Vila Sizing: Is It True to Size? Your Complete UK Fit Guide

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

Good news: Vila sizes are generally true to size for UK shoppers, following standard European sizing that maps cleanly onto UK sizing — so a UK 10 is a Small, a UK 12 is a Medium, and so on. That said, there are some quirks worth knowing, particularly with dresses and looser styles that can come up slightly generous, and jeans that use a separate inch-based system entirely. I've had enough Vila moments — good and slightly baffling — to give you the full picture before you order.

I remember buying a Vila wrap dress on a total whim one autumn, thinking it would be a reliable mid-week dinner option. Ordered my usual size and it arrived with what I can only describe as "bonus volume" — not massively oversized, but definitely roomier than I expected. Swapped it for a size down and honestly? It was one of my most-worn pieces for about two years straight. The lesson: Vila is broadly true to size, but certain styles run with more ease than you'd expect, and knowing which ones is the key to getting it right first time.

About Vila: Scandi Femininity at a Friendly Price

Founded in Denmark in 1994 and based in Skanderborg, Jutland, Vila is part of the Bestseller group — the same Danish fashion house behind Vero Moda and Jack & Jones. The brand has always been clear about what it's doing: feminine clothing with an eye for detail, accessible pricing, and that particular Scandinavian ability to make simple things look effortlessly good. Their dresses are the standout category — everything from relaxed everyday wrap styles through to sleek occasion maxis — and the knitwear and blouses are consistently strong too. It's the kind of label that punches above its weight for the price.

Vila Clothing Size Chart: UK, EU & Measurements

Here's the full size conversion for Vila clothing, with body measurements in centimetres. Use your actual body measurements, not your Vila label — especially if you're buying dresses or anything structured.

Vila SizeUK SizeEU SizeFranceChest (cm)Waist (cm)Hip (cm)XXS630/3234786086XS832/3436826490S1034/3638866894M1238/4040907298L1440/42429678104XL1644/464410284110XXL18464610890116

Vila Jeans Sizing: A Completely Different System

Vila jeans use US inch-based sizing (25 through 34), which is separate from the clothing size chart above. Here's how the waist measurements break down:

Vila Jeans Size2526272829303132Waist (cm)6264.56769.57274.57779.5Hip (cm)8890.59395.598100.5103105.5

Vila offer two inseam lengths in their jeans — a 32" (77cm) and a 34" (81cm) leg. If you're under 5'5", the 32" is generally the safer bet unless you love a pooled hem. Both styles have the same seat and hip measurements, so choose purely on leg length.

How Vila Fits Garment by Garment

Knowing the number is one thing; knowing how a particular category actually behaves on your body is another. Here's what I've found across the range:

Dresses: This is Vila's hero category and also the one that catches people out most. Styles with a defined waist — wrap dresses, belted midis, tailored sheaths — tend to run true to size. But the looser styles, particularly smock shapes, tiered maxis, and anything with an elasticated or empire waist, come up noticeably generous. If a dress looks relaxed on the model, assume you can go down a size. I've done this repeatedly and it consistently works out.
Tops & blouses: Generally true to size with a slight ease built in. Fitted tops with structure sit where you'd expect, but printed blouses and anything with volume through the body tend to have a bit more room than the measurements suggest. Stick to your usual size here unless you specifically want a more fitted look, in which case size down.
Knitwear: Vila's knits are lovely — soft, wearable and well-priced — and they tend to run true to size with a comfortable, relaxed fit. Not oversized by design but not clingy either. Your standard size works well across the knitwear range.
Trousers & skirts: True to size, in my experience. The tailored cigarette trousers in particular are well-cut and hit the right measurements. If your hips are on the generous side relative to your waist, the M measurements show a bigger jump at the hip from S (94cm to 98cm) — so if you're between sizes, go up.
Jackets & coats: True to size to slightly generous, depending on the cut. Vila's blazers are often semi-structured and work best in your usual size. If you're planning to layer underneath, sizing up is wise — especially in the coats.
Jeans: Measure your actual waist and compare to the chart above rather than guessing. Vila jeans are generally consistent with their size chart, but there's not much stretch in the non-jersey styles, so getting the waist measurement right first time matters.

My Honest Vila Sizing Summary

Vila is one of the more reliable sizing experiences at this price point, which is part of why it's so popular. The size chart is consistent, the quality-to-price ratio is genuinely good, and the range is wide enough that most women will find something that works for them. The one rule I'd apply across the board: if in doubt on a dress, size down. For everything else, your standard UK size is your friend.

Where to Shop for That Vila Vibe — and Beyond

Vila sits in a sweet spot of mid-market Scandi-feminine: accessible, trend-led but not throwaway, and very strong on dresses. Here are my picks if you want to explore similar territory — or step up a level:

High Street Alternatives

Warehouse — One of the most consistently underrated dress destinations on the UK high street. The cut is clean, the prints are well-judged, and the price point is very close to Vila. A proper alternative.
Monsoon — If you love Vila's feminine, print-led aesthetic, Monsoon delivers it with a slightly more occasion-ready edge. Brilliant for midi dresses and the kind of tops that look effortful but aren't.
River Island — Strong on the trendier end of dresses and blouses. Not quite as refined as Vila in the styling, but the price is sharp and the range is enormous, so you can almost always find something that hits.
Oliver Bonas — A great pick for feminine, considered pieces. The styling has that same quiet confidence as Vila — interesting prints, good cut, nothing too shouty. Slightly more individual-feeling than the bigger high street names.
Great Plains — A brilliantly consistent contemporary UK brand that doesn't get nearly the attention it deserves. Clean, wearable, flattering on a range of body shapes, and the quality is genuinely good.
Coast — A step up in occasion-wear terms from Vila, but if you're buying a dress for something specific — a wedding, a party, a proper dinner — Coast does the elevated version of Vila's aesthetic really well.
Oasis — Now back online after its revival, Oasis does the feminine mid-market dress in a way that's immediately familiar to Vila fans. Well-priced, trend-aware, and a solid source for everyday smart dresses.
French Connection — Brilliant for that slightly more grown-up take on feminine dressing. The cut is sharper than Vila, the palette tends to be more restrained, and it works particularly well for work-to-evening dressing.

Premium Picks

Anthropologie — If you love Vila's print-led, feminine aesthetic and want to invest a bit more, Anthropologie is the next natural step. The quality is noticeably higher, the prints are more distinctive, and the styling has a real personality to it.
Claudie Pierlot — For a French take on the feminine-but-polished aesthetic that Vila does at high street level. Gorgeous dresses, beautifully cut blouses, and a signature Parisian quality to the prints and silhouettes.

Two Independent Picks Worth Knowing

Albaray — A London-based sustainable womenswear brand that does the feminine, considered wardrobe extremely well. Beautiful dresses and blouses with lovely fabric choices — if you care about sustainability alongside style, this is the one to know. Very similar in spirit to Vila but more grown-up and ethically-led.
Never Fully Dressed — A UK independent known for its maximalist, print-heavy dresses and co-ords. If you love Vila's dresses but want something a bit bolder and more personality-driven, Never Fully Dressed delivers it in spades. A genuine cult following for good reason.

Stop Second-Guessing Your Size — Use Tellar

Sizing varies more than it should across brands — and even within the same brand across different styles, as Vila proves. That's exactly the problem Tellar.co.uk was built to solve. It's the UK's leading clothing sizing tool, completely free and works instantly in your browser — no app, no downloads, no faff.

Measure once — bust, waist, hips, or use an existing brand size you know fits you
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Plus, the Tellar Fashion Hub is packed with free, unsponsored posts from our stylists — honest brand guides, sizing deep-dives, and style advice with zero commercial influence. Always independent. Always free.

Visit Tellar.co.ukFind My Size in Vila →