Shopper

I love Scanlan Theodore but don't know where to start — what should I look at first?

Coveti Stylist

Great choice. Scanlan Theodore is Scanlan Theodore is the Melbourne house that dressed Australian working women before quiet luxury had a name. Founded in 1987 by Fiona Scanlan and Gary Theodore with a boutique on Chapel Street in South Yarra, it is still independent and still designed in-house under Theodore. The signature is Crepe Knit, a dense viscose and polyamide fabrication introduced in 2001 and knitted from Italian-sourced yarn, cut into jackets, pencil skirts and dresses that hold a tailored line through a full day. Around it sit Italian denim, silk shirting, cashmere and wool knits and leather. It is sometimes searched for as Scanlan and Theodore. Coveti carries the current ready-to-wear collection, sized in AU, which reads the same as UK, and ships it worldwide.

The editor's guide to buying Scanlan Theodore
Start with Crepe Knit. The peplum collar jacket and the soft hem skirt are the two pieces the brand is known for, and they are the ones that survive a long-haul flight without a press. Buy them in the same shade and you have a suit that reads as a dress from across a room. The Crepe Knit singlets and tanks are the layer underneath, and they are the entry point on price.
The second pillar is denim. Scanlan Theodore uses Italian denim and sells its jeans by inch waist, from a 22 to a 30. The barrel leg jean and the cropped cargo are the current shapes. The brand recommends sizing down in the cargo cuts, and our Size and Fit notes carry that advice on the product page.
For evening, look at the turban dresses and the gowns. The turban neckline is a house signature, a gathered ring at the throat that does the work of jewellery. The beaded and tinsel gowns are the top of the range and arrive in small numbers.
Colour runs in families. Black, navy and white anchor every season. The seasonal shades have their own names, so Angel is a pale pink, Jungle is a deep green, Whiskey and Cafe are browns, Snow Wash is a pale blue denim. Coveti's colour filter maps each one to a standard family, and the product name keeps the brand's own shade.

Scanlan Theodore sizing
Scanlan Theodore sizes in Australian numbers and letters. AU sizing reads the same as UK. Denim is sold by inch waist.

AUUKUSFRIT

XXS / 4403236
XS / 6623438
S / 8843640
M / 101063842
L / 121284044
XL / 1414104246
XXL / 1616124448

The brand's own fit notes say true to size across the collection, with one exception: the denim cargo jeans and shorts, where Scanlan Theodore recommends sizing down. Between sizes, take the larger and have it taken in.

Read next
The Coveti editors have written a full guide to the brand: who is Scanlan Theodore, the size guide, where to buy it, the sale and outlet guide, is it worth it, the best dresses, the best Crepe Knit pieces, the jeans guide, the turban dress, how to style Crepe Knit, brands like Scanlan Theodore and the Spring 2026 edit.

Frequently asked questions
Is Scanlan Theodore a luxury brand?
Yes. It is an independent, privately held Australian luxury house. Ready-to-wear runs from roughly AUD 300 for a Crepe Knit singlet to AUD 3,500 for a beaded gown at the brand's own boutiques. Crepe Knit yarn comes from Italian mills, and the brand sells only through its own boutiques, its David Jones concessions and its own online store.
Who owns Scanlan Theodore?
Gary Theodore, who co-founded the house in 1987 and remains creative director. Co-founder Fiona Scanlan sold her share of the business in 2003.
What is Scanlan Theodore Crepe Knit made of?
A 68 percent viscose and 32 percent polyamide knit from Italian-sourced yarn, developed exclusively for the brand and introduced to ready-to-wear in 2001. It holds a tailored line, does not crease and is dry clean only.
Where are Scanlan Theodore boutiques?
Across Australia, with the original on Chapel Street in Melbourne, plus five concessions inside David Jones and two Archive boutiques in Rosebery and Camberwell, and in the United States, where the first international boutique opened in New York in 2018.
Does Scanlan Theodore run true to size?
Yes, across the collection. AU sizing reads the same as UK, so an AU 8 is a UK 8 and a US 4. The one exception is the denim cargo cuts, where the brand recommends sizing down.
Does Coveti ship Scanlan Theodore internationally?
Yes, worldwide by DHL Express and FedEx International Priority. Most regions ship Delivered Duty Unpaid.. Standouts this season include Cotton Shirt in White, Silk Cotton Singlet in Black, Silk Cotton Singlet in White, Denim Cropped Jean in Indigo, Italian Highwaist Slim Trouser in Black and Silk Slip in Nude. If you want one hero piece, start with Cotton Shirt in White — it anchors a capsule and works across seasons.

Shopper

And if my size or the exact piece is sold out?

Coveti Stylist

No problem — we can source it through our Blind Network, typically in 7–14 days, and bespoke variations are available through Coveti by You.