How to Find Your Perfect Fit at Bimba Y Lola

By Ella Blake — Fashion Stylist | Tellar Fashion Hub — Always honest, unbiased & unsponsored

Bimba Y Lola sizes to a European standard and generally runs true to size — but with a distinctly Spanish silhouette that tends to be cut narrower through the shoulders and slightly shorter in the body than most UK women expect. If you're usually a UK 10–12, you'll almost certainly find EU 38–40 your sweet spot here, but the cut nuances are worth understanding before you buy.

I discovered Bimba Y Lola properly on a work trip to Madrid a few years ago — one of those wonderful, slightly reckless "I'll just have a look" moments that turned into a full bag of tissue paper and a very light wallet. What I love about the brand is its confidence. Bold graphic prints, architectural knitwear, sculptural accessories — it's fashion that has a point of view. But it took me a return or two before I properly understood how their sizing worked on my body. Here's what I know now, so you don't have to learn the expensive way.

Understanding Bimba Y Lola's Sizing System

Bimba Y Lola uses standard European sizing across most of their ready-to-wear, running from XS through to XL. They also use numeric sizing (36–44) on some pieces, which maps directly to the EU scale. Here's a straightforward conversion guide:

XS / EU 36 = UK 8
S / EU 38 = UK 10
M / EU 40 = UK 12
L / EU 42 = UK 14
XL / EU 44 = UK 16

As a broad rule, the brand sizes consistently — there's no dramatic vanity sizing happening here, which is actually refreshing. What catches people out is the narrower shoulder cut and the cropped proportions on many of their tops and knitwear, which are designed for a more petite Spanish frame. If you're broad-shouldered or tall, size up by one.

Fit Advice by Category

Knitwear: This is where Bimba Y Lola genuinely excels — the quality is exceptional for the price point, and their graphic knits are unlike anything you'll find on the British high street. Sizes tend to be generous through the body but snug across the chest and shoulders. I'd strongly recommend sizing up if you're fuller in the bust or have broader shoulders. The shorter-cropped styles work brilliantly with their wide-leg trousers — it's a very intentional proportion.

Trousers & Skirts: Their bottoms run fairly true, but note the waist-to-hip ratio is cut for a straighter silhouette. If you carry more volume through the hips or thighs, size up and have the waist adjusted if needed — the fabric and construction absolutely justify a quick alteration. Their wide-leg and barrel-leg shapes in particular are worth investing that extra effort for, because the fall of the fabric when fitted correctly is genuinely beautiful.

Dresses: Bimba Y Lola dresses are often mini or midi length and tend to run slightly short on anyone over 5'6". If you're tall, factor that in — what's styled as a midi on the website will probably hit just above the knee on you, which may or may not suit you depending on the occasion. I'm 5'7" and I've had to make peace with the fact that their "midi" is really my "knee-length." Still wonderful, but worth knowing.

Outerwear: Their coats and jackets are cut close to the body with minimal ease for layering. Always size up if you're buying for autumn or winter — I made the mistake of buying a structured wool coat in my usual size and could barely move my arms once I had a jumper on underneath. Lesson learnt. Go one up, thank me later.

Accessories: Bimba Y Lola's bags, scarves, and jewellery are honestly some of the best-value luxury accessories available right now — particularly their leather bags, which have a quietly designer quality at a fraction of the French house prices. These are genuinely worth knowing about if you want to elevate an outfit without spending Bottega money.

Tips for Shopping Bimba Y Lola Online

Always check the individual product measurements — they include chest, waist, hip, and length on most pieces, which is far more useful than just the letter size.
If you're between sizes, size up for structured pieces (blazers, coats, tailored trousers) and stick to your true size for jersey, knit, and stretchy fabrics.
Their sale sections are worth bookmarking — quality doesn't diminish and pieces frequently appear there at seriously reduced prices.
Delivery from Spain is quick — usually 3–5 working days to the UK — and their return policy is straightforward, so don't be afraid to order two sizes if genuinely unsure.

Love the Bimba Y Lola Aesthetic? Here Are the Best Alternatives

If you're drawn to the bold, graphic, colour-confident world of Bimba Y Lola but want to build a whole wardrobe around it without spending exclusively at premium price points, these brands are doing something similar and doing it well:

Anthropologie — endlessly eclectic, print-forward, and genuinely exciting. A natural home for anyone who loves Bimba Y Lola's graphic sensibility at a more accessible price. Their knitwear in particular is outstanding.
Mango — being Spanish themselves, Mango often shares Bimba Y Lola's instinct for colour and silhouette. Their premium MNG line gets surprisingly close to the look for far less money.
Ted Baker — for occasion pieces that have that same bold-print confidence. Strong on dresses and occasion separates with a distinctly un-boring colour palette.
Claudie Pierlot — French contemporary luxury at a mid-market price. If you like Bimba Y Lola's polish combined with interesting design details, Claudie Pierlot is your next obsession.
Reiss — for when you want the clean, confident aesthetic but need something more work-appropriate. Excellent tailoring, consistent sizing, and genuinely timeless pieces.
All Saints — a slightly edgier alternative, particularly brilliant for leather pieces, outerwear, and that effortless south-London cool that Bimba Y Lola occasionally channels through its more architectural pieces.
LK Bennett — brilliant for elevated occasionwear with bold colour and interesting print, and consistently flattering in its construction. Worth checking for events and smart-casual dressing.
Whistles — understated contemporary polish. Not as loud as Bimba Y Lola, but an excellent pairing brand for building a cohesive wardrobe around their bolder statement pieces.

Two Independent Labels Worth Discovering

If you love Bimba Y Lola, these two independent names should absolutely be on your radar — both bring a similar energy of bold design and considered craftsmanship, but from slightly unexpected corners of the fashion world:

Stine Goya — a Copenhagen-based label that has become something of a cult favourite for exactly the kind of woman who loves Bimba Y Lola. Maximalist prints, dreamy colour combinations, and a joyful approach to dressing that feels genuinely rare. Their sizing runs true to EU and the quality justifies every penny.
La Doublej — an Italian brand built entirely around the philosophy that getting dressed should be a pleasure. Extraordinary prints, vintage-inspired silhouettes, and accessories that make you look like you know something other people don't. A genuine treat if you want something truly distinctive.

The Quickest Way to Nail Your Bimba Y Lola Size Every Time

Even with a brand guide like this one, the only truly reliable method is to match your actual measurements to each brand's specific size chart. Brands shift their sizing slightly season to season, and what was a perfect M in spring may fit differently in autumn. The most efficient way to stay ahead of it? Use a tool that does the work for you.

That's exactly what Tellar.co.uk is built for — and it's completely free.

Never Guess Your Size Again — Try Tellar

Tellar.co.uk is the UK's leading free sizing tool, matching your exact measurements to 1,500+ brands instantly. No downloads, no subscriptions, no faff.

Step 1: Measure once — bust, waist, and hip (or plug in a size from a brand you already know fits you).
Step 2: Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your exact size in Bimba Y Lola, Anthropologie, Reiss, Claudie Pierlot, and 1,500+ more brands.
Step 3: Shop with total confidence — no more cross-referencing, no more returns, no more guessing.

And while you're there, explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of honest, unsponsored style guides written by our in-house stylists. No ads. No affiliates influencing editorial. Just genuinely useful fashion advice, always free.