Reiss Sizing: Does Reiss Run Small, Big or True to Size?

Reiss usually runs true to size, but it is a mistake to treat that as a promise about every cut. The brand says its U.S. website displays U.S. sizes and that each item includes Design and Fit notes with the model’s size. The women’s chart maps XS to UK 4 and 6, S to UK 8 and 10, M to UK 12 and 14, and L to UK 16 and 18; its conversion table shows those as U.S. 0/2, 4/6, 8/10 and 12/14. That is why a reiss size chart is a starting point, not an answer by itself: use your measurements, then read the garment note and length choice. Petite clothing is reproportioned for women 5 feet 3 inches and under; the chart offers 30-inch Petite, 32-inch Regular and 34-inch Long inseams, while Petite trousers reduce inside leg by 2 inches and rises by half an inch. These pieces make inseam and silhouette more useful than a brand-wide small-or-large rule. Read the waist, shoulder, rise and model notes separately, and do not size up just because one pair of trousers has a different fit. The best rule is to start at your usual number, then adjust only where the item’s notes or proportions warrant it.

These four wide-leg trousers expose the difference between Petite labels and actual measurements. Sonnie’s elasticated striped waistband, pintucks and 28-inch Petite inside leg make it the easiest waist-adjusting option. Luna uses a wool blend, double front pleats and a 28.5-inch Petite inside leg, while Mila is 100% linen, high rise, with a 30.5-inch Petite inside leg and ric-rac along the waist and side seams. Jade adds a wool-blend wide leg with a 10.25-inch rise and 30-inch leg opening. Reiss says its Petite trousers reduce the inside leg by 2 inches and front and back rise by half an inch, though the actual product pages list their own measurements. My practical move is to compare the listed inseam to your favorite pair, then look at rise and waistband construction; elastic, fixed closures and pleats will sit differently even when the size on the label matches. The 30-inch Petite chart is a starting point, not a substitute for each pair’s measurements.

The tops here show why the product fit label matters more than the same-letter size. Bella is relaxed, in premium interlock jersey with a rib-knit notched collar and short button placket; the model wears a size S. Edina is a close-fitting 100% merino jumper with a roll neck and thumbhole cuffs, with its model also in S. Milan is a sleeveless fitted turtleneck, while Jolie is a slim-fit stretch-cotton tee. Those descriptions point to different uses: Bella can carry a little ease, Edina is meant to layer close to the body, and Jolie is the neater base layer. Read the fit word literally, and check shoulder seam and body length in the product details if you are choosing between sizes. A size S on two models does not mean the pieces will hang the same way; material stretch and shape change the feel. My pick for a close base is Edina, for an easier shoulder line is Bella, while Milan and Jolie suit warmer-weather layering.

Outerwear and dresses need a length check as much as a chest or waist check. Alara is an unlined wool-blend long coat in blind-seam construction, and the regular back length is 56 inches; the size guide shortens full-length Petite coats by 4 inches and sleeves by 2. Lucia is a double-breasted blindseam coat; check shoulder room if you plan to layer. Micah is a bias-drape midi dress with a tucked waist and about a 53-inch shoulder-to-hem measurement, while Michalie is a sleeveless floral viscose midi with an asymmetrical hem. The size chart is a baseline, not a reason to size up automatically: start with your usual U.S. number, compare the piece’s fit note and proportions, then use bust, waist and hip measurements when a cut is close. If the waist fits but coat sleeves or trouser length are wrong, Petite or Tall proportions may solve that without changing the size. My verdict is true to size as a first pass, then style-specific adjustments only where the brand’s measurements point to them.