How to Find Your Perfect Fit at Alemais

BRAND SIZING GUIDE · TELLAR FASHION HUB

By Ella Blake · Tellar Fashion Hub

Alemais runs in Australian sizing, and if you're ordering from the UK, that single fact alone will save you a return. The good news is that their sizing is broadly generous and true-to-fit for most styles — but with a brand this beautiful, you really don't want to get it wrong.

I'll be honest: the first time I ordered from Alemais, I sized up out of caution because I'd heard Australian brands can run small. The dress arrived and it was swimming on me. Lesson learned. So let me save you the hassle and walk you through exactly how to approach their sizing — by category, by style, and by body shape.

What Is Alemais, and Why Does Sizing Matter So Much Here?

For anyone not yet acquainted: Alemais is an Australian luxury womenswear brand founded by Lesleigh Jermanus. It's known for its bold, painterly prints, breezy resort silhouettes, and a very particular brand of effortless femininity. Think holiday-ready midi dresses, linen-rich co-ords, and printed blouses that look like wearable art. It's the sort of brand that photographs beautifully and feels even better in person.

The reason sizing matters so acutely here is twofold. First, Alemais pieces are not cheap — you're investing in a garment, so fit has to be right. Second, the brand's signature floaty, voluminous silhouettes can look completely different depending on whether you go true to size or not. A midi dress that fits properly is ethereal. One that's too big just looks shapeless. One that's too small pulls across the bust and ruins the whole print.

The Basics: Australian vs UK Sizing

Australian sizing runs slightly differently to UK sizing, and this is where people come unstuck. As a rough guide:

Alemais (AU)UK SizeEU SizeUS SizeAU 6UK 634US 2AU 8UK 836US 4AU 10UK 1038US 6AU 12UK 1240US 8AU 14UK 1442US 10AU 16UK 1644US 12

The good news: for UK shoppers, Australian sizing typically maps quite closely to UK sizing. So if you're a UK 12, you'd generally reach for an AU 12 at Alemais. Simple enough — but there are nuances by category, as I'll explain.

Dresses: The Heart of the Brand

Alemais dresses are the pieces everyone's after, and rightly so. Their printed midi and maxi dresses are what put the brand on the map. In terms of fit:

Midi dresses and maxi dresses — typically true to size. The cuts are generous through the body, so I'd recommend starting with your usual UK size.
Wrap dresses and tie-waist styles — these are very adjustable at the waist, so again, go true to size. If you're between sizes, size down rather than up — the ties do all the work.
Fitted bodice styles — if a dress has structure or boning in the bodice, measure your bust carefully. Alemais can run slightly narrow across the shoulders, so broader-shouldered women may want to consider sizing up and taking in elsewhere if needed.
Shirred or elasticated styles — these are incredibly accommodating. True to size or even size down for a more defined fit.

My personal tip: always check the fabric content before sizing. Alemais uses a lot of viscose and silk-touch fabrics that drape beautifully but have zero stretch. If a dress has no give in the fabric and a fitted cut, go up if you're between sizes. If it's a floaty, gathered style, stay true.

Tops and Blouses

Alemais blouses and tops are gorgeous — the prints are bolder here, the cuts more relaxed. Most styles run true to size or slightly generously. The main thing to watch:

Button-through blouses — if you're fuller in the bust, check the button placement. They can gape across a larger chest. Consider sizing up and tucking if needed.
Off-shoulder and bardot styles — go true to size. The elastication at the neckline tends to be generous enough to accommodate most sizes within a size or two.
Cropped tops and co-ord sets — the crops run on the shorter side, as you'd expect from an Australian resort brand. If you want a little more coverage, size up or style with high-waisted bottoms.

Trousers and Skirts

Alemais trousers are brilliant — wide-leg, printed, resort-ready. They tend to have a higher rise and a relaxed cut through the hip and thigh, which is genuinely flattering. Sizing is generally true to size, but:

If you're curvier in the hip, you may find the waistband fits before the hip does. Alemais trousers often have elasticated waists, which helps, but it's worth double-checking your hip measurement against their size guide.
Skirts run very true to size. The A-line and wrap skirts are particularly accommodating across a range of shapes.

Swimwear

Alemais swimwear is where I'd be most careful about sizing. Swimwear sizing is notoriously inconsistent across brands. Alemais swimwear tends to run slightly small, particularly in the bust. I'd suggest:

Going up one size if you're fuller in the bust.
Referring specifically to their measurement chart rather than your usual UK size — they're detailed and accurate.
If you're between sizes, size up. Swimwear that's too tight across the bust is uncomfortable and unflattering; too loose can be fixed more easily with a tie.

Tips for Getting the Fit Right Every Time

Always measure before you buy — bust, waist, and hips. Alemais provides detailed size charts on their website; use them.
Read the product description carefully — Alemais is good at flagging when a style runs small or large in their own notes.
Consider the occasion — if it's a holiday dress you'll wear all day, err towards comfort and go true to size or up. If it's a structured event piece, check fit at the bust specifically.
Check fabric content — non-stretch fabrics need to fit perfectly off the hanger. Stretch or elasticated fabrics are much more forgiving.

What to Shop if You Love Alemais

The Alemais aesthetic — bold prints, feminine silhouettes, resort luxury — is irresistible but the price tag isn't always accessible for every occasion. Here's where to find that same energy at different price points:

Anthropologie — genuinely the closest high street match to Alemais energy. Their printed midi dresses and co-ords are consistently beautiful, and sizing is generous and consistent.
Zara — for the bold print lover on a budget. Their seasonal printed collections come and go fast, but there are always some Alemais-adjacent gems. Zara runs small — size up by one.
Mango — brilliant for linen-blend trousers and floaty blouses. Their Mediterranean-inspired pieces often echo Alemais' resort sensibility. Mango runs true to size.
Monsoon — underrated for its printed dresses and occasion pieces. Genuinely good quality at a reasonable price point, and sizing is reliably true to size.
Ted Baker — if you want the structured feminine silhouette with a print, Ted Baker delivers. Sizing runs slightly small; consider going up a size, especially in dresses.
Phase Eight — excellent for occasion dressing in the Alemais spirit. Their midi dresses are well-cut and the prints are often genuinely lovely. Sizing is true to size and inclusive.
Reiss — for when you want elevated pieces that sit between high street and designer. Their resort-adjacent collections in summer are particularly strong, and sizing is very consistent and true to size.
Me&Em — consistently brilliant quality and grown-up prints. Their sizing is generous and their size guides are among the most accurate on the high street.

For truly left-field picks with that same Alemais spirit:

Aspiga — a brilliant British independent brand specialising in printed resort wear, linen dresses, and bold co-ords. Think Alemais vibes at more accessible prices. Their sizing is true to size and their print game is seriously good.
Belize the Label — a small independent brand making exactly the kind of painterly, maximalist resort pieces that Alemais fans gravitate towards. Worth every bit of the discovery.

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