What "true to size" means
"True to size" means a garment fits the way the brand's own size chart says it will. It does not mean it matches your size in another brand. Sizes are not standardised between brands, so the phrase only helps when it sits next to a size chart, a fit description and the model's height and size.
This page explains the common fit phrases, shows how often Shopify fashion stores actually use them, and gives merchants a short template for fit notes.
By Sienna Stones · Published 23 October 2026
Fit phrases, decoded
| Phrase | What it usually means | What the shopper should do |
|---|---|---|
| True to size | The garment fits the way the brand's own size chart says it will. | Order your usual size in this brand, checked against its size chart. |
| Runs small | The garment measures smaller than the label suggests. | Size up, or compare garment measurements before ordering. |
| Runs large | The garment measures bigger than the label suggests. | Size down, or compare garment measurements. |
| Relaxed or oversized fit | Cut with extra room on purpose. It is not a sizing error. | Order your usual size for the intended look; size down for a closer fit. |
| Slim or tailored fit | Cut close to the body, with little extra room. | Order your usual size; size up if you are between sizes or prefer room. |
| Between sizes | The shopper's measurements fall between two sizes on the chart. | Check the fit note: size up for a relaxed fit, down for a fitted one. |
A fit phrase is relative to the brand's own size chart. A size 12 dress that is "true to size" at one brand can measure several centimetres differently from a "true to size" 12 elsewhere. Our size converter shows how far labels drift between the UK, US and EU.
How often stores tell shoppers how a garment fits
In our scan of 829 Shopify fashion stores, most products said nothing about fit, and most stores never said what size the model wears.
| What we measured | Result |
|---|---|
| Sized products that say how they fit ("true to size", "relaxed fit", "size up") | 20.3% of 107,138 products |
| Stores with no fit notes on any sized product | 27.6% of 829 stores |
| Stores with fit notes on fewer than 30% of sized products | 78.9% of 829 stores |
| Sized products that give the model's size or height | 10.3% of 107,138 products |
| Stores that never give the model's size or height | 73.8% of 829 stores |
| Stores covering both basics (fit notes on 30%+ and model info on 20%+ of products) | 7.2% of 829 stores |
The full method and limits are in the Shopify Size Chart Report 2026, and the figures can be downloaded from our open data page.
Why the model's height and size matter
A photo shows how a garment looks on one body. Without the model's height and size, a shopper cannot tell whether a dress is midi on everyone or only on a 168 cm model, or whether a jacket is oversized by design or a size too big. A line such as "Model is 178 cm and wears M" lets shoppers scale what they see to themselves.
| Category | Product descriptions giving the model's size or height | Giving sizing advice |
|---|---|---|
| Jeans | 20.4% | 12.0% |
| Dresses | 19.2% | 9.9% |
| Swimwear | 19.1% | 11.6% |
| Trousers and skirts | 18.0% | 10.1% |
| Shirts and tops | 16.8% | 10.9% |
| Knitwear | 16.8% | 9.5% |
| Coats and jackets | 13.4% | 8.2% |
| Suits and tailoring | 4.9% | 2.4% |
Even in jeans, the category that gives it most often, only about one product description in five mentions the model.
A fit note template for merchants
Three short lines under the size selector cover what shoppers ask most:
- Fit: "True to size. Relaxed through the body with a dropped shoulder."
- Advice: "Between sizes? Size down for a closer fit."
- Model: "Model is 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) and wears S."
Write the fit line from the garment's measurements, not from the factory spec. Compare the chest or waist with your size chart: if the garment is more than one size step bigger than the chart's body measurement, call it relaxed or oversized rather than "true to size". Then publish the note as text, so search engines and AI shopping assistants can read it as well as people.
Start from a free size chart template, see six worked size guides, or run the size chart audit on your own store.
From fit notes to a size for each shopper
Fit notes still leave the shopper to do the maths. Rendered Fits reads a brand's own size chart and fit notes and recommends a size for each product on its Shopify store. There is a Free plan for one product.
Frequently asked questions
What does "true to size" mean?
It means the garment fits the way the brand's own size chart says it will, so you can order the size the chart gives for your measurements. It does not mean the size matches other brands.
Should I size up or down if something runs small?
Size up if a product is described as running small, unless the brand says it is meant to fit closely. Comparing the garment measurements with a piece you already own is more reliable than either.
Is "relaxed fit" the same as "runs large"?
No. A relaxed or oversized fit is cut with extra room on purpose. "Runs large" means the garment is bigger than its label suggests. For a relaxed fit, order your usual size for the intended look.
Why do product pages say the model's height and size?
So shoppers can judge length and fit from the photos. Knowing the model is 178 cm and wears M tells a shorter or taller shopper how the same garment will sit on them.
How common are fit notes on Shopify stores?
Not very. In our scan of 829 Shopify fashion stores, 20.3% of sized products said how they fit and 73.8% of stores never gave the model's size or height.
About Rendered Fits. Rendered Fits is a Shopify app for fashion brands that recommends a size for supported products from the brand's own size chart, and can show shoppers an optional AI try-on preview. There is a Free plan, and Complete is $349 a month with a 14-day trial.
See also: fit and sizing glossary · how to make a size chart · size chart report