How to Find Your Size in Anna Rose

By Ella Blake | Tellar Fashion Hub

Anna Rose runs true to standard UK sizing — but when it comes to occasion wear, true to size isn't always enough. If you've found yourself standing in the fitting room with a perfectly sized dress that gapes across the shoulders or pulls across the hips, you're not alone. I've been there more times than I'd like to admit. The good news? Once you understand how Anna Rose cuts their styles, getting a great fit becomes much more straightforward.

Who Is Anna Rose?

If you've shopped for a smart dress for a wedding, a christening, or a family occasion and ended up in the occasionwear section of a department store, you've almost certainly come across Anna Rose. The brand has been a quiet staple in British retail for decades — stocked at House of Fraser, Jaeger, and independent boutiques up and down the country. They specialise in classic, feminine occasionwear: structured dresses, co-ordinated suits, and chiffon-layered skirts that feel polished without trying too hard.

The brand pitches squarely at the 45–70 age bracket, and they know that demographic well. Their cuts tend to account for fuller busts, longer torsos, and a preference for modesty — longer hemlines, sleeves, and high necklines feature heavily in their collections. That's genuinely useful context when you're trying to figure out whether to size up or down.

Anna Rose Sizing — What You Need to Know

The Basics

Anna Rose sizes typically run from UK 10 to UK 22, though this can vary by garment. Their sizing is broadly consistent with standard UK sizing charts — so if you're a UK 14 elsewhere, a 14 in Anna Rose is generally a solid starting point. However, there are a few nuances worth knowing before you click 'buy' or head to the till.

Bodice length: Anna Rose tends to cut for a longer torso. If you're petite (under 5'4"), you may find the waist seam sits low on structured dresses, which can throw the proportions off. Consider whether the brand offers a petite range in-store before buying.
Bust allowance: This is where the brand genuinely earns its loyal following. They build in more ease across the bust than many high street brands. If you've struggled with tailored dresses pulling across a fuller chest, Anna Rose is often a pleasant surprise.
Hip and thigh room: Their A-line and shift dresses tend to be cut with enough ease through the hips. If you're fuller in the hip than the bust, you may find you can size to your bust and still have breathing room below — always worth checking the specific measurements though.
Structured vs. jersey pieces: The brand's structured occasion dresses are cut with precision — sticking to your measurements matters here. Their softer jersey pieces have more give and are generally more forgiving if you're between sizes.

My Personal Experience

I tried on an Anna Rose chiffon overlay dress a couple of years ago for a summer wedding and made the classic mistake of sizing down because I was worried about the bust pulling. Reader, the zip did not make it past my shoulder blades. I sized back up and the fit was genuinely lovely — nipped at the waist, skimming the hips, and the hem landed at exactly the right place below the knee. Lesson learned: trust the size chart, and measure yourself properly before ordering online.

How to Measure Yourself for Anna Rose

For occasion wear especially, relying on your usual size isn't enough. Here's what to measure:

Bust: Measure around the fullest part of your chest, keeping the tape parallel to the floor. Wear the bra you'd wear with the outfit.
Waist: Measure around your natural waist — roughly an inch above your navel, at the narrowest point.
Hips: Measure around the fullest part of your hips and seat, usually about 8 inches below your natural waist.
Height: Worth noting if you're petite or tall — hemlines and waist seam placement can vary significantly.

Once you've got those numbers, cross-reference against the Anna Rose size chart (available on their stockist sites). If your measurements fall between sizes, I'd always suggest sizing up for structured occasion dresses and relying on a good seamstress for any minor adjustments. A small alteration costs far less than the discomfort of squeezing into a too-small dress all day.

Alternatives Worth Considering

Anna Rose is brilliant for classic British occasionwear — but if their sizing doesn't work for you, or you're after something slightly more fashion-forward, there are some excellent alternatives at every price point.

High Street Options

Phase Eight — consistently one of the best high street brands for occasion dresses. Their fit is excellent across bust and hips, the quality feels more premium than the price tag suggests, and they cater brilliantly from size 6 to 22.
Hobbs — if you want a slightly more contemporary take on smart occasionwear, Hobbs is my go-to. Their tailoring is clean and their shift dresses in particular are beautifully cut.
Monsoon — particularly strong for occasion separates and printed dresses. The brand is excellent if you like florals and feminine detailing, and their sizing is generally reliable.
Reiss — sits at the premium end of high street but delivers genuinely exceptional tailoring, especially in jersey and ponte fabrics. Their midi dresses are outstanding.
Jigsaw — understated, elegant and very well cut. If Anna Rose feels a little too formal, Jigsaw occupies a lovely middle ground between smart casual and proper occasion dressing.
Me&Em — a brand that has quietly become one of the most trusted names in British womenswear. Their sizing is detailed and consistent, and they always include proper measurements per garment.
Mint Velvet — brilliant if you want something that feels relaxed but still polished. Their relaxed tailoring suits women who find structured occasion wear restrictive.

Independent Brands Worth Knowing

Gina Bacconi — a British occasion and eveningwear brand that sits in similar territory to Anna Rose but with slightly more elaborate embellishment. Sizes run from 10–20 and they're known for excellent fit across fuller busts. Find them at House of Fraser and independent boutiques.
Alie Street London — a London-based independent label that makes beautiful, floaty occasion dresses in silk and chiffon. Their wrap and bias-cut styles are particularly forgiving across different body shapes, and the brand publishes detailed size and fit notes on every garment, which is genuinely rare and helpful.

Never Guess Your Size Again — Try Tellar

If sizing across different brands leaves you frustrated, Tellar.co.uk is the tool you've been missing. It's the UK's leading free sizing platform — and it does the hard work for you.

Measure once — enter your bust, waist, hip, or an existing brand size you trust.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size across 1,500+ brands instantly — including Anna Rose stockists, Phase Eight, Hobbs, Reiss, and hundreds more.
No downloads, no subscriptions — completely free, works in your browser.

Plus, explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of free, honest, unsponsored style guides from our team of stylists. No ads. No affiliate bias. Just straight-talking fashion advice.

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