90% matchReiss
British contemporary tailoring and occasion dressing
What changes: Still store-based with a full menswear side and higher prices
Brand profile
Karen Millen
British womenswear label known for tailoring, coats and occasionwear, operating online-only under Debenhams Group, the retailer formerly named Boohoo Group.
MaidstoneOrigin
WomenswearFocus
Minimalist / ContemporaryStyle
$$$Price
4 brands like Karen Millen like Reiss, CAMILLA AND MARC, Theory →
What to know about Karen Millen
Built on tailoring and coats
The range started with white cotton shirts in 1981 and still centres on tailoring, coats and occasionwear, with knitwear, denim and leather filling out the rest.
Same name, different company
The store chain collapsed in 2019 and Boohoo bought the label for £18.2m, relaunching it online-only; the parent renamed itself Debenhams Group in March 2025.
Editorial line carries the prices
A premium Editorial range runs roughly £129 to £499, and the brand reaches US shoppers through Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom.
How Karen Millen fits
Overall fit
runs small
Karen Millen is a womenswear brand known for structured tailoring that tends to run small and fitted, with many shoppers finding the cut narrower than high-street equivalents.
Tip: Consider sizing up, especially in tailored dresses and structured pieces, as the cut is fitted.
Medium confidence · based on 6 sources
By category
| Category | Runs | Shape | Size advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shirts & overshirts | runs small | fitted | Size up if you want room across the bust and shoulders in structured shirts. |
| Jeans & denim | slightly small | slim to skinny | Consider your usual size or one up as denim runs snug. |
| Jackets | runs small | tailored, structured | Size up if you plan to layer, as tailored jackets are cut close to the body. |
Directional fit consensus summarized from public sources with AI — a starting point, not a guarantee. Confirm with the product's own measurements before buying.
If you like Karen Millen
90% match
74% matchCAMILLA AND MARC
Restrained Australian minimalism over British polish
What changes: Cooler, more pared-back aesthetic at designer pricing
72% matchTheory
Stretch-wool workwear minimalism, less embellishment
What changes: No occasionwear; strictly neutral office wardrobe
68% matchZhivago
Sharper body-conscious take on occasion dressing
What changes: Red-carpet gowns and far narrower everyday range
Karen Millen fit questions
Does Karen Millen run big or small?
Karen Millen runs small. Consider sizing up, especially in tailored dresses and structured pieces, as the cut is fitted. Karen Millen is a womenswear brand known for structured tailoring that tends to run small and fitted, with many shoppers finding the cut narrower than high-street equivalents.
How does Karen Millen fit?
Karen Millen is a womenswear brand known for structured tailoring that tends to run small and fitted, with many shoppers finding the cut narrower than high-street equivalents. Overall shape: tailored, fitted.
How do Karen Millen shirts & overshirts fit?
Karen Millen shirts & overshirts runs small. Size up if you want room across the bust and shoulders in structured shirts. Shape: fitted.
How do Karen Millen jeans & denim fit?
Karen Millen jeans & denim fits slightly small. Consider your usual size or one up as denim runs snug. Shape: slim to skinny.
How do Karen Millen jackets fit?
Karen Millen jackets runs small. Size up if you plan to layer, as tailored jackets are cut close to the body. Shape: tailored, structured.
Brand facts
Karen Millen is a British womenswear label founded in 1981 by Karen Millen and Kevin Stanford, who began by selling white cotton shirts and opened a first store in Maidstone, Kent, in 1983. Tailoring, coats and occasionwear anchor the range, alongside knitwear, denim and leather. The store chain collapsed in 2019 and Boohoo bought the brand for £18.2m, relaunching it online-only; the parent company renamed itself Debenhams Group in March 2025. A premium Editorial line runs roughly £129 to £499, and the label now sells in the US through Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom.
- Founded
- 1981
- Origin
- Maidstone, United Kingdom
- Made in
- China, Turkey, Portugal
- Price
- $$$
- Focus
- Womenswear
- Facts checked
- August 2026
- Styles
- Minimalist / Contemporary, Quiet luxury