Guides · · 7 min read
How to Size Oversized and Boxy Fits (with Flat Measurements)
Lay a top you already own flat, measure it, and compare it with our size guide. How to take each measurement, read the tables, and choose between two sizes.
Oversized and boxy pieces are the hardest to size online. Your usual size label does not tell you how much room a cut is meant to have, and two brands can mean different things by the same word.
The most reliable fix is simple. Lay a top you already own flat, measure it, and compare those numbers with our Size Guide, which is measured the same way. This guide walks through how to take each measurement, how to read our tables, what to do when you land between two sizes, and what we mean when a product page says boxy, relaxed or oversized.
Why measure a garment, not your body
Body measurements tell you your size, not how much room you like. A top you already own and like the fit of has that information built in, so its flat measurements are your target.
Our size guide is written for this. In its own words: "Measurements are taken across the garment, laid flat, in centimetres." That means you compare flat with flat. There is no need to double anything or add ease. Measure your top, find the column with the closest numbers, and you are most of the way there.
How to take each flat measurement
You need a soft tape measure and one top that fits the way you want the new piece to fit, ideally the same type of garment. Lay it face up on a flat surface, close any zip and smooth it out without stretching it.
Pit-to-pit (chest)
Measure straight across the front, from the bottom of one armhole seam to the bottom of the other, keeping the tape level. This matches the Chest row in our tops table.
Length
Measure from the highest point of the shoulder, where it meets the collar, straight down to the bottom of the hem. On a hoodie, start at the shoulder beside the hood, not at the top of the hood. Our guide does not state its exact starting point, so treat a difference of a centimetre or so as measuring noise rather than a reason to change size.
Shoulder
Measure across the back from one shoulder seam to the other. It is worth knowing, but our size guide does not list a shoulder figure, so you cannot compare it directly. On a dropped-shoulder cut, the seam sits lower than your shoulder on purpose, so the number will not match a regular tee anyway. Our FAQ puts it this way: most pieces "are true to size with a slightly easier shoulder."
Sleeve
Measure from the shoulder seam to the end of the sleeve, along the top edge. The Sleeve row in our tops table runs from 20.5 cm (XS) to 27 cm (2XL), which are short-sleeve lengths. For long sleeves and hoodies, compare chest and length, and treat sleeve as something to check with us rather than guess.
Our size guide tables
The Size Guide has three tables, all laid flat, in centimetres.
Tops
| XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest | 47 | 51 | 55 | 58.5 | 62 | 66 |
| Length | 66 | 69 | 71 | 74 | 76 | 78 |
| Sleeve | 20.5 | 21.5 | 23 | 24 | 25.5 | 27 |
Bottoms list waist, pant inseam and short inseam. Tights list waist, rise and inseam. The same method applies: lay a pair you like flat and measure the same points.
How to compare your numbers
Start with chest, because it decides how much room the top has. Then check length, because that decides where the hem lands.
A worked example, using made-up numbers: say your favourite tee measures 56 cm pit-to-pit and 72 cm long. On our tops table, that sits just above M (55 cm chest, 71 cm length) and below L (58.5 cm, 74 cm). You are between sizes, so the next two steps decide it.
- Read the fit note on the product page. Every product page has a short fit line beside the size options and a Fit section in the details. That tells you how the piece is cut relative to your usual size.
- Apply our between-sizes rule. See below.
One more check: size runs vary by product. Our guide covers XS to 2XL, while some pieces are offered in different runs. The Unity Classic Oversized Tee, for example, is offered from S to XXXL, and the Halter Bra in numeric sizes 4 to 12. If the size you are looking at is not a column in the guide, write to us before you order and we will help.
Our between-sizes rule
The size guide gives one rule for everything: "If you are between sizes, take the easier fit in hoodies and the closer fit in tights and training tops."
Some product pages add a note of their own:
- Relaxed pieces such as the Unity Relax Crew and the Vintage Zip Hoodie say: "Relaxed — between sizes take the easier fit."
- Oversized pieces such as the Unity Classic Oversized Tee say: "Oversized cut — usual size for room; size down for closer."
In the example above, a hoodie would mean taking the L. A training top, such as a fitted tank, would mean taking the M. An oversized tee is already cut with room, so you would stay with your usual size, or go down if you want it closer.
Boxy, relaxed and oversized: how we use the words
These words mean different things on our product pages, so read the Fit section on each page.
Oversized
Oversized means the piece is cut with more room than your usual size gives you. It is not a cue to size up. Our oversized pieces include the Unity Classic Oversized Tee, the Oversized Pump Tee and the Unity Heavy Faded Long Sleeve, all listed as "Oversized, boxy fit" with dropped shoulders. The Fleeced Full-Zip Boxy Hoodie is listed as "Oversized, cropped fit."
Boxy
Boxy describes the shape: a straight, square body with dropped shoulders. On our pages it appears alongside oversized rather than on its own, so size a boxy piece the way you would an oversized one.
Relaxed
Relaxed pieces are easier through the body than a regular fit, without being cut oversized. The Unity Relax Crew is listed as "Relaxed fit," the Vintage Zip Hoodie as "Relaxed fit with a short length," and the Unity Crop Hood as "Relaxed fit, cropped length." For relaxed pieces, the page note is to take the easier fit when between sizes.
Loose, regular, fitted and close
A few other terms sit either side. The Quarter Zip Sweat is "Loose fit, cropped length." The Unity Stencil Hood is "Regular fit." The Contour Tank is "Fitted," and the Halter Bra is a "Close, bodycon fit." Fitted and close pieces sit on the training-top side of the between-sizes rule.
Cropped is about length
Cropped tells you about length, not width. The Vintage Zip Hoodie, Quarter Zip Sweat and Unity Crop Hood are all cropped. For these, compare against a cropped top you already own, because a regular-length top will make the Length row look short.
A quick checklist
- Measure a top you like, laid flat: pit-to-pit, length, shoulder and sleeve.
- Find the closest column in the tops table on the Size Guide. Do not double the chest.
- Read the fit line on the product page.
- If you are between sizes: easier fit in hoodies, closer fit in tights and training tops. For oversized cuts, stay with your usual size, or size down for closer.
- If the product's sizes are not in the guide, or you are still unsure, write to us before ordering. Size exchanges on unworn pieces are covered on our Shipping and Returns page.
Related reading: Is Higher GSM Better? on fabric weight, Gym to Street on one wardrobe for training and after, and What Is a Pump Cover? on oversized layers over training kit.
Frequently asked questions
Should I size up in an oversized tee?
No. Our oversized pieces are already cut with room. The product page note on the Unity Classic Oversized Tee reads: "Oversized cut — usual size for room; size down for closer."
Do I double the pit-to-pit measurement?
Not with our size guide. Its measurements are taken across the garment, laid flat, so compare your flat measurement directly with the Chest row.
What if I am between two sizes?
Take the easier fit in hoodies and the closer fit in tights and training tops. Check the fit line on the product page as well.
Does the size guide list shoulder width?
No. It lists chest, length and sleeve for tops. Our FAQ notes that most pieces are true to size with a slightly easier shoulder, and dropped-shoulder cuts place the seam lower by design.
What is the difference between boxy, relaxed and oversized?
On our pages, oversized means cut with more room than your usual size, boxy describes the square, dropped-shoulder shape that goes with it, and relaxed means easier than a regular fit without the full oversized volume.
Find your size in Men and Women, with the Size Guide open in another tab.