How to Find Your Size in Bernadette

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

Bernadette runs small — size up at least one, and sometimes two sizes if you're fuller through the bust or hips. That's the most important thing I can tell you before you spend £300+ on one of their gorgeous printed blouses and open the parcel to find you can't do the buttons up. I've been there. A friend of mine — typically a confident size 10 — ordered her usual and couldn't get the midi skirt past her hips. She sized up to a 12 and it was perfection. The brand uses European sizing (36, 38, 40, 42), and those numbers tend to run narrow, particularly through the chest and shoulders.

Who Is Bernadette, Exactly?

If you're not already familiar, Bernadette is a Brussels-born label founded by sisters Anne-Sophie and Julie Leenaerts. Since launching in 2018 it has become something of a cult brand — the kind that gets quietly passed between women who know good clothes. Think romantic floral prints, puffed sleeves, prairie-influenced silhouettes and a very particular kind of refined femininity that feels both vintage and completely modern. It sits in the premium-to-designer bracket, with pieces ranging from around £180 for a blouse to £400+ for a statement dress or coat. When you get the sizing right, these clothes feel genuinely special. When you don't, the return process is international and not particularly breezy — so doing your size homework upfront is really worth it.

Bernadette's Sizing System Explained

Bernadette uses standard European sizing: 36, 38, 40, 42, 44. Here's a rough UK equivalent guide, though I'd always recommend measuring and comparing to their specific size chart rather than just converting:

Bernadette SizeUK EquivalentUS EquivalentBust (cm)Waist (cm)36848466381068870401289274421410967844161210082

Always cross-reference with the measurements on Bernadette's own product pages — measurements can vary slightly between styles.

Where Bernadette Tends to Come Up Small

Knowing where the brand runs narrow is as useful as knowing the sizing system itself. Based on consistent customer and stylist feedback:

Bust and chest — this is the most common fit issue. The structured bodices and fitted blouse cuts leave very little ease through the chest. If you're a D cup or above, sizing up two is often necessary.
Shoulders — the puff-sleeved styles can appear roomy but the shoulder seam placement is actually quite precise. If you have broader shoulders, go up a size and take in the waist if needed.
Skirts and trousers — hips and thighs are where the second most common sizing complaint sits. The midi skirts in particular are cut quite narrow through the upper hip.
Length — Bernadette designs for a European frame. If you're under 5'4", their midi styles will likely be maxi-length on you, which can actually be gorgeous — just worth knowing in advance.

My Advice: How to Shop Bernadette Confidently

Measure yourself properly — bust, waist and hips in centimetres, and compare directly to their size chart. Don't just convert your UK size to a European number.
Go up one size as a baseline — for most women shopping Bernadette, sizing up one is the starting point. Fuller busted or curvier through the hips? Consider two sizes up.
Read individual product notes — Bernadette does include fit notes on many styles and these are worth reading carefully. "Fitted" from this brand means genuinely fitted.
Check stockist reviews — Net-a-Porter and Mytheresa both stock Bernadette and their customer reviews frequently mention sizing. These are gold dust before committing to a purchase.
Factor in the fabric — Bernadette works heavily in cotton and silk-feel fabrics with zero stretch. What you measure is what you get, so there's no fabric give to bail you out if you're on the border of two sizes.

If You Love the Bernadette Aesthetic: Brands Worth Exploring

That feminine, print-led, slightly romantic approach to dressing is having a genuine moment — and it's not just Bernadette doing it well. These are the labels I'd recommend if you love the look but want more accessible sizing or price points:

Anthropologie — a brilliant source of the same print-heavy, feminine aesthetic. Their sizing uses US measurements (always check the UK conversion) but is generally consistent and their customer reviews are very reliable on fit.
Monsoon — often underestimated, Monsoon does the floral print and romantic silhouette thing beautifully, runs true to UK size, and is a fraction of the price. Their occasion and occasionwear dresses are particularly strong.
Jigsaw — for a cleaner, more edited take on the feminine-but-grown-up aesthetic. Sizing is consistent and true to UK standard; the cut is relaxed and well-proportioned.
Whistles — elevated high street with a considered, feminine sensibility. Runs true to UK size; their blouses and printed midi skirts are strong competitors to the Bernadette look at a friendlier price.
Claudie Pierlot — this French brand sits in a similar world to Bernadette both in aesthetic and price point. Also uses European sizing and also runs small — but they have UK stockists with decent size guidance.
Me&Em — for the woman who wants Bernadette-quality construction and finish on a British high street budget. Sizing is impeccably consistent and true to UK standard. Their printed blouses and midi skirts are a genuine alternative.
Hush — softer, more relaxed but with that same love of print and femininity. Sizes true to UK; beautifully comfortable and great value for the quality.

Two brilliant independent labels flying under the radar that I'd put firmly in the same conversation:

Ulla Johnson — a New York-based designer label with exactly the same romantic, print-led DNA as Bernadette. Uses US sizing; runs slightly small but their size guide is detailed and accurate. Stocked at Net-a-Porter.
Thierry Colson — a Parisian designer beloved by the French fashion press for his hand-painted print scarves and dresses. Very limited sizing range (often S/M/L) but the pieces are extraordinary and have significant cult appeal.

Stop Guessing Your Size — Let Tellar Do It For You

Getting sizing right at Bernadette — or any international brand — is so much easier when you have your actual measurements matched against the brand's specific size chart. That's exactly what Tellar.co.uk does, instantly and for free.

Tellar is the UK's leading free sizing tool — matching your body measurements to 1,500+ brands in seconds, so you never have to squint at a European conversion chart again.

Measure once — enter your bust, waist and hip measurements, or your size in a brand you already know fits you well.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool — get your precise size across 1,500+ brands instantly, from Bernadette to Zara to Reiss.
Always free — no app, no subscription, no nonsense. Works straight in your browser.

And when you're done sizing, head to the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of free, honest, unsponsored style guides from our top stylists. No ads. No affiliate bias. Just good advice.

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