Does Faithfull the Brand run large or small?

Faithfull the Brand runs small and follows Australian sizing, so most of us are safest sizing up — especially in structured, zipped or bust-fitted styles. The good news is that the floaty, smocked and elasticated pieces the label is famous for are far more forgiving, which is why so many of you can get away with your usual size in those. I'm Ella Blake, Senior Fashion Stylist and founder of Tellar, and I've styled enough Faithfull holiday edits (and made enough of my own ordering mistakes) to talk you through this properly.

First, why Faithfull fits the way it does

Faithfull was founded by two travellers who met in Bali, and the whole label is built around Balinese craftsmanship and that sun-drenched, off-duty aesthetic. Because it's an Australian brand, it's cut to Australian sizing — which sits a touch smaller than UK sizing, particularly through the bust and hip. That's the single most common reason a Faithfull dress feels tighter than you expected when it lands.

The fabrics matter too. So much of the range is linen, bias-cut or unlined cotton, and those cloths behave very differently to the structured jersey most high street dresses are made from. A bias cut clings. Linen doesn't stretch. A shirred panel does. Once you know the construction, the fit stops being a mystery.

How it fits, style by style

This is where I'd slow down before you click buy, because Faithfull's fit genuinely changes depending on the silhouette:

Dresses & jumpsuits — the most likely to run small through the bust and waist. Zipped or semi-fitted bodices (think the more tailored midis) are the snuggest; size up if you're at all in between.
Smocked & shirred styles — the forgiving heroes. The elasticated panels flex with you, so your normal size usually works beautifully here.
Tops & blouses — cut cropped and boxy, with puff sleeves, tie-fronts and shirring. Fitted ones can feel tight across the bust; relaxed blouses are easier.
Skirts & shorts — broadly true to size, though high-rise cuts can feel firm on the waist.
Trousers — slim and better suited to narrower or petite frames; always check the inseam.

For reference, a Faithfull size Small lands somewhere around a French 36–38, or a standard US 2 — useful context if you cross-shop European labels.

A confession from my own wardrobe

I learned this the hard way. A few summers ago I ordered a structured Faithfull midi in my standard size for a wedding in Puglia, didn't think twice, and the bust zip simply would not do up the morning of. Cue a very sweaty panic and a borrowed dress. The flip side: a shirred-bodice Faithfull maxi I bought in the same size has been on every holiday since and fits like it was made for me. Same label, same size on the tag, completely different outcome — purely because of the construction. That's the whole lesson with this brand.

My styling rule for getting it right first time

Bust is almost always the deciding measurement at Faithfull. If your bust sits at the upper end of a size band, size up — you can take a waist in far more easily than you can rescue a bodice that won't close. And if you're curvier, choose the smocked, wrap and elasticated styles over the rigid zipped ones. They're more flattering and more reliable.

Where else to shop the Faithfull look

If you love that romantic, print-led, holiday-ready feel but want options, here's where I'd send clients across every budget.

On the high street:

Mango — the strongest high street pick for printed, floaty holiday dresses, and it photographs beautifully for the price.
Anthropologie — the closest in spirit to Faithfull, with that boho-romantic, texture-rich aesthetic.
Boden — reliable for bold prints and proper holiday dresses, and famously consistent on fit.
Monsoon — a long-standing go-to for floaty, occasion-leaning summer pieces.
Seasalt Cornwall — lovely for breezy linen and relaxed coastal dressing.
Hush — that easy, off-duty boho linen vibe Faithfull fans tend to gravitate to.
Joules — a great shout for playful prints and garden-party frocks.

Premium:

Whistles — elevated prints and well-cut summer dresses with a fashion edge.
Massimo Dutti — beautiful linen and a more refined, grown-up take on resort dressing.
Me+Em — clever, travel-friendly pieces with genuinely flattering cuts.

Luxury & designer:

Zimmermann — the obvious aspirational step up; Australian, romantic and the gold standard for occasion holiday dresses.
Max Mara — for impeccable linen tailoring and pieces you'll keep for a decade.

And two independents worth knowing:

Pink City Prints — a London independent doing hand-block-printed, India-made dresses that scratch exactly the same boho-romantic itch as Faithfull.
Sideline — a small UK label specialising in relaxed, easy-wear linen and cotton in gorgeous painterly colours.

Stop guessing your Faithfull size

Tellar is the UK's leading sizing tool — your body matched in real time to 1,500+ brands, so you never squint at a size guide again. Measure once using your bust, waist and hip (or just an existing brand size you already know), and we'll tell you your precise size in Faithfull and everywhere else. Always free, no downloads, works straight in your browser.

Find my Faithfull size →

Use the Store Size Lookup for your exact size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more — or explore everything at tellar.co.uk.

More from the Tellar Fashion Hub

The Fashion Hub is our free library of honest, unbiased, independent style posts written by our stylists — no sponsorship, no spin, just real advice. A few you might find handy:

Faithfull is one of those labels that's genuinely worth the effort — get the size right and you'll have holiday dresses you reach for year after year. Size up where it's structured, stay relaxed where it's shirred, and let Tellar do the maths so your next order arrives ready to pack.

— Ella Blake, Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder, Tellar