Frank And Oak Size Guide

Getting the Fit Right With Frank And Oak

Most people wing their first order on this site. They guess a medium because that is what they wear everywhere else and then deal with returns. The Frank And Oak Size Guide is actually pretty solid if you use it correctly, but there are details the average shopper glosses over. I spent a few years working with e-commerce sizing data before getting into fashion, and Frank and Oak is one of those brands where the guide works well if you take the time to measure yourself properly. The problem is most people just look at the chest measurement and call it a day. That is where things go wrong.

Frank And Oak Size Guide

Here is how it actually works in practice. You need a soft tape measure. Stand upright in your underwear or light clothing and get the key numbers. Chest at the widest part, waist at the navel level, hips at the fullest point, and inseam from the crotch seam down to your desired pant length. Write these numbers down. Do not eyeball them. Their size chart maps these measurements to their numbered sizing system. A typical medium covers a 38 to 40 inch chest and a 30 to 32 inch waist. Their pants run slightly slim through the seat and thigh compared to something like Everlane or Uniqlo. Their shirts tend to run true to size but with a tailored cut that sits closer to the body than a classic American brand like J.Crew. I learned this the hard way. My first order was a regular-fit chinos in a 32 waist based purely on my jean size. I already wore a 32 in Levi's 511s and assumed the same number applied across the board. These chinos were noticeably tighter through the hip and thigh area. The size chart actually said the 32 waist had a 15 inch thigh opening while my previous chinos had a 16.5. If I had bothered to measure my actual thigh circumference and compare it to the garment specifications instead of just matching waist numbers, I would have sized up. That pair ended up going back and I swapped for a 34, which fit perfectly.

The workaround that saved me from endless returns was stopping at the garment measurements. Frank and Oak includes things like shoulder width, sleeve length, and thigh opening on their detailed product pages. Those numbers matter more than the general size chart. I started comparing my own body measurements against those garment specs directly. It takes about three minutes per item once you know what to look for, and it cuts return rates down dramatically. One thing people miss is that their sizing shifts slightly between product categories. Their blazers and structured outerwear follow a different fit profile than their t-shirts or hoodies. A medium in their Meridian blazer has different proportions than a medium in their everyday crewneck. The size guide covers this to some degree but you have to read the fit notes on each product page. Their site usually labels things as classic fit, tailored fit, or slim fit. Classic fit gives you more room throughout. Tailored is their middle ground. Slim is cut close to the body with less ease. Pants are another area where the guide needs some extra attention. Their denim and chinos come in multiple rises and leg openings. If you have broader thighs or a larger seat relative to your waist, their slim straight cut might feel restrictive even if the waist size is correct. Their regular or athletic fit options exist for that reason, but they are not always easy to spot if you are skimming the product page quickly.

The biggest limitation of their size guide is that it does not account for body type variations very well. Two people with the same chest and waist measurements can fit very differently depending on posture, shoulder slope, and leg muscle distribution. Frank and Oak uses a fairly standard block pattern that assumes a relatively upright stance and average proportions. If you carry weight differently, the guide becomes less reliable and you are better off relying on customer reviews that mention fit for similar body types. Another issue is that their newer fabric blends sometimes shrink slightly after the first wash, especially their cotton shirts and chinos. I recommend ordering one size up if you plan to machine dry anything, or at least air dry it. The shrinkage is usually under five percent but that adds up when you are already right at the edge of a size. If you want to use this effectively, measure yourself, check the garment specs on each product page, compare those numbers against your body, and read the fit notes. Do not assume your size carries over from another brand. Frank and Oak runs a bit leaner than most North American casual wear brands. When in doubt between two sizes, going up usually gives you a more comfortable fit with their cuts.