Bode Sizing: Does It Run Big or Small? A Stylist's Honest Guide

Bode runs generously. That's the short answer — and it's completely intentional. This is a brand built around relaxed, heritage-crafted silhouettes, and the sizing reflects that aesthetic philosophy through and through. But — and this is important — because every piece is essentially handcrafted from vintage and artisanal textiles, fit can vary noticeably from one garment to the next. So if you're about to drop several hundred pounds on a Bode shirt or jacket, you really do need to understand how the sizing works before you buy.

What Actually Is Bode?

If you haven't encountered Bode yet, it's one of those labels that's very hard to describe but utterly unmistakable the moment you see it. Founded in New York in 2016 by designer Emily Adams Bode Aujla, the brand is built on a love of old textiles — Victorian quilts, antique African weaves, deadstock fabrics, patchwork — repurposed into genuinely unique, wearable pieces. Think workwear silhouettes, extraordinary fabric stories, and the kind of craftsmanship that makes you stop and look twice.

Bode launched its womenswear line in 2023, and it has the same DNA as the rest of the collection: generous proportions, deliberate ease, and a slightly androgynous quality that makes it feel genuinely different from anything else on the luxury market right now. I'll be honest — when I first started paying attention to Bode, I was a bit hesitant. Would the size translate? Would it feel too oversized on a smaller frame? After going through the sizing carefully, here's what I found.

So — Does Bode Run Big?

Yes, broadly speaking, Bode runs on the generous side. The brand's whole design language is built around relaxed, boxy shapes with room through the chest, shoulders, and body. Cropped hems and wide legs appear frequently. This isn't a brand that does body-con or closely fitted tailoring — and that's absolutely not a flaw, it's a design statement.

That said, here's the nuance that most sizing guides miss: Bode's fit varies quite significantly piece to piece, precisely because each garment is made from a different source textile. A quilted jacket constructed from a Victorian bedspread is going to behave very differently from a woven shirt made with newly-created traditional cloth. You can't treat Bode the way you'd treat, say, COS or Massimo Dutti, where the sizing is engineered to be consistent across the range. You really do need to assess each piece individually.

UK Sizing: What You Need to Know

Bode labels its pieces in US sizes, which adds an extra layer to navigate for UK shoppers. As a rough guide:

US XS = UK 6–8
US S = UK 8–10
US M = UK 10–12
US L = UK 12–14
US XL = UK 14–16

Given that the cut is already generous, I'd strongly advise against automatically sizing up just because you're converting from US to UK. Go for your equivalent US size first. If you're between two sizes and you want something streamlined, size down. If you love the oversized, layered look — which is very much in the spirit of the brand — go true to size.

💡 Stylist tip: Always check the garment measurements on whichever retailer you're shopping through (SSENSE, Net-a-Porter, and Matches all list them). Because of the artisanal construction, two pieces in the same labelled size can genuinely fit differently. Measure your chest, waist, and hip and compare to the actual garment — it's the only reliable method with a brand like this.

Fit by Category

It's worth breaking this down because different Bode garment types behave differently:

Shirts & blouses: Cut very generously through the chest and shoulders, and usually quite boxy in the body. If you want a neater fit, size down. If you love the loose, romantic silhouette — true to size is perfect.
Jackets & outerwear: Often roomy by design, with vintage-pattern proportions. Great for layering over knitwear. True to size works well here, especially if you plan to wear them over other pieces.
Trousers & skirts: Wide-leg and relaxed shapes dominate. The waistband fit can vary depending on fabric — always check the actual waist measurement rather than relying on the size label alone.
Dresses: Tend to have a loose, ease-forward cut. The women's collection takes inspiration from workwear shapes, so expect a slightly androgynous proportion.

The One Thing That Trips Everyone Up

The biggest mistake I see people make with Bode is treating it like a conventional luxury label with predictable sizing standards. It isn't. Because Emily Adams Bode Aujla develops her patterns from actual vintage garments and uses vintage source material wherever possible, there is inherent variation in every run. Two pieces with the same size label might have genuinely different proportions, particularly through the shoulders or body length. This isn't a quality control issue — it's the nature of what makes Bode, Bode. It's also part of why these pieces feel so special.

The practical upshot? Never rely on the label alone. Check garment measurements. Read the product description carefully for any specific fit notes. And if you're buying from a stockist with a good returns policy, that peace of mind is worth a lot.

Love the Bode Aesthetic? Try These Brands Too

Bode sits in a genuinely unique space, but if the artisanal, relaxed, textile-led approach appeals to you, here are some brilliant alternatives at different price points:

Anthropologie — Has that same love of unique prints, artisanal fabrics, and relaxed, slightly bohemian shapes. Great for the Bode customer who wants something more accessible.
COS — If you love Bode's boxy, considered silhouettes but want clean minimalism over vintage texture, COS is your answer. Reliable, consistent sizing too.
Massimo Dutti — Beautifully crafted with quality fabrics and generous proportions. A more polished take on the relaxed silhouette that Bode fans tend to gravitate towards.
Whistles — Elevated British womenswear with a focus on interesting cuts and quality materials. A strong mid-market option for the Bode aesthetic.
All Saints — If it's the slightly edgy, considered, non-conformist element of Bode you love, All Saints scratches a similar itch at a much more accessible price.
Urban Outfitters — For vintage-inspired and patchwork pieces at the lower end of the market, UO actually does this surprisingly well, particularly in their newer collections.
Me&Em — Beautifully made British brand with considered proportions and quality that punches above its price point. A great choice for the Bode customer who wants something more wearable and consistent in sizing.
Jigsaw — Long been one of the most underrated British brands for quality fabrics and relaxed, interesting cuts. Very much in the spirit of conscious, unhurried dressing.

Two independent brands to put on your radar:

Toast — A beautifully curated British label that shares Bode's love of artisanal textiles, natural fibres, and unhurried craftsmanship. If Bode is beyond your budget right now, Toast is where I'd send you first.
Kapital — A Japanese brand with a fierce cult following, Kapital makes extraordinary clothing from repurposed and heritage textiles with similarly wild and wonderful results. Not cheap, but genuinely in the same creative conversation as Bode.

Never Guess Your Size in Bode (or Any Brand) Again

This is exactly the kind of brand where getting the sizing wrong is an expensive mistake. Bode pieces are pricey, limited run, and vary in construction — which is why using Tellar.co.uk before you buy makes so much sense.

Tellar is the UK's leading free sizing tool — it matches your actual body measurements to real size data from 1,500+ brands instantly. No guesswork, no size guides to squint at, no expensive returns.

Measure once — bust, waist, and hips — using your tape measure or an existing brand size you trust.
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And while you're there, don't miss the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of thousands of honest, unsponsored fashion posts written by our in-house stylists. No ads, no brand deals, no bias. Just genuinely useful fashion advice, free forever.

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