J.Crew garments run small compared to other brands, especially in the case of their shorts, jeans & shoes. Their sizing is a bit inconsistent, and it’s advisable to size up to get the perfect fit.
The American brand was one of, if not the largest, retailers of clothing in the early 2000s. From trendy tops & jackets to stylish jeans and dresses, J.Crew has a plethora of offerings when it comes to its products.
They’ve been in business for over 30 years, and their motto is to pair modern designs & technology with classic aesthetics to get a new line of clothing that gives off feel-good, youthful vibes.
However, their sizing is all over the place, and it can be a bothersome experience shopping from J.Crew as you are bound to encounter some inconsistencies.
This article will guide you in finding the best-fitting piece of clothing you can buy from J.Crew.
How do J.Crew’s clothes fit?

J Crew’s sizing varies from category to category. Their jeans, shorts, and shoes run small compared to other brands, while their tops & t-shirts are true to size, and jackets & dresses run large.
An issue you may run across from J.Crew is you can buy two products from the same category & of the same size, but they could very well end up fitting you differently!
So what should you do?
Here’s what I recommend. Take a look at the official size chart on the J.Crew website. Compare your measurements with the size chart. If you are purchasing a shirt or a t-shirt, you can follow the size chart as is. If you are buying a jacket or a dress, go one size down. And if you are buying jeans, shorts, or shoes, just got one size larger than what the chart recommends.
Use this rule of thumb, and you’ll never have to deal with the hassles of returns and exchanges ever again.
Quick Tip 👉 Sometimes the J.Crew website shows discounts on products only after going through the clearance section and not if you directly go to the product page. Thus, make sure that you always check for your product in the sale section on the J.Crew website.
Let’s look at how each category from J.Crew fits.
Which J-Crew items run small?
J.Crew Clothing | Sizing |
---|---|
Shorts | Run small. |
Jeans | Run small. |
Shoes | Run small. |
Top-wear | True to size. |
Jackets | Run large. |
Dresses | Run large. |
Shorts
J.Crew is well-known for its youthful clothing & its shorts are no exception. You’re guaranteed a stylish pair, albeit with some sizing issues.
Shorts from J.Crew tend to run on the smaller side, so you should opt for a size larger than your usual for a comfortable fit.
Jeans
Jeans are an essential garment for your wardrobe, and nothing is better than a pair that fits you perfectly. Unfortunately, J.Crew’s jeans tend to be smaller than expected, and you should size up to get that perfect silhouette you’re looking for!
Shoes
J.Crew has quite a collection of footwear, especially its shoes. They’ve got a ton of variety & colors to choose from. They do, however, end up being a size smaller than expected.
Top-wear
Top-wear is a department where J. Crew excels, be it for trendy tops or class t-shirts. Some more good news? They are true to size and will fit you perfectly almost every single time!
Jackets
Jackets from J.Crew are pretty fashionable and are a valuable addition to your outfit. There’s a caveat, though, as they almost always run a size larger.
Unless you’re specifically looking for a baggier fit, I’d recommend sizing down when buying jackets from J.Crew.
Dresses
The dresses from J.Crew are stunning. They’ve got so many styles, colors, patterns, and types to choose from! Go for a size smaller than your regular one, as their dresses are known to be on the larger side.
J Crew Size Chart For Men
All measurements are in inches.
Tops and Shirts
Size (US) | Chest | Neck | Waist | Arm Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
XS | 32-34 | 13-13.5 | 26-28 | 31-32 |
S | 35-37 | 14-14.5 | 29-31 | 32-33 |
M | 38-40 | 15-15.5 | 32-34 | 33-34 |
L | 41-43 | 16-16.5 | 35-37 | 34-35 |
XL | 44-46 | 17-17.5 | 38-40 | 35-36 |
XXL | 47-49 | 18-18.5 | 41-43 | 36-37 |
XXXL | 50-52 | 18-18.5 | 44-45 | 36-37 |
Jeans and Pants
Size (US) | Waist (US) |
---|---|
XS | 26-28 |
S | 29-31 |
M | 32-34 |
L | 35-37 |
XL | 38-40 |
XXL | 41-43 |
XXXL | 44-45 |
XXXXL | 46-50 |
Shoes
US Size | UK Size | EU Size | Japan Size |
---|---|---|---|
7 | 6 | 40 | 26 |
7H | 6.5 | 40.5 | 26.5 |
8 | 7 | 41 | 27 |
8H | 7.5 | 41.5 | 27.5 |
9 | 8 | 42 | 28 |
9H | 8.5 | 42.5 | 28.5 |
10 | 9 | 43 | 29 |
10H | 9.5 | 43.5 | 29.5 |
11 | 10 | 44 | 30 |
11H | 10.5 | 44.5 | 30.5 |
12 | 11 | 45 | 31 |
12H | 11.5 | 45.5 | 31.5 |
13 | 12 | 46 | 32 |
J Crew Size Chart For Women
All measurements are in inches.
Tops and Shirts
Size (US) | Numeric Size (US) | Bust | Natural Waist |
---|---|---|---|
XXXS | 000 | 31 | 23 |
XXS | 00 | 32 | 24 |
XS | 0 | 33 | 25 |
XS | 2 | 34 | 26 |
S | 4 | 35 | 27 |
S | 6 | 36 | 28 |
M | 8 | 37 | 29 |
M | 10 | 38 | 30 |
L | 12 | 39.5 | 31.5 |
L | 14 | 41 | 33 |
XL | 16 | 43.5 | 35.5 |
XXL / 1X | 18 | 46 | 38 |
2X | 20 | 48.5 | 40.5 |
3X | 22 | 51 | 43 |
3X | 24 | 53.5 | 45.5 |
Jeans and Bottoms
Size (US) | Numeric Size (US) | Natural Waist |
---|---|---|
23 | 000 | 23 |
24 | 00 | 24 |
25 | 0 | 25 |
26 | 2 | 26 |
27 | 4 | 27 |
28 | 6 | 28 |
29 | 8 | 29.25 |
30 | 10 | 30.5 |
31 | 12 | 32 |
32 | 14 | 33.5 |
33 | 16 | 35.25 |
34 | 18 | 37.25 |
35 | 20 | 39.75 |
36 | 22 | 42.25 |
37 | 24 | 45.25 |
Does J.Crew make plus-sized clothing?
J.Crew does offer a line of plus-size clothing for women. It is available in sizes up to 3XL, which makes the brand more inclusive.
Like its other products, the plus-size line from J.Crew is trendy, stylish, and valuable for your wardrobe. They also, almost always, run true to size, so you don’t have to worry about sizing up or down.
Final remarks
J.Crew has taken a big hit as a brand in the last couple of years. However, they remain ever so popular and are still a good place to shop if you’re in the market for stylish & fashionable modern clothing, despite their obvious sizing inconsistencies.
Let’s recap how their clothes fit.
Does J.Crew run small?
In the case of shorts, jeans & shoes, yes, they do. On the other hand, their jackets & dresses almost always end up being a size larger than expected and you should go for a smaller size for a more comfortable & satisfactory fit.
The top-wear from J.Crew (both tops & t-shirts) are neither too big nor too small. They’re absolutely true to size and fit just right.
The same goes for their plus-size clothing.

My name is Alex Higson and I am the founder of Magic Of Clothes. I have worked in the fashion industry for many years, and clothes and style are a huge part of my life.