Paul & Shark sizing guide: what size to order

Paul & Shark runs large. That's the starting point, and it's the opposite of what most buyers expect, especially if you're coming from CP Company or Stone Island, both of which cut slim.This guide covers how the range fits across each category, explains the Shark Fit label (which is a separate product line, not just a size), and includes the full size chart with chest measurements in centimetres and inches. Get this right once and the rest of your Paul & Shark purchases are straightforward.

Does Paul & Shark run big or small?

Paul & Shark runs large in tops. Bottoms are true to size.The brand was built around sailing. The original Paul & Shark jackets were designed for movement on deck, which means room across the chest and shoulders was the starting point, not a concession. That generous cut carried through the whole range. A Paul & Shark polo isn't cut like an Italian slim-fit shirt, it's cut wide, with a longer body and broader shoulder than most buyers expect when they open the box.The practical rule: size down one in tops if you want a modern fit. Stay at your usual size if you want the relaxed, layered look the brand was designed for. For bottoms, your usual size is right.

Understanding Paul & Shark's sizing systemPaul & Shark uses a dual system: alpha sizing (S, M, L, XL) alongside EU numeric sizing (46, 48, 50, 52). Both labels appear on the garment. The EU numbers can look unfamiliar, but they follow the same logic as most Italian and French brands.The chart below gives body chest measurements, not garment measurements. Because Paul & Shark cuts generous, the garments themselves will measure larger than these figures.

Paul & Shark also publishes an official size guide on their website. Worth cross-referencing for specific pieces, as some outerwear items include additional garment measurements.

How to measure

Measure your chest at the widest point, straight across under the arms. If you're between sizes, take the larger one, there's no downside to a slightly roomier Paul & Shark fit, and a size too small with the wide shoulder construction looks visibly wrong.

Shark Fit vs Regular Fit

This is the most important distinction in the Paul & Shark range, and the one almost nobody explains clearly.

Regular Fit is the standard Paul & Shark silhouette. Generous chest, wide shoulder, longer sleeve, longer body. This is the cut the brand built its reputation on. It runs large by design. If you're buying a Regular Fit polo and want it to sit close to the body, size down one.

Shark Fit is Paul & Shark's slim-cut label. Slimmer through the torso, shorter sleeve, closer to the body. This is a separate product line, not a variation of the Regular Fit. If you want a trim, fitted polo, Shark Fit is the right choice, order your usual size.

Here's why the distinction matters: if a buyer wants a fitted polo and sizes down on a Regular Fit, they fix the chest but end up with the shoulders sitting too wide. The shoulder seam on a Regular Fit is cut to sit further down the arm than a fitted garment should. Shark Fit solves this because the whole cut is different, not just the measurements.

Mainline Menswear's breakdown of Regular Fit vs Shark Fit is the clearest external explanation of the distinction, even if it's from 2016, the cut logic hasn't changed.

The short version: if the product is labelled Shark Fit, treat it as true to size. If it's Regular Fit or unlabelled, size down for a modern fit.

How Paul & Shark tops fit

Polos

Regular Fit polos run large. Size down one for a modern fit that sits properly through the chest and shoulder. Stay at your usual size if you're wearing it over a base layer or you prefer the traditional, relaxed silhouette.

Shark Fit polos are true to size. The slim cut does the work, no need to adjust.

Browse polos and t-shirts to see the current Paul & Shark selection.

Sweatshirts and hoodies

Paul & Shark sweatshirts are cut with a dropped shoulder and wider torso than most brands. They're built to work as a mid-layer or worn on their own. Size down if you're wearing the sweatshirt over a t-shirt and want it to sit close to the body. Stay at your usual size if you plan to layer underneath.

See the sweatshirts and hoodies range for what's in stock

T-shirts

More fitted than the polos. True to size or one down if you prefer it closer. T-shirts are the one Paul & Shark category where the generous cut is less pronounced, so your usual size works for most people.

How Paul & Shark gilets and outerwear fit

Paul & Shark gilets are designed to layer. The cut assumes you're wearing something underneath, a sweatshirt, a knitwear piece, or at minimum a polo. Order your usual size for a gilet you intend to wear over a mid-layer.

Size down one only if you plan to wear the gilet exclusively over a t-shirt and want it to sit without excess fabric. At that point you're wearing it differently from how it was designed, but it can work.

The Re-Goose down gilet is a good example: lightweight fill in a generous cut. Usual size is right for most buyers.

Shell outerwear follows the same logic as the rest of the range. There's more room built in than Italian competitors like CP Company, so the usual advice doesn't apply here. Paul & Shark outerwear is not a slim garment. Start at your usual size.

Paul & Shark trousers and sweatpants

True to size across the range. European sizing is standard for Paul & Shark trousers, no adjustment needed. If you wear a 32-inch waist in UK sizing, your EU equivalent is what to order.

Common sizing questions

Does Paul & Shark run true to size?

In Tops, no. Paul & Shark tops run large. Size down for a modern fit, or stay at your usual size if you prefer a roomier cut. Bottoms are true to size.

Should I size down in Paul & Shark?

In Regular Fit tops, yes, one size down gives a more contemporary fit. In Shark Fit, no. Stay at your usual size. Bottoms don't need any adjustment.

What is Shark Fit?

Shark Fit is Paul & Shark's slim-cut product line. It's a separate cut from the standard range, not just a tighter version of the Regular Fit. If you want a fitted polo or jacket, Shark Fit is the right choice, not sizing down on a Regular Fit.

What is size 50 in Paul & Shark?

EU 50 is a Large, corresponding to approximately 101cm chest / 40 inches. If you normally wear an L in UK or Dutch brands, size 50 is the starting point.

How does Paul & Shark compare to CP Company sizing?

They're essentially opposite. CP Company cuts slim and runs small, the standard advice there is to size up. Paul & Shark cuts generous and runs large, the standard advice here is to size down in tops. If you wear a large in Paul & Shark, your CP Company equivalent is probably an XL in outerwear.

Returns

If the size doesn't work, Casual Quarter's 14-day returns policy covers you. Items need to be unworn and in original condition.