How to Find Your Perfect Fit at Alix of Bohem

SIZING GUIDES • INDEPENDENT LABELS

By Ella Blake | Tellar Fashion Hub

Alix of Bohemia sizes run small to true — typically a full size down from your usual UK high street size — so always go up one if you're between sizes, and always check the actual measurements before ordering.

There's a very particular kind of feeling that comes with discovering Alix of Bohemia for the first time. The prints are extraordinary — these painterly, hand-crafted cotton voile pieces that look like wearable art. I remember spotting one of their Charlotte blouses at a friend's birthday a couple of summers ago and spending a solid ten minutes trying to find out what brand it was. When I finally did, I immediately ordered. In the wrong size, naturally. Which is precisely why we're here.

Alix of Bohemia is an American independent label based in New York, beloved for its limited-run, printed cotton pieces — blouses, dresses, skirts and trousers in gorgeous fabric weights you genuinely can't find anywhere else on the high street. But with that uniqueness comes a learning curve on fit, especially when you're shopping from the UK without a fitting room in sight.

How Does Alix of Bohemia Size?

The brand uses US sizing and their clothes are cut with a slim, somewhat fitted silhouette — particularly through the shoulders and bust. The general rule of thumb is that Alix of Bohemia runs one size small, meaning if you're typically a UK 12 (US 8), you'll almost certainly want a US 10 (UK 14) in their pieces.

That said, it does depend slightly on the cut. Their more relaxed, floaty styles — think wide-leg trousers and boxy blouses — are more forgiving. Their fitted wrap styles and anything with a defined waist seam? Size up without question.

STYLIST TIPAlways measure your bust, waist and hip in inches before ordering — Alix of Bohemia provides garment measurements (not body measurements) on most pieces, so compare your actual measurements against those. A 2-inch ease on the bust is comfortable; less than that and you'll feel it across the back.

The Fabrics and Why They Affect Fit

One thing that makes Alix of Bohemia genuinely different from anything you'll find on the high street is the fabric. They work almost exclusively with lightweight printed cotton voile and cotton lawn — fabrics that are breathable, beautiful, but almost completely without stretch. This matters enormously when it comes to fit. There's no give whatsoever, which means accuracy is everything.

Cotton voile: Sheer, floaty and delicate. Worn layered or over a slip. The sizing on voile pieces tends to have slightly more ease built in.
Cotton lawn: Opaque, crisp and lightweight. More fitted — this is where you'll feel a size too small most acutely.
Linen blends: Occasional seasonal pieces. These have a touch more structural room, though still minimal stretch.

My honest recommendation? If you're between two sizes, always go up. A slightly looser Alix blouse still looks spectacular — it just drapes more. A too-tight one, in zero-stretch cotton, will make you miserable.

Which Styles Are the Trickiest to Size?

Not all Alix of Bohemia pieces are equally tricky. Here's what to watch out for:

The Charlotte Blouse: Their most iconic style. Sizes small across the shoulders — if you carry width in your upper back, size up.
Wrap Dresses: These tie at the waist so there's a bit more adjustability, but the bust can still be restrictive. Check the garment measurements carefully.
Wide-Leg Trousers: Surprisingly consistent with standard US sizing. Focus on your waist measurement here as the leg is always generous.
Smocked Styles: The elasticated smocking gives some flexibility — these are genuinely the most forgiving pieces in the range. Often true to size.

How Alix of Bohemia Compares to Other Brands You Know

For context, here's how their sizing roughly compares to pieces you might already own and love:

Anthropologie — runs similarly slim; if you're a medium at Anthropologie, start with a medium at Alix.
Reiss — Alix runs smaller. A Reiss 12 would likely need a US 10 at Alix.
Phase Eight — considerably more generous than Alix. Size down from your Phase Eight size.
Me&Em — Alix runs noticeably slimmer. If you're a 12 at Me&Em, try a US 10 but read the measurements carefully.
Cos — Alix is slightly slimmer-cut, particularly across the shoulders. You may find your usual Cos size just right, or need to go up one.
Whistles — a good reference point for structured pieces; sizing is broadly comparable for relaxed Alix styles.
Boden — Boden runs generous, so size down from your Boden size when shopping Alix.

REAL TALKI've found that measuring my bust and comparing it directly against the garment's bust measurement (adding about 2 inches of ease for comfort) is far more reliable than going by the size number alone. Alix of Bohemia's garment measurements are usually listed in the product description — use them.

Two Independent Brands Worth Knowing Too

If you love the aesthetic of Alix of Bohemia — those gorgeous prints, artisan fabrics, romantic silhouettes — here are two other independent labels worth adding to your radar:

Karu Research — a London-based label working with hand-embroidered and hand-block-printed Indian textiles. Stunning quality, similar romantic sensibility to Alix but slightly more contemporary in silhouette. Their sizing tends to be more generous and closer to true UK sizing.
Thierry Colson — a French designer beloved for his painterly printed silks and voiles, often compared to Alix in aesthetic. European sizing, and tends to run true to size or slightly generous through the body.

Practical Tips Before You Hit 'Add to Bag'

Always read the product description in full — Alix of Bohemia often includes specific notes on fit (e.g., "fitted across the bust," "relaxed through the hip").
Check whether the piece has any elastication, a tie waist or smocking — these are the most forgiving styles.
Measure yourself before every order, not just once. Our bodies change with the seasons!
If you're in doubt between two sizes, email their customer service — they are genuinely helpful and will advise based on your measurements.
Consider their return policy before ordering — as a US-based independent brand, returns from the UK can involve international shipping costs.

Never Guess Your Size Again — Use Tellar

This is exactly the sort of sizing puzzle that Tellar.co.uk was built to solve. As the UK's leading free clothing sizing tool, Tellar matches your exact body measurements to over 1,500 brands instantly — so you're never left guessing whether a US 8 or US 10 is going to fit you at Alix of Bohemia.

Here's how it works:

Measure once — just your bust, waist and hip (or use an existing brand size as a starting point).
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size across hundreds of brands instantly.
Always free — no sign-up, no app download, works entirely in your browser.

And if you want to explore more? The Tellar Fashion Hub is a free library of honest, unsponsored style articles written by stylists — covering everything from fabric guides to brand sizing comparisons to occasion dressing. No ads, no affiliate bias, just genuinely useful fashion content.

Visit Tellar Find Your Size Ultimate Sizing Guide Dress Styles Guide Jackets Guide

Alix of Bohemia is genuinely one of those labels that, once you get the sizing right, you'll return to again and again. The prints are unlike anything else available in the UK market, the fabric quality is exceptional, and there's something about wearing one of their pieces that just feels considered and special. It's worth the extra sizing homework, I promise.

And if you want to take the guesswork out of it entirely — for Alix and every other brand you love — Tellar.co.uk is waiting for you.

Written by Ella Blake for the Tellar Fashion Hub — honest, independent, always free. | tellar.co.uk