How to Find Your Size in Biba

BRAND SIZING GUIDE

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

Biba sizing runs broadly true to standard UK sizing, but — and this is important — the brand's signature fitted, vintage-inspired silhouettes mean that body shape and proportions matter just as much as your number on the label. If you've got a fuller bust or a more generous hip, size up for anything structured or corseted. You'll thank me later.

A Bit About Biba — Because the History Matters for the Fit

If you're new to Biba, let me give you a quick education, because the brand's DNA directly informs how its clothes are cut. Biba was founded in 1964 by the legendary Barbara Hulanicki — a boutique on Abingdon Road in Kensington that became the epicentre of Swinging Sixties London. Think dark, sultry glamour, art deco detailing, low lighting and the kind of clothes that made you feel like you'd stepped into a film noir. Kate Moss has cited it as a major inspiration. It doesn't get much more iconic than that.

The brand was revived and is now sold through House of Fraser, keeping that same spirit of vintage-leaning femininity alive — dramatic sleeves, plunging necklines, lace inserts, velvet touches, and the kind of occasion dressing that absolutely commands a room. Sizing has been updated for a modern body, but the cuts still skew fitted and structured, which is why understanding how the pieces are built matters more than just grabbing your usual size and hoping for the best.

How Biba Sizing Actually Fits

Biba uses standard UK sizing — 8 through 22 across most lines — and for the most part it runs true to size for someone with a fairly proportional bust-to-hip ratio. Where things get interesting (or, as I've discovered personally, slightly stressful at 6pm before an event) is when you're working with structured occasionwear, corseted bodices, or anything with a defined waist seam.

The brand tends to cut through the waist quite precisely. If your waist and hip measurements are more than about 10–12 inches apart — which is perfectly normal for a lot of women — you may find yourself sizing up on the hip and needing a nip at the waist, or just accepting a slightly looser top half in exchange for the skirt actually going on. The stretch fabrics are more forgiving; the woven occasionwear and velvet dresses less so.

Here's my quick guide to Biba fit by garment type:

Midi and maxi dresses (woven/structured): Size up if you have a fuller bust or hip. The waists run narrow.
Jersey wrap and stretch styles: True to size — these are the most forgiving and work brilliantly across body types.
Velvet occasionwear: Velvet has very little give. Go by your largest measurement and size from there.
Blouses and tops: Generally true to size, but check sleeve length if you're taller — the sleeves can run a touch short.
Skirts: True to size or size up one if you carry weight on your hips. The waistbands are not particularly stretchy on the structured styles.

Petite, Tall, and Fuller Bust: What to Know

Biba doesn't currently offer a dedicated petite line, which is a genuine shame given how many of their dresses have dramatic floor-length skirts that will pool on anyone under 5'5". If you're petite, I'd always budget for hemming on anything maxi or midi — or go for their mini and knee-length options, which tend to land better proportionally. For taller women, the midis often become kneelength, which can actually work beautifully in their own right.

For a fuller bust: structured bodices are often the sticking point. Biba's occasionwear is made for a B/C cup fit — go up a size if you're a D cup or above, and consider whether the style has back lacing or adjustability built in (some do, which is a lifesaver).

Pro tip from me: If you're buying Biba for a specific event — a wedding, a party, a big night out — always order two sizes and return one. The difference between a size 12 and a 14 in their corseted styles can be dramatic. Don't leave it to chance the week before.

How to Measure for Biba

Since fit varies so much by style, your measurements will serve you far better than your usual label size when shopping Biba online. Here's what to take:

Bust: Measure around the fullest part, keeping the tape parallel to the floor.
Waist: Natural waist — the narrowest point of your torso, usually a couple of inches above your navel.
Hips: Around the fullest part of your hips and seat, usually about 8 inches below your natural waist.

Then cross-reference with the size guide on the House of Fraser product page, which is generally detailed and reliable. If your bust and hip measurements fall in different sizes, size to your hips for dresses and to your bust for tops.

High Street Alternatives with That Biba Vintage-Glamour Vibe

Whether Biba is out of budget right now or you just can't find your size in the colourway you wanted, these high street brands are doing a brilliant job of channelling that same dark, romantic, occasion-ready energy:

Monsoon — The ultimate Biba alternative on the high street, honestly. Broderie, velvet, floral occasionwear, dramatic sleeves — it's all there, and the sizing is reliably consistent. My go-to recommendation for anyone who loves that vintage-feminine look.
Phase Eight — Exceptional for structured occasionwear with a sophisticated edge. Their fit is excellent across a range of body types and they size well for a fuller bust.
Coast — Classic occasionwear with a modern update. Great for weddings and parties with that same dressed-up glamour Biba does so well.
Anthropologie — For the more bohemian, art-inspired side of Biba's aesthetic. Unique prints, interesting fabrics, and the kind of pieces that don't look like anything else on the room.
Hobbs — Beautifully made occasionwear with a more polished, British feel. Their sizing is excellent and very consistent.
Warehouse — A surprisingly strong option for party and occasion dressing at a lower price point. Good fabric quality and a decent range of vintage-inspired cuts.
River Island — For a younger, more trend-led take on the drama. Their occasionwear range goes big on sequins, velvet, and statement sleeves — all very Biba in spirit.

Two Independent Brands Worth Discovering

If you love Biba's singular personality, these two smaller labels are worth bookmarking:

Ghost London — A British heritage brand with a devoted cult following for their bias-cut, vintage-inspired dresses. The satin and chiffon styles have that same moody, romantic quality as Biba's best pieces, and they're brilliant for real-life wearability. Sizing is true to UK standard with excellent coverage up to a UK 20.
Needle & Thread — If you want full-on whimsical British glamour, Needle & Thread is breathtaking. Handcrafted embellishment, fairy-tale silhouettes, and a level of detail that punches well above the price point. Size up slightly — they cut for a slim silhouette — but the payoff is extraordinary.

Stop Guessing Your Size — Use Tellar

Biba's sizing quirks are exactly the kind of thing Tellar.co.uk was designed for. Tellar is the UK's leading free clothing sizing tool, instantly matching your measurements to over 1,500 brands — so you shop with confidence and send back a lot fewer parcels.

Measure once — enter your bust, waist, hips, or an existing brand size you know fits you well.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool — get your precise recommended size across hundreds of brands including Phase Eight, Monsoon, Coast, Hobbs, and many more.
Always free — no account, no downloads. Works straight in your browser, right now.

And while you're there, browse the Tellar Fashion Hub — a growing library of free, honest, unsponsored style guides from our team of stylists. No ads, no brand deals influencing what we say. Just genuinely useful fashion advice.

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