How to Find Your Perfect Fit at Alex Perry

SIZING GUIDE • DESIGNER

By Ella Blake • Tellar Fashion Hub • March 2026

Alex Perry runs small — typically one full size — and knowing that before you click "buy" could save you from one of the most expensive sizing mistakes in fashion.

I'll be honest: the first time I ordered Alex Perry, I confidently sized as I would in any other premium brand and the dress arrived looking like a very elegant sausage casing. The structured boning, the sculpted bodice, the unmistakable silhouette — all utterly magnificent, just not in the size I'd ordered. Lesson learned, expensively and immediately. If you're navigating this brand for the first time, let me save you that particular fashion fail.

Alex Perry is the Sydney-born designer who has become one of the most recognisable names in occasion dressing worldwide. His pieces — think satin column gowns, sculptural strapless minis, and immaculately constructed midi dresses — have been worn everywhere from red carpets to wedding receptions. The aesthetic is polished, bold, and unapologetically glamorous. But the sizing is an entirely separate conversation, and one worth having before you reach for your credit card.

HOW DOES ALEX PERRY SIZING ACTUALLY RUN?

Alex Perry uses Australian sizing, which is typically two sizes smaller than UK sizing. So if you're a UK 12, you'll generally need an AU 10 — but here's where it gets interesting: the fit is also intentionally structured and figure-hugging, so even within that converted size, many women find they need to go up an additional size to accommodate the construction of the garment.

As a general rule:

Order one to two sizes up from your usual UK size, depending on the style
For column and bodycon styles (his signature look), go up two full UK sizes — the boning and structured panels are unforgiving
For wrap and floatier silhouettes, one size up from your usual is usually sufficient
If you're between sizes, always size up — these pieces are difficult to alter due to the internal boning and seaming

Stylist's note: Alex Perry's gowns and minis are typically designed with a very specific silhouette in mind — one that skims the body precisely. The structured boning is meant to do the work of shaping, not compressing. If you feel any pulling across the hips or chest, you've gone too small. A dress that fits correctly should feel supported, not squeezed.

WHERE TO CHECK YOUR SIZE BEFORE YOU BUY

Before ordering, I'd strongly recommend using Tellar.co.uk — the UK's leading free sizing tool — to cross-reference your measurements against Alex Perry's size chart. You input your bust, waist, and hip measurements once, and it matches you instantly to over 1,500 brands. No more guesswork, no more expensive returns.

You can also use Tellar's Store Size Lookup to get your exact size across dozens of premium and designer brands in seconds. It's genuinely one of those tools I wish had existed ten years ago.

UNDERSTANDING THE ALEX PERRY SIZE CHART

Alex Perry's official size range runs from AU 6 (roughly UK 8–10) through to AU 16 (roughly UK 18–20), though availability varies significantly by style. Here's a rough conversion guide to work from:

AU 6 → approximately UK 8–10
AU 8 → approximately UK 10–12
AU 10 → approximately UK 12–14
AU 12 → approximately UK 14–16
AU 14 → approximately UK 16–18
AU 16 → approximately UK 18–20

That said — always, always measure yourself before purchasing. The chest measurement is particularly important with Alex Perry because of the strapless and structured bodice styles he's so well known for. A chest that's even slightly too tight in a structured strapless gown is a miserable experience from the first hour onwards.

KEY FIT CONSIDERATIONS BY STYLE

Alex Perry's range isn't one-size-fits-all in terms of construction, so it's worth knowing what you're buying:

Strapless & boned gowns: These are the trickiest to size. The internal boning is designed to hold the dress up without straps, which means the fit around the torso needs to be precise — snug but not restrictive. Measure your underbust carefully.
Wrap styles: These are the most forgiving in terms of sizing and work beautifully for curves. The adjustable tie allows a little flex in the fit.
Mini dresses: The structured mini is an Alex Perry signature. These tend to have more rigidity through the bodice — size up if you're fuller through the bust or hips.
Satin column gowns: Satin shows everything, which is part of the appeal but also means the fit has to be exact. I'd go up one full UK size as a minimum here.

WHERE TO BUY ALEX PERRY IN THE UK

Alex Perry is available through a handful of reputable stockists in the UK. Net-a-Porter tends to have one of the widest selections of current season pieces, and their customer service for returns is excellent if sizing is tricky. Matches Fashion and Selfridges also stock selected styles. If you're buying from the Alex Perry website directly, be aware that returns postage from the UK to Australia can be costly, so getting the size right first time is especially important.

BUDGET-FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES WITH SIMILAR VIBES

If you love the Alex Perry aesthetic but the price point isn't feasible right now, there are some brilliant high street options that capture a similar polished, structured glamour:

Coast — genuinely one of the best high street brands for occasion dressing with a structured, event-ready feel. Their satin midis and column dresses are a solid Alex Perry-adjacent choice.
Reiss — consistently excellent for sculptural, premium-feel occasionwear. Their cut and tailoring is genuinely impressive at the price point.
Phase Eight — brilliant for occasion gowns and has a wide size range with thoughtful construction. Often underrated as an Alex Perry dupe destination.
Whistles — more pared-back than Perry but carries the same sense of considered, grown-up elegance. Great for satin or crepe midi styles.
Me&Em — elevated basics that translate beautifully into occasion dressing. Their structured dresses have real quality for the price.
LK Bennett — a perennial favourite for British occasion dressing, with heritage construction and an excellent range of event-worthy silhouettes.
Ted Baker — one of the most reliable high street brands for slinky, boned, and embellished occasion dresses in the Alex Perry spirit.

For two independent labels worth knowing about: Vesper (available at ASOS) is a small brand doing exceptional structured occasion dresses at a genuinely accessible price — their strapless column styles are practically a budget Alex Perry. And Nadine Merabi is a Manchester-based independent designer whose sculpted, glamorous occasionwear has a very similar DNA to Perry's aesthetic, but with a British perspective. Worth every penny.

MY HONEST VERDICT

Alex Perry is one of those designers where getting the size right transforms the experience entirely. Once you're in the correct size, the craftsmanship is evident in every seam — these are clothes that feel expensive because they are expensive, but also because they're made to genuinely support and flatter the body. The key is to treat the sizing chart as a starting point, measure yourself properly, and always err on the side of larger. You can always have something taken in slightly; you can't add fabric where there is none.

The range is also worth exploring for those who've found it intimidating — not every piece is a floor-length gown. There are beautifully cut midi dresses, structured blouses, and sharp trousers in the collection that offer a way into the brand at lower price points and with less fit-critical construction.

NEVER GUESS YOUR SIZE AGAIN — TELLAR.CO.UK

Sizing across designer and high street brands is genuinely inconsistent, and Alex Perry is a perfect example of why guessing is a gamble. Tellar.co.uk is the UK's leading free clothing size tool — it matches your exact body measurements to over 1,500 brands instantly, so you always know what size to order before you buy.

Here's how it works:

Measure once — just your bust, waist, and hips
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to find your precise size in any brand — from Alex Perry and Net-a-Porter to COS, Reiss, Arket, and 1,500+ more
Always free — no downloads, no subscription, works directly in your browser

And while you're there, explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of free, unsponsored style guides written by real fashion editors. No ads, no affiliate bias, just honest advice:

FIND YOUR ALEX PERRY SIZE NOW

Tellar.co.uk Store Size Lookup Sizing Guide