Descente Size Guide

How to Measure Yourself

To find your correct Descente size, take accurate measurements while wearing minimal clothing. Measure in the afternoon when your body is at its normal size, as feet and limbs can swell throughout the day. Use a soft measuring tape and ensure it sits comfortably against your skin without pulling tight. Have someone assist you if possible for the most accurate results.

1. Chest: Measure around the fullest part of your chest, keeping the tape parallel to the ground. The tape should sit loosely across your shoulders and under your arms.
2. Waist: Measure around your natural waistline, typically where you wear your trousers. Keep the tape comfortably snug but not constricting.
3. Hips: Measure around the fullest part of your hips and buttocks, keeping the tape parallel to the ground and at a consistent height all around.
4. Inseam (for bottoms): Wearing shoes you plan to wear with the item, measure from your inner thigh down to your ankle bone. Alternatively, measure from your crotch to your ankle.
5. Height: Stand barefoot against a wall and have someone measure from the top of your head to the floor. Height measurements help ensure proportional fits in Descente’s range.
6. Foot length: Stand on a piece of paper and mark the longest point of your heel and the tip of your longest toe. Measure the distance in centimetres for shoe sizing.

Men’s Clothing Size Chart

Tops — Chest, Waist & Height Measurements

Size Label	US	F.I.D	Japanese	Height (cm)	Chest (cm)	Waist (cm)
3XS	42	SS	SS	157–163	81–87	67–73
XXS	44	S	S	162–168	85–91	71–77
XS	46	M	M	167–173	89–95	75–81
S	48	L	L	172–178	93–99	79–85
M	50	O	O	177–183	97–103	83–89
L	52	XO	XO	182–188	101–107	87–93
XL	54	XA	XA	184–190	107–113	93–99
XXL	56	XB	XB	186–194	113–119	99–105
3XL	58	XC	XC	190–194	113–125	105–111
4XL	60	XD	XD		125–131	111–117

Bottoms — Waist, Hip & Inseam Measurements

Size Label	US	F.I.D	Japanese	Waist (cm)	Hip (cm)	Inseam (cm)
26	34	42	SS	67–163	83–89	73
28	36	44	S	71–77	87–93	75
30	38	46	M	75–81	91–97	78
32	40	48	L	79–85	95–101	81
34	42	50	O	83–89	99–105	84
36	44	52	XO	87–93	103–109	87
38	46	54	XA	93–99	109–115	88
40	48	56	XB	99–105	113–119	89
42	50	58	XC	105–111	119–125	90
44	52	60	XD	111–117	125–131	91

Women’s Clothing Size Chart

Tops — Chest, Waist & Height Measurements

Size Label	US	F.D	Japanese	Height (cm)	Chest (cm)	Waist (cm)
2	34	40	S	160–164	78–82	57–61
4	36	42	M	163–167	82–86	61–65
6	38	44	L	166–170	86–90	65–69
8	40	46	O	169–173	90–94	69–73
10	42	48	XO	172–176	94–98	73–77
12	44	50	XA	175–179	98–102	77–81
14	46	52	XB	178–182	102–106	81–85

Bottoms — Waist, Hip & Inseam Measurements

Size Label	US	F.D	Japanese	Waist (cm)	Hip (cm)	Inseam (cm)
2	34	40	S	57–61	86–90	77
4	36	42	M	61–65	90–94	78.5
6	38	44	L	65–69	94–98	80
8	40	46	O	69–73	98–102	81.5
10	42	48	XO	73–77	102–106	83
12	44	50	XA	77–81	106–110	84.5
14	46	52	XB	81–85	110–114	86

Descente Fit Styles Guide

Men’s Fit Styles

S.I.O Regular Fit (Tops): A precisely crafted, form-fitting silhouette that achieves optimum movement and comfort for skiing. The cut is generous in both length and hem width, providing room for layering without compromising functionality. Ideal for those who prefer a more relaxed, traditional fit.

S.I.O Tailored Fit (Tops): A precisely crafted, form-fitting silhouette with pattern technology that combines visual appeal with skiing functionality. This style follows the body’s contours more closely whilst maintaining full freedom of movement.

Regular Fit (Bottoms): The minimalist design S.I.O silhouette, cleverly engineered to wrap the entire leg, achieving ideal mobility and comfort for skiing. Sits comfortably at the natural waist with minimal restriction.

Tailored Fit (Bottoms): A silhouette that snugly wraps the entire leg from the hips to the ankles. Cut to not hinder movement during skiing, offering a more sculpted appearance.

Athletic Fit (Bottoms): Slightly tight around the thighs and knees for enhanced support during dynamic movement. Cut to allow natural leg motion during skiing without excess fabric.

Slim Fit (Bottoms): A tight silhouette that snugly wraps the entire leg from the hips to the ankles, clearly emphasising the leg’s shape. Cut to not hinder movement during skiing.

Women’s Fit Styles

S.I.O Athletic Fit (Tops): A precisely crafted, form-fitting silhouette that achieves optimum movement and comfort for skiing. Designed to complement the female form whilst maintaining full functional range.

Athletic Fit (Tops): Cut with pattern technology that combines a feminine silhouette with skiing functionality. Fitted through the shoulders and torso for a streamlined appearance.

Relaxed Fit (Tops): A casual silhouette that provides the freedom of movement needed for skiing, with a slightly longer cut and relaxed fit around the chest and hem. Perfect for layering.

Slim Body Fit (Bottoms): A tight silhouette that snugly wraps the entire body from the chest to the ankles. Cut to clearly show the body’s lines whilst maintaining skiing comfort.

Body Fit (Bottoms): A silhouette that snugly wraps the entire leg from the hips to the ankles. Cut to not hinder movement during skiing whilst flattering the natural shape.

Slim Fit (Bottoms): A tight silhouette that snugly wraps the entire leg. Cut to clearly show the leg’s lines with technical function for skiing.

Athletic Fit (Bottoms): A silhouette that loosely wraps the entire leg from the hips to the ankles. Cut to allow easy movement with plenty of room, suitable for active skiing and layering.

International Size Conversions

Descente uses a multi-standard sizing system to accommodate global customers. Below is a quick reference for converting between UK, US, EU, and Japanese sizes:

UK	US	EU	Japanese (F.I.D)
XS	46	46	M
S	48	48	L
M	50	50	O
L	52	52	XO
XL	54	54	XA
XXL	56	56	XB

Descente Product-Specific Sizing Guidance

Ski Jackets & Salopettes

Descente ski wear is engineered for technical performance with room for thermal layers. Height measurements in the size chart are particularly important for jackets and salopettes, as appropriate sleeve length and inseam length are crucial for snow protection. If you fall between sizes, prioritise the size that better matches your height, then adjust the waist as needed with adjustable waistbands (common in Descente bottoms). Jackets should allow for movement of the arms in a forward skiing position — try raising your arms overhead when trying on or refer to the chest measurement chart.

Base Layers & Mid-Layers

Descente base layers and mid-layers are designed to fit closer to the body for efficient moisture-wicking and thermal regulation. If wearing multiple layers, you may prefer to size up from your standard size. However, for base layers specifically, following your normal size ensures proper fit without excess fabric that could create uncomfortable bunching under your outer jacket.

Athletic Wear & Training Apparel

Descente’s non-ski athletic range uses more contemporary sizing. Refer to the specific fit style indicated on product pages — Athletic Fit styles are designed to follow body contours more closely, whilst Relaxed Fit options provide more breathing room. Japanese fit styles (S.I.O) tend to be slightly more tailored than Western equivalents.

Sizing Tips & Best Practices

• Measure Your Height Accurately: Descente places significant emphasis on height when determining proper fit. An incorrectly chosen size based solely on chest or waist measurements may result in sleeves or legs that are either too short or too long. Cross-reference your height with the garment size chart before purchasing.
• Account for Layering in Ski Wear: Descente ski jackets and salopettes are sized to accommodate mid-layer and base layer clothing beneath. When ordering, consider whether you will wear thermal base layers or fleece mid-layers. If you run very warm or plan minimal layering, you might size down; if you layer heavily, size up.
• Check the Fit Style Description: Descente offers multiple fit styles within each size. A size M Regular Fit will have a different silhouette compared to a size M Tailored Fit. Always review the specific fit style description on the product page to ensure it matches your preference for how snugly a garment fits.
• Inseam Length is Critical for Bottoms: Ski salopettes must provide adequate coverage to prevent snow entering the leg cuffs. The inseam measurements in Descente’s size chart are conservative to accommodate ski boots. Verify that the inseam length matches your measurement; incorrect inseam length cannot be easily altered without professional tailoring.
• Japanese Sizing Runs Slightly Smaller: If you are comparing Descente’s F.I.D (Japanese) sizes with standard Western sizes, Japanese garments may have a more tapered silhouette. If in doubt between two sizes, choosing the larger size provides more versatility for layering and movement.
• Consult Brand-Specific Fit Reviews: Because Descente is a specialist brand with technical engineering, customer reviews often contain valuable insights about fit and sizing accuracy. If purchasing online, read reviews from verified buyers noting whether items run small, large, or true to size.
• Measure Both Arms and Legs: One arm or leg may be slightly longer than the other — this is normal. When choosing outerwear, purchase for the larger measurement to ensure adequate coverage. Sleeves and hems that are slightly long can be adjusted by tailors; those that are too short cannot.
• Women’s Specific Fits Vary Considerably: Descente offers distinctly different silhouettes for women (Athletic, Relaxed, Slim Body) with different contour patterns. Read fit descriptions carefully, as a Women’s Relaxed Fit may be closer fitting than a Men’s Regular Fit due to pattern differentiation.