How to Find Your Size in Anna Sui

BY ELLA BLAKE | TELLAR FASHION HUB

Anna Sui runs small — and if you don't know that going in, you'll end up with a gorgeous dress that simply won't zip. The short answer: size up by one, occasionally two, and always measure before you buy. I've learnt this the hard way. More on that in a moment.

The Anna Sui Brand: What You're Actually Buying Into

Anna Sui is one of those rare designers who has never tried to be anything other than exactly herself — and that confidence comes through in every single piece. Based in New York but endlessly inspired by 1970s London, Woodstock, and a sort of romantic, incense-scented bohemia, her collections are maximalist in the best possible way. Think: lace trims, jewel tones, vintage-inspired florals, witchy blacks, and prints that look like they were pulled straight from a Stevie Nicks fantasy.

Her ready-to-wear tends to be structured but delicate — fitted silhouettes, empire waists, bias-cut skirts. It's clothing that rewards knowing your measurements, because the fit is precise and the fabrics don't forgive too much either way.

Anna Sui Sizing: The Honest Truth

I remember buying an Anna Sui blouse in my usual size 10 (UK) during a Paris shopping trip a few years ago. I was completely in love with it — deep burgundy silk with black lace detailing, exactly the kind of thing I would normally throw on with wide-leg trousers and call it done. Reader, I could not do the top button up. Not even close. I ended up wearing it open over a black slip dress, which honestly worked, but it wasn't what I'd planned.

That experience taught me to always size up with Anna Sui. Here's what you actually need to know:

Anna Sui uses US sizing — so a US 4 is a UK 8, a US 6 is a UK 10, a US 8 is a UK 12, and so on. Start there.
The cut runs narrow through the bust and shoulders — if you're broader across the chest or have a fuller bust, sizing up by one (sometimes two) is advisable.
Waist and hip measurements matter — the brand tends to have limited ease built in, so check the garment measurements against your own before ordering.
Dresses and structured tops are the most size-sensitive styles — knitwear and looser styles tend to be more forgiving.
The Anna Sui size guide is available on their website, but always cross-reference with your actual measurements rather than relying on your usual label size.

Anna Sui Size Guide at a Glance

US 0 / UK 4 — Bust: 78cm, Waist: 60cm, Hip: 86cm
US 2 / UK 6 — Bust: 81cm, Waist: 63cm, Hip: 89cm
US 4 / UK 8 — Bust: 84cm, Waist: 66cm, Hip: 92cm
US 6 / UK 10 — Bust: 88cm, Waist: 70cm, Hip: 96cm
US 8 / UK 12 — Bust: 93cm, Waist: 74cm, Hip: 101cm
US 10 / UK 14 — Bust: 98cm, Waist: 79cm, Hip: 106cm

If you're between sizes, go up. Anna Sui's pieces aren't designed with stretch in mind, and a slightly loose fit can always be styled; a too-tight waistband is much less fixable.

Tips for Getting Anna Sui Fit Right Every Time

Measure yourself properly — bust (over the fullest point), waist (natural waist, not the hips), and hip (widest point, usually 7–8 inches below the waist). Do this rather than relying on your UK high street size, which can vary wildly brand to brand.
Read the product description carefully — Anna Sui often notes whether a style runs particularly small, and stockists like Net-a-Porter or Selfridges sometimes include customer fit notes.
If buying from a multi-brand retailer, filter customer reviews by your body shape for the most relevant fit feedback.
Shoes and accessories are a safe entry point if you're unsure about RTW sizing — Anna Sui's shoe and bag collections use standard international sizing and her accessories are genuinely excellent value for the aesthetic.

Love the Anna Sui Aesthetic? These Brands Deliver Similar Vibes

Not every outfit needs to be from the runway, and honestly, the Anna Sui look — that romantic, maximalist, vintage-inspired feel — is something you can build with really smart high street and mid-range picks. Here's where I'd look:

Anthropologie — probably the closest match on the high street to Anna Sui's aesthetic. Their floral dresses, embroidered pieces and vintage-inspired silhouettes hit genuinely similar notes, and the sizing is generous and inclusive.
Monsoon — brilliant for lace detailing, bold prints, and occasion dressing with a boho slant. Great value for special pieces.
Urban Outfitters — if you're after the younger, eclectically styled version of the Anna Sui vibe, UO delivers. Their vintage section is particularly good.
All Saints — for the darker, moodier end of the Anna Sui palette. Their leather pieces and rich-toned knitwear are particularly strong.
Mango — consistently delivers romantic, feminine silhouettes with good fabric quality at a mid-market price. Their dresses are a particular highlight season after season.
Oasis — a go-to for prints and feminine cut dresses that work from day into evening. Very much in the spirit of Anna Sui's more accessible pieces.
Phase Eight — for beautifully cut, occasion-ready pieces with that same attention to fabric detail that Anna Sui does so well. Excellent for weddings and smart events.
Warehouse — a surprisingly strong option for the boho-romantic look, especially in their dress edits. Worth checking in for new season arrivals.

And if you want to venture slightly off the beaten track, two independents I genuinely love for this aesthetic:

Nobody's Child — a sustainable British brand with a gorgeous boho-romantic edit of dresses, blouses and knitwear. The prints are exceptional and the sizing is refreshingly consistent.
Damson Madder — a small independent label beloved by fashion insiders for its vintage-inspired, beautifully crafted pieces. If you haven't discovered them yet, you're in for a treat.

Never Guess Your Size in Anna Sui Again

Sizing differences between designers — especially US and European labels — are genuinely confusing, and they cost real money when you get it wrong. Tellar.co.uk is the UK's leading free sizing tool, matching your exact measurements to over 1,500 brands instantly. No downloads, no subscriptions, no faff.

Measure once — bust, waist, and hip. That's all you need.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size across any brand — from Anna Sui to Arket, COS to Reiss — in seconds.
Always free, works in-browser, no account needed.

Plus, explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of free, honest, unsponsored fashion posts from our stylists. Style advice, brand deep-dives, best buys, and more. Independent. Unbiased. Always free.

Find Your Size at Tellar →