Zimmermann Denim: Jeans, Skirts and Dresses, and How the Sizing Works

Zimmermann sells denim as a ready-to-wear category in its own right: flare jeans, denim mini and midi skirts, corset and shirt dresses, jackets and shirts, many of them in the label’s Valiant group. The sizing works in two ways. Zimmermann jeans come in waist sizes from 24 to 32, while denim skirts and dresses follow the brand’s numeric 0 to 4 ladder, where a Zimmermann 0 is a UK 8.

Below is what the range includes, how the two size systems line up, what rigid and stretch denim mean for fit, and how to wear the pieces with the lace and prints the label is known for. The whole range sits in Coveti’s Zimmermann denim edit.

What does Zimmermann make in denim?

Zimmermann’s denim falls into five families: jeans, skirts, dresses, shirts and jackets. What separates it from an ordinary denim line is the finishing. Frills, broderie, embroidery and appliqué appear on the denim just as they do across the rest of the collection, so a piece like the Mahon Broderie Denim Midi in ink reads as a Zimmermann design first and a denim piece second.

Jeans

The flare is the shape to know. The new Slim Flare Jean in Onyx Blue is a mid-rise cut in comfort stretch denim, and it is the simplest starting point for an everyday jean. For a looser line there is the Indra Denim Relaxed Flare Jean, and for a shorter leg the Indra Cropped Flare Jean. The Alchemy Applique Relaxed Flare comes in sea foam denim. A cropped flare finishes above the ankle and works with a flat shoe. A full-length flare needs a heel to keep the hem off the ground.

Skirts

The new Denim Frill Mini Skirt in Onyx Blue is cut from rigid high-rise denim with a full flare hem, which means the skirt holds its own shape instead of following the body. At midi length, the Aster Denim Frill Midi Skirt in ink takes the frill lower down the leg. Other lengths and fabrics sit in the wider Zimmermann skirts edit.

Dresses

The Awaken Denim Midi Dress in ink and the Sundance Halter Denim Dress are both midi lengths, and the Acacia Denim Shirt Dress brings the shirt dress into the range. Zimmermann also cuts corset dresses in denim. Those are the pieces where the sizing advice below matters most, because a corseted bodice in a firm fabric has very little give.

Shirts and jackets

The Daylight Denim Shirt is the piece to throw over a slip dress on a cool evening, and the Indra Denim Quilted Jacket is a proper layer for autumn. More outerwear, in denim and beyond, sits in Zimmermann jackets.

How does Zimmermann denim sizing work?

Zimmermann denim uses two size systems. Jeans are sold in waist sizes from 24 to 32. According to the size guide Zimmermann publishes on its own product pages, each of those sizes is cut for a set waist and hip measurement, shown here in centimetres.

Denim skirts and dresses use the numeric ladder that runs through the rest of Zimmermann’s ready-to-wear: 0P, 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4, equal to UK 6P, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16. Set the two charts side by side and they line up neatly. A denim 26 is cut for a 65 cm waist and a 91 cm hip, exactly the body measurements behind a Zimmermann 0. A 28 matches a Zimmermann 1, a 30 matches a 2, and a 32 matches a 3. If you wear a Zimmermann 1 in dresses, a 28 is the place to start for jeans. Each step up the denim chart adds 2.5 cm at the waist and the hip, so the odd sizes fall halfway between.

Measure your waist where the jean will sit and your hips at the fullest point. On a slim leg, the hip measurement usually decides the size. A relaxed flare has more room through the hip and thigh, so on that cut the waist measurement is the better guide. Our Zimmermann size guide has the full conversion to US, EU, IT and FR sizes, with the bust measurement for each size.

What is the difference between rigid and stretch denim?

The two new Onyx Blue pieces show both. The Slim Flare Jean is comfort stretch denim and the Denim Frill Mini Skirt is rigid, and the difference changes how to choose a size.

Rigid denim has no stretch fibre in it. It feels firm on the first wear, then softens and gives slightly at the waist as it moulds to the body. That firmness is what lets a full flare hem stand away from the legs. Buy rigid denim to fit at the waist from day one: it should close easily and feel snug. If you sit between two sizes, take the larger one.

Stretch denim has a little elastic fibre woven in, so it moves with the body and recovers its shape afterwards. Comfort stretch has some give built in, which suits a slim leg like the Slim Flare Jean. Take your true size here. Stretch denim relaxes a little over a day of wear, so sizing up tends to leave a jean loose by the evening.

How do you wear Zimmermann denim with lace and prints?

Zimmermann describes its own work as “sophisticated femininity, clever colour combinations and delicate original prints.” Denim gives all of that a plain ground. The rule is balance. When the top is busy, keep the denim clean, and when the denim carries frills, keep the top quiet.

• Jeans and lace. The Slim Flare Jean with the Mahon Lace Frill Cami in cream is the simplest evening version of Zimmermann denim. Our guide to Zimmermann lace dresses covers the lace in depth.
• The mini and a shirt. The new Fitted Shirt in Cream Ribbon, a ramie shirt with a placement print, tucks into the Denim Frill Mini Skirt and leaves the flare hem room to move.
• A denim shirt over a print. Wear the Daylight Denim Shirt open over a printed slip dress with the sleeves pushed back, and let the print do the talking.
• Knit for autumn. A fine knit with flare jeans is the cold-weather uniform, and our edit of Zimmermann knitwear and coats picks the pieces to pair.

For more on putting the prints together, read our editor’s notes on how to style Zimmermann.

How should you care for Zimmermann denim?

Start with the care label, because embroidered, broderie and appliqué pieces usually need gentler handling than plain denim. For plain denim the general rules are simple. Wash it sparingly, and when it does need a wash, turn it inside out and wash it cold with a mild detergent, which protects both the colour and the surface. New dark indigo can transfer onto pale fabric and light leather, so wash it on its own for the first few times. Skip the tumble dryer, which shrinks cotton and wears out stretch fibres, and dry the piece flat away from direct heat. Our guide to Zimmermann care and authenticity covers silk, linen and lace as well.

Frequently asked questions

What size Zimmermann jeans should I buy?

Zimmermann jeans are sold in waist sizes from 24 to 32. According to the brand’s size guide, a 26 is cut for a 65 cm waist and a 91 cm hip, and each size up adds 2.5 cm at both.

Do Zimmermann denim skirts use jean sizes?

No. Zimmermann denim skirts and dresses use the numeric 0 to 4 ladder, where a 0 is a UK 8 and a 2 is a UK 12. Jeans are the pieces sold in waist sizes.

What jean size is a Zimmermann 0?

On Zimmermann’s own charts, a size 0 and a denim 26 share the same body measurements: a 65 cm waist and a 91 cm hip. A Zimmermann 1 lines up with a 28, and a 2 with a 30.

Is Zimmermann denim stretchy?

It depends on the piece. The Slim Flare Jean is cut in comfort stretch denim, while the Denim Frill Mini Skirt is rigid high-rise denim with no stretch. Check the fabric note on each product page before you choose a size.

How do you wash Zimmermann jeans?

Follow the care label first. As a general rule, wash denim cold and inside out, keep new dark indigo away from pale fabrics for the first few washes, and dry it flat away from direct heat.

Read next

Find out how a Sydney market stall became a global label in our history of Zimmermann, see the prints at their fullest in Zimmermann floral dresses, and compare the stockists in where to buy Zimmermann. Then browse the full Zimmermann collection at Coveti. Coveti ships worldwide, and every piece is authentic.