Boden runs on the bigger side. If you are a US 0, you're out of luck. 2 is hit or miss. If you usually wear a US 4, you'll probably be OK with their smallest size.

I think you should try an 8. That is the size I take, and I think we take the same size since we both ended up with the CM pants in a 2.

Thanks Maya. Let's see, do you mean that Boden runs small. A US 8 is too large, but a Boden 8 is smaller?
Sorry if I am being a knuckle head.

No, boden runs big compared to US sizing. Boden's sizing starts at an 8.

Ok I get it now.
Thanks.

Spot on. Boden UK size 8 is about a US 4 - and that's the smallest size.

Thankyou Maya and Angie. This is so helpful.

Yep, this completely reflects my Boden experience. Cannot buy pants from them, but because I'm an inverted triangle, their size 8 (i.e., smallest) coats are just right except for needing a bit of hemming. San, with your elegant height and slimness, you would probably be perfect in a size 8 Boden coat.

Oooh... So if their sizes are generous, could someone like me fit into their largest sizes or do they not go quite that high? :)

April thankyou for the "elegant" compliment. You have made my day.

Michelle, I think there is a brain teaser going on here with the description of Boden sizing. I would say that their sizes run small. Some say they run big. It depends on whether you are talking about the number on the garment, or the size of the garment. The numbers run big, the size of the garment runs small. I normally wear a 4. In Boden I wear an 8, so to me their clothes run small because their 8 is as small as a US 4.
To the other way of looking at it they run big because you have to buy a bigger size.
Are we totally confused yet?

I see what you mean now San.

They definitely do not run SMALL. Their numbers are just different from ours. They simply use British sizing, which usually begins at an 8 (occasionally a 6 but I don't see this very often). Personally, I do not find British and US sizing to be apples to apples. If it were, sizes would be as follows:

US 0 = UK 8
US 2 = UK 10
US 4 = UK 12
US 6 = UK 14
US 8 = UK 16

etc.

But in my experience, it doesn't quite match up. I am a US size 2/4 and I take a UK 8 or 10. I have never worn a 12. My friend who spends a lot of time in England with her mother is a US size 6 and wears a UK size 12.

Back to Boden: I say their sizing runs big because their size 8 is the equivalent of a US size 4. A UK 8 should really not be bigger than a US 2.

French Connection is more TTS for me. I wear a UK 10 there.

Sometimes when my friend from Australia comes for a visit, we swap clothes. She is the same size as me, and most of her clothes are 8's or 10's as well (Aussie sizing also follows the UK system).

I hope that made things clearer...

San and Michelle - Maya's explanation is accurate: the numbers are different, but the sizing itself is generous. The Boden website says that if you take a 0 or a 2, you should order an 8, but as Angie predicted when I ordered their clamdiggers, the 8s were too big. Since they don't have a smaller size (hello, Boden - maybe you should), I don't even look at their pants or skirts.

In other words, look at their size chart, do the conversion to US sizing, and know that if you order your usual size (converted), it will be generously cut.

Maya and April are spot on. Like a coconut, I wear a UK 6 and an American size 0. But Boden size 8 is two sizes too big which makes their UK 8 a US 4. French Connection *is* true to size. Their size UK 6 always fits. I hope that helps.

...coconuts wear a UK 6 and US 0? Boy you learn something new every day.

Maya you make me laugh!!!

I think the coconut thing is just another Angieism that I am unaware of, so it sounded funny when I read it out loud (well, not out loud, but out loud in my head).

This site is about learning, right?

Michelle,

I buy from Boden a lot. Their sizes are British, and you can pretty accurately predict your size by adding 4 to your American size. That is, if you wear 10 US, you will need 14 in Boden (this is my size). Usually, British sizes are calculated from the US sizes by adding 6 (i.e., size 10 US would be 16 UK), but since Boden's sizing is generous, adding 4 is enough.

Angie, I am dying to know what the coconut expression stands for!

I don't get the coconut thing either.

Maya, we must be the same size if you fit aussie 8 or 10! (Depending on brands of course. In the non-trendy town I live I am sometimes too small for an 8, but in teen shops in the city I take a larger size)

Quite right, HannaC.

We use that expression all the time: "like a coconut" or "every time a coconut". It means “every time the same thing” or “you can be sure of it”. It’s not an Angiesm. It’s a Gregism – but wildly used in British English. It's how we grew up.

Anne, my friend from Australia (Kate is her name) is usually a 10. I am usually an 8. But there is some overlap since she is more of a rectangle than me and needs a slim fit in the hip area.

Here we are (me and my Stephen Colbert pose):

http://img.photobucket.com/alb.....0_0018.jpg

Of course, this was a couple of years ago. I am probably closer to a 10 now. Sizing is very arbitrary to me. I have an equal amount of clothing in a US 2 and US 4, and even a few 0's thrown in the mix. I just say I'm a 4 because I think that is my "real" size but who knows.

And thanks for the coconut explanation Angie. I will have to remember to use that when I get the chance :)

Wow, the coconut thing is brand new, even in Canada where there's a certain amount of British-English carryover. Too fun! I'm a total word nerd and love stuff like this. :) Hehe, maybe I'll try and work it into the next news story I write just to watch my editors scratch their heads. :)

My experience with Boden is that whatever they say your equivalent size is, it's probably going to be a little generous. Although I haven't ordered from them recently, one thing I like about their site is that one of the tabs actually gives you the measurements of the garment, so you can see in terms of inches which size is going to work.