough room. That way the fit stays polished without sitting tight.
The Hamilton shirt in light blue has a classic tailored fit, an Italian collar and is made of long-staple twill cotton. It is designed to look sleek all day, under a blazer or loose. For women, the Delphine blouse in light blue is a good example: princess seams for a fitted look, a matte finish and a soft drape.
Slim fit: close to the body
Slim fit follows the body most closely. With polos and T-shirts the fabric follows your chest and arms, with shirts and blouses the waist is cut narrow. That makes the fit more clearly shaped. A good slim fit sits close, but does not pull at the buttons and keeps freedom of movement in the shoulders.
The Atticus in black is a striped cotton polo with a slim fit. That is why we advise taking one size larger than you are used to with the Atticus. The Josephine in black is a fine-knit polo with V-neck and slim fit, which fits nicely thanks to the ribbed texture without pinching.
Fits for trousers
With trousers, the shape of the leg matters most. The main terms:
- Slim fit: narrow along the whole length of the leg. An example is the Vincent trouser for men.
- Slim-straight: slim at the hips and thigh, straight from the leg down. Calm and timeless. You see this in the Philippa and the Cosette for women and the Winston for men.
- Tapered: slightly roomier at the hip and thigh, narrower towards the ankle. Often combined with a pleat, as in the Harrison.
- Flared: fitted to the knee and then flaring wider. Lengthens the leg, especially with a heel. Think of the Florence or the Daphni with slim-flared leg.
- Contour-fit: a fit that follows and accentuates the silhouette, as with the Adelaide jeans.
Which fit suits you?
- Look at your shoulders and chest. Broad or muscular? A regular or tailored fit prevents pulling at buttons and seams.
- Look at your waist. If your waist is clearly narrower than your chest or hips, a tailored fit shows that off nicely.
- Think of the occasion. Office calls for a sleeker line, weekend may be roomier.
- Think of layers. Do you wear a cardigan or blazer over it? Then the top can be slimmer. If you wear it loose, a regular fit gives calm.
How to determine your size per fit
- Read the size advice on the product page. With some models it explicitly says that you should take one size larger or smaller.
- Compare with a piece that fits well. Measure the chest width and length of a favourite garment flat on a table and compare it with the size chart.
- If in doubt between slim fit sizes, choose the larger one, if in doubt between regular fit sizes often the smaller one.
- Pay attention to the material. Knitwear and fabric with stretch give more than a sturdy woven cotton.
Common mistakes
- Choosing too tight for a slim look. Pulling buttons and stripes across the chest actually make you look broader.
- Choosing too roomy for comfort. A regular fit that is two sizes too big looks sloppy.
- Only looking at the size. The same size can fit differently per brand. So always look at the fit and size chart as well.
Take a look at the shirts for men, the blouses for women or read our frequently asked questions for more help choosing your size.
Shop the look
Hamilton: cotton shirt with Italian collar, light blue
Theodore: open lyocell polo, dark charcoal melange
Atticus: striped cotton polo with buttons, black
Delphine: fitted blouse with princess seams, light blue
Cordelia: blouse with V-neck and satin look, white
Josephine: fine-knit polo with V-neck, black
Frequently asked questions
Is slim fit the same as tailored fit?
No. Slim fit sits close to the skin over the whole body. Tailored fit is fitted at the waist, but has more room at chest and shoulders.
Which fit is the most business-like?
Tailored fit. It looks sleek and polished under a blazer or loose, without pinching.
Should you take a size larger with slim fit?
That depends on the model. Look at the size advice on the product page: with some slim-fit pieces we advise one size larger.
