Queens of Archive Sizing: How It Really Fits (And How to Get It Right First Time)

By Ella Blake – Senior fashion stylist & Founder | Tellar – Always honest, unbiased, & unsponsored post

Queens of Archive runs true to standard UK sizing – an XS is roughly a UK 6–8, an M a 10–12, an L a 12–14 – but the cut is the bit people get wrong. The romantic, floaty dresses the brand is famous for have a touch of room through the bodice and generous, sweeping skirts, so they sit forgivingly across half a size either way. The fitted styles – think sequinned columns and bias minis – are a different animal and run noticeably snug. So before you click your “usual” size, it pays to know which Queens of Archive you’re actually buying.

So how does Queens of Archive sizing actually work?

Founded by designer Nicola Orme, Queens of Archive trades in antique florals, high necks, puff sleeves and long, tiered hemlines, mostly cut in natural fibres – cotton, silk, linen and printed chiffon. That fabric choice matters for fit. Natural cloth has give, drapes softly and skims rather than clings, which is exactly why the signature tiered dresses feel so forgiving. The brand sizes in standard UK measurements, and for the bulk of the range the fit is genuinely true.

Where it shifts is on the fitted occasion pieces. A sequinned or bias-cut style with a side zip has almost no stretch, so the same body that takes a relaxed cotton midi in a Medium will often want to size up – or the brand’s own guidance flips and a UK 12 lands closer to a Large. My rule of thumb after dressing plenty of clients in these: buy your standard size in the floaty prints, and on anything structured or embellished, size up if you’re between sizes.

My honest experience with the fit

I’ll be straight with you, because this is where I learned the hard way. The first Queens of Archive piece I bought was a tiered cotton midi for a summer wedding – I took my standard Medium and it was a quiet triumph, roomy enough through the chest to wear a proper bra and breezy in 28-degree heat. Buoyed by that, I ordered a sequinned style in the same size for a Christmas party. Reader, I could not do the zip up past my ribs. The structured pieces simply don’t move the way the cotton does. Lesson banked: with this brand, the fabric tells you the size, not the label.

What to check before you buy

Read the fabric first. Cotton, linen and chiffon = forgiving, take your usual size. Sequin, satin or bias-cut = snug, size up if in doubt.
Mind your height with the hemlines. The brand’s long, sweeping skirts are cut for around 5’9”. If you’re petite, expect a maxi to puddle – brilliant for floaty drama, worth a small hem if you want it cleaner.
Bodice room is real. High-necked and puff-sleeve styles give a little across the bust, so don’t panic-size-down on the prints.
Prints rarely repeat. Queens of Archive works in small batches and doesn’t restock sold-out prints, so if the size you want is in stock, don’t dither.

Where to shop a similar look (and fit) on the high street

If you love the Queens of Archive mood but want it at a friendlier price – or you simply want a back-up while you hunt down a sold-out print – these are the high street names I send clients to for the same romantic, print-led, true-to-UK-size feel:

Anthropologie – the closest high-street match for that vintage, painterly, slightly bohemian print energy.
Boden – the high street’s home of proper florals and tiered cotton dresses, and reliably true to size.
Monsoon – occasion florals and gentle embellishment without the designer ticket.
Whistles – for the pared-back, grown-up version of the QoA midi shape.
Phase Eight – strong on defined-waist occasion dresses if you want more structure.
Seasalt Cornwall – painterly prints in soft, breathable cotton that washes well.
Hush – the easy, natural-fibre end of the look for everyday wear.
Me&Em – elevated, beautifully cut feminine pieces when you want one step up in quality.

Premium picks for the same spirit

Rixo – the London label built entirely on vintage-inspired prints; arguably Queens of Archive’s nearest sister.
Sézane – Parisian feminine staples, beautifully made and quietly flattering.
Ghost – fluid, bias-cut and vintage-leaning dresses that drape like a dream.

Luxury and designer, if you’re investing

Needle & Thread – embellished, romantic occasion dresses with real fairy-tale detail.
Zimmermann – the Australian house for lavish prints and tiered, holiday-glamour silhouettes.
Erdem – botanical prints and old-world romance at the very top end.

Two off-the-radar labels worth knowing

Because the best style advice never stops at the obvious names, here are two independents I rate for this exact aesthetic:

Sister Jane – a London indie full of whimsical, vintage-inspired detailing and charming prints.
Batsheva – the cult New York label doing prairie and cottagecore with a sharp, knowing twist.

Never guess your size again

Here’s the thing – you shouldn’t have to learn a brand’s quirks the hard way like I did with that sequin dress. That’s exactly why I built Tellar, the UK’s leading sizing tool. You measure once – using bust, waist and hip, or simply your size in a brand you already own – and your body is matched exactly to over 1,500 brands instantly. No more squinting at a size guide.

Measure once, using bust, waist, hip, or your existing brand size.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in any brand – COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.
Always free, no downloads needed – it works in your browser.

There’s also the Tellar Fashion Hub: a library stacked with free posts from our top stylists. Honest, unbiased, independent and always free – style advice, top picks and the best brands, all in one place.