Streetwear sizing: why the numbers rarely match the fit

Sizing is the part of streetwear nobody talks about honestly.

You order a medium in one brand and it fits. Order a medium in the next and it is either a tent or a compression top. The graphic brings you in. The fit decides whether you keep the piece.

Why charts fail

Most size charts come from the manufacturer's blank spec sheet. The blank is built to hit a target cost, not to reflect how the finished garment actually measures after print and wash. If there is a graphic on the piece, the chest width changes slightly during the heat press process. If the brand runs a relaxed fit, the manufacturer's "medium" spec is still built for a fitted silhouette.

The result: "just follow the size chart" is advice that works about sixty percent of the time.

How we measure

Every Maison Clair piece is measured off the finished garment, not the blank spec. Chest width is taken across the body at one inch below the armhole. Length is measured from the highest point of the shoulder to the hem. Sleeve length runs from the centre back neck to the cuff.

These numbers go on the size guide. They are not rounded. They are not padded by two centimetres so you have "extra room". They are what the piece actually measures.

How to use it

Lay a piece you already own flat. Measure it the same way: chest across, shoulder to hem, back neck to cuff. Match those numbers to the guide. Pick the size where the numbers are closest to your reference piece.

If you are between sizes and you prefer a more relaxed fit, go up. If you prefer a closer fit, stay at the smaller size. The silhouettes across all our pieces are designed to work at both.

One more thing

Wash on cold, hang dry. The construction weights we use hold their shape but heat shrinks cotton. Hang dry also protects the print longer than a tumble cycle.

The sizing guide is on every product page. If you get it wrong, message us.