Ulla Popken Pleated Blouse in Pink

Ulla Popken sizes its clothing on one consistent scale from size 42 to size 68, with measurements based on a height of 167–174 cm. The same scale is also shown adjusted for shorter and taller heights — this is why you may see jeans labelled with numbers like 21 or 22 rather than 42 or 44: it's the same size, shown in the shorter-height version (see below).

Tops vs bottoms – which sizing applies?

Based on our own range, the two categories follow a clear and useful pattern:

• Tops almost always use double sizing (42/44, 46/48, 50/52...). Nearly every blouse, t-shirt, tunic, cardigan and top we stock is cut this way — a single design built to fit comfortably across two consecutive sizes.
• Bottoms are split: relaxed-fit styles — wide-leg trousers, culottes, skirts, leggings — mostly use double sizing too. But fitted styles run single sizes instead: 7/8th trousers, slim/straight trousers in solid colours, and jeggings are sized 42, 44, 46... one size per fit, not a range. The tighter the cut, the less room there is for one garment to comfortably span two sizes, so Ulla Popken sizes these more precisely.
• Jeans show a different-looking number (21, 22, 23...) but this is the same 42–68 scale — just shown in the shorter-height version, where the number is exactly half the regular-height size (e.g. jeans size 21 = clothing size 42). See the height variants section below.

In practice: if you're shopping for a blouse or a wide-leg trouser, look for a double size. If you're shopping for slim 7/8th trousers or jeggings, you'll see single sizes only. If you're shopping for jeans and the size looks unusually low (in the 20s), check whether it's labelled for a shorter height — it's the same size range as everything else, just relabelled.

How to measure yourself

• Chest: measured horizontally at the fullest part of the chest.
• Waist: measured horizontally at the narrowest part of the waist.
• Hip: measured horizontally at the widest part of the buttocks.
• Waist height (trousers only): the difference between the side length and the inside leg length, showing where the waistband sits. The higher the waist height, the higher the trousers sit.

Tops & upper body – size chart (cm)

Bottoms & lower body – size chart (cm)

Source: Ulla Popken official size chart. Waist and hip measurements are the same across tops and bottoms; chest measurement applies to tops only.

Height variants (regular, shorter, taller)

Ulla Popken's size chart accounts for height as well as body measurements. The size numbers above assume a height of 167–174cm (labelled "N" for regular/normal). The same sizes are also available in versions for different heights:

This is the same body measurements throughout each row — only the labelling changes by height. This is why jeans are often labelled 21, 22, 23...: that's simply the shorter-height version of sizes 42, 44, 46. If you're around average height (167–174cm), ignore the shorter/taller columns and use the regular size number from the charts above.

UK size equivalent

Frequently asked questions

Why is my jeans size a much lower number than my usual size?
Jeans (and some trousers) are often labelled using the shorter-height version of the size scale, where the number is exactly half the regular size. A jeans size 21 is the same body size as clothing size 42 — it isn't a different, smaller size, just a different label for the same fit at a shorter height.

Do tops and bottoms use the same sizing?
The underlying body measurements are the same scale, but how it's presented differs. Tops are almost always double-sized (e.g. 42/44). Bottoms vary: relaxed styles like wide-leg trousers, culottes and skirts are usually double-sized too, but fitted styles — 7/8th trousers, slim trousers and jeggings — are sized individually (42, 44, 46...), and jeans may show the shorter-height number instead. Check the size options on the specific product.

I usually wear a UK 16 – what size is that at Ulla Popken?
That's Ulla Popken size 42 (or 42/44 for double-sized tops). If you're shopping for jeans labelled in the shorter-height format, that's size 21. If you're noticeably taller than 174cm, look for the corresponding taller-height number instead (84, in this case).

Does Ulla Popken run true to size?
Fit can vary by style and fabric — some elastic-waist and knit styles run more generously than structured, woven pieces. If you're between two sizes, it's often safer to size up, particularly in fitted or non-stretch styles.

What is "waist height" on Ulla Popken trousers?
It's how high the waistband sits, measured as the difference between the side seam length and the inside leg length. A higher waist height means the trousers sit higher on the waist; a lower one means a lower-rise fit. This is different from the height-variant sizing (regular/shorter/taller) described above, which is about the wearer's height, not the trouser rise.

Last updated: 15/07/2027