This is about as far apart as two letter-sized brands get. Old Navy is the generous one — US alpha sizing, a roomy American cut, and garments that frequently measure a size or more over the label. Bershka is Inditex's youth brand, labelled in EU sizes and cut for a young, slim frame, with perhaps the strongest "size up" consensus on the high street: one size up is standard for anything fitted, and two isn't unusual for jeans.
The letters on the labels hide just how big the gap is. Align the two charts by body measurement and an Old Navy M body lands on a Bershka L, while an Old Navy L body is at the very top of Bershka's chart — its XXL. Here's the full mapping, the side-by-side measurements behind it, and what to do once the chart hands you a letter you're not used to wearing.
The short answer
Bershka runs far smaller — expect to wear one to two letters up from your Old Navy size, before fit adjustments
The charts alone put the two brands one to two letters apart: Old Navy's M fits a 36–37" (91.5–94 cm) bust, which on Bershka's chart is an L (EU 40, 92–95 cm); Old Navy's L (98–103 cm) corresponds to Bershka's XL–XXL (EU 42–44); and Old Navy's XL is beyond Bershka's women's chart entirely, which stops at EU 44 (100–103 cm bust).
The fit tendencies then push the gap wider. Old Navy garments run large against their own chart — for a fitted look, sizing down is the standard advice — while Bershka cuts slim even against its chart, with shoppers routinely going one size up in fitted pieces and up to two in jeans, which run on their own separate numeric scale. The only Bershka territory where you can relax is its oversized knits and hoodies, which fit true to size.
Old Navy vs Bershka at a glance
| Old Navy | Bershka | |
|---|---|---|
| Sizing system | US alpha sizes (XS–XXL) | EU numeric sizes with letters (EU 38 = US 6 = M) |
| Overall fit | Runs large — garments often measure over the label | Runs small — cut for a young, slim frame |
| Where to adjust | Size down for a fitted look in tops, dresses, jeans | Size up one in fitted pieces, up to two in jeans |
| Denim | Runs big; stretch relaxes — take the smaller size | Own numeric scale (EU 32–48), separate from the chart |
| Size range (women's chart) | Tops out at XXL — a 47.5" (120.5 cm) bust | Tops out at EU 44 — a 100–103 cm (39.4–40.6") bust |
Size-label mapping (women)
Aligned by body bust measurement, not by label — Old Navy uses US alpha sizing and Bershka EU numerics, and the same letter means a much smaller garment at Bershka. Bershka figures are as republished from its size guidance (aggregator-sourced).
| Old Navy | Old Navy bust | Closest Bershka size | Bershka bust |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 31–33" · 78.5–84 cm | EU 34 (XS) | 80–83 cm · 31.5–32.7" |
| S | 34–35" · 86.5–89 cm | EU 36–38 (S–M) | 84–87 cm · 33.1–34.3" – 88–91 cm · 34.6–35.8" |
| M | 36–37" · 91.5–94 cm | EU 40 (L) | 92–95 cm · 36.2–37.4" |
| L | 38.5–40.5" · 98–103 cm | EU 42–44 (XL–XXL) | 96–99 cm · 37.8–39" – 100–103 cm · 39.4–40.6" |
| XL | 42.5–45" · 108–114.5 cm | Beyond Bershka's chart | — |
Women's bust and waist side by side
Rows matched on bust, with each brand's own label shown. Old Navy measurements are from its published chart; Bershka's are as republished from its size guidance (aggregator-sourced). The waists confirm the bust-based mapping.
| Match | Old Navy bust | Bershka bust | Old Navy waist | Bershka waist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS ↔ EU 34 (XS) | 31–33" · 78.5–84 cm | 80–83 cm · 31.5–32.7" | 23–25" · 58.5–63.5 cm | 60–63 cm · 23.6–24.8" |
| S ↔ EU 38 (M) | 34–35" · 86.5–89 cm | 88–91 cm · 34.6–35.8" | 26–27" · 66–68.5 cm | 68–71 cm · 26.8–28" |
| M ↔ EU 40 (L) | 36–37" · 91.5–94 cm | 92–95 cm · 36.2–37.4" | 28–29" · 71–73.5 cm | 72–75 cm · 28.3–29.5" |
| L ↔ EU 44 (XXL) | 38.5–40.5" · 98–103 cm | 100–103 cm · 39.4–40.6" | 30.5–32.5" · 77.5–82.5 cm | 80–83 cm · 31.5–32.7" |
Men's tops side by side
Caution: these columns measure different things. Old Navy lists body chest measurements; Bershka's figures are garment chest measurements — the clothing itself, not your body — as republished from its size document (aggregator-sourced). A garment needs ease over the body, so even where the numbers look close, the Bershka piece fits much slimmer.
| Size | Old Navy chest (body) | Bershka chest (garment) |
|---|---|---|
| S | 37–38" · 94–96.5 cm | 90–94 cm · 35.4–37" |
| M | 39–41" · 99–104 cm | 96–100 cm · 37.8–39.4" |
| L | 43–45" · 109–114.5 cm | 102–106 cm · 40.2–41.7" |
| XL | 47–49" · 119.5–124.5 cm | 108–112 cm · 42.5–44.1" |
Switching between Old Navy and Bershka
- Forget the letter on your Old Navy label — go up one to two at Bershka by default (M to L, L toward XXL), and verify against the EU number and centimetres.
- Bershka jeans are the riskiest item in this pairing: they run on their own numeric scale (EU 32–48) and the brand's slim cut bites hardest in denim — check the denim-specific chart and consider two sizes up from your converted size.
- Don't size up in Bershka's oversized hoodies and knits — those fit true to size or roomy, and going up will swamp you.
- Moving from Bershka to Old Navy, reverse everything: your converted letter will run roomy, so size down in fitted tops, dresses, and jeans, and stay true to size only in basics.
Measurements are based on each brand's published size charts and may vary by garment, fabric, and region. For the full charts and fit notes, see the Old Navy size guide and the Bershka size guide.
Old Navy vs Bershka sizing FAQs
Which runs smaller, Old Navy or Bershka?
Bershka, by the widest margin of any mainstream pairing. Its chart already sits one to two letters below Old Navy's for the same body — an Old Navy M body is a Bershka L — and on top of that Bershka cuts slim against its own chart while Old Navy garments run large against theirs.
What Bershka size am I if I wear a medium at Old Navy?
Start at Bershka's L (EU 40): Old Navy's M fits a 36–37" (91.5–94 cm) bust, which matches Bershka's L range of 92–95 cm. For fitted Bershka pieces, the brand's strong size-up consensus means the XL (EU 42) may fit better still.
I wear L or XL at Old Navy — can I shop Bershka at all?
An Old Navy L body (38.5–40.5" bust) lands at the very top of Bershka's women's chart — its XL–XXL (EU 42–44). An Old Navy XL body (42.5–45") is beyond the chart, which stops at a 100–103 cm bust. Bershka is a youth brand with a deliberately narrow size range.
Why do Bershka's men's measurements look smaller than Old Navy's?
Partly because they measure different things: Old Navy publishes body chest measurements, while Bershka's republished figures describe the garment itself. But the slim fit is real — Bershka's L garment measures 102–106 cm around, less than the 109–114.5 cm body an Old Navy L is built for.
Should I size up in Bershka jeans like I size down in Old Navy jeans?
Yes — the two brands' denim advice is exactly opposite. Old Navy jeans run big and the stretch relaxes with wear, so take the smaller size. Bershka jeans run on their own EU numeric scale (32–48), cut slim, and going up one to two sizes is standard shopper advice.
