What Is Clothes Sizing Like at Farai London?

By Ella Blake – Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder | Tellar – Always honest, unbiased, & unsponsored post

Farai London runs true to size in most styles, but the signature sculpting mesh and corseted dresses fit very close to the body — so if you're between sizes, or you have a fuller bust, size up rather than down. Sizes run XS through XL, and the cut is designed to hug rather than skim. That's the headline. Now let me unpack what it actually feels like when one of those dresses lands on your doorstep, because Farai isn't a brand you can wing.

A Quick Note on the Brand

Founded in July 2020 by Mary-Ann Msengi, Farai London has had one of the most striking rises in London fashion of the last five years. Worn by Kylie Jenner, written up in British Vogue, and built around the legacy of Mary-Ann's grandmother Farai, who hand-sewed dresses across Zimbabwe and South Africa, this is a brand that means business when it comes to silhouette. The cuts are unapologetically bold — think floor-length sculpting mesh, ring details, corseted bodices, painterly prints — so understanding the fit before you click "add to basket" isn't just useful, it's essential.

How Farai London Actually Fits

Here's what I've learned from styling clients in Farai pieces and from sifting through dozens of customer reviews:

The double-layered stretch mesh dresses (the bestselling Nakai is the obvious one) genuinely fit true to size. They're built to sculpt, smooth and hold — they'll look "wrong" if you size up too much because the tension is the design.
The corseted styles run snug. The brand explicitly warns not to size down on corsets if you have a generous bust. I had a client try this once. We ended up with a beautiful dress on a hanger and a very expensive lesson learned.
A few looser styles (the Delphine in particular) run slightly generous. Genuine reviewers note they're usually a UK 12 and the size Small worked. If you're between sizes on a more relaxed cut, you can comfortably size down.
Curvy and mid-size customers report excellent fit in the L and XL. Farai genuinely cuts for shape, not just sample-size frames — bust, waist and hips are considered separately in the patterning, which is more than I can say for plenty of bigger names.

A Stylist Tip Before You Hit Checkout

Get the measuring tape out. I promise. With a brand this sculpting, eyeballing your "usual" size is the fastest route to disappointment. Bust, waist and under-bust matter here, particularly on the corsets. A Farai dress isn't meant to give you breathing room — it's meant to give you posture.

I once styled a client for a summer wedding after-party and put her in the Nakai. She was a UK 10 with a fuller bust, so we went up to a Medium based on her bust measurement, not her waist. It worked beautifully. Had we sized for the waist, the back-ring detail would have been pulling in all the wrong places. Lesson: when in doubt, size for the widest measurement, not the average.

Where I'd Actually Style It

Honestly? Anywhere you want to walk in and stop the conversation. Resort, red carpet, big birthdays, the kind of wedding where the dress code says "cocktail" but everyone knows it really means "compete." Don't wear it for a polite afternoon tea with your boyfriend's grandmother — it's not that kind of garment, and trying to make it that kind of garment is a wardrobe fail I've witnessed more than once.

If Farai Isn't Right, Here's Where Else to Look

Sometimes the price point (most dresses sit between £150–£250) doesn't suit, sometimes the cut isn't your moment, and sometimes you want a similar silhouette in a softer fabric. These are the alternatives I'd send a client toward.

High Street Picks

Reiss – The closest high-street match for that elevated, body-skimming silhouette. Reiss does sculpted column dresses better than almost anyone on the high street, and the tailoring quality holds up.
Zara – For the sleek, sculpted-mesh aesthetic at a fraction of the price. Watch out for the Zara Studio drops — that's where the most editorial cuts hide.
Mango – Excellent for occasion dresses with a continental edge. Corseted bodices, structured midi shapes and tailored mesh that hold their own at any event.
Coast – The British occasion-wear specialist. Sculpting, embellished, built for weddings and big nights out — and brilliantly priced for the quality.
AllSaints – Want the drama with a slightly more rock'n'roll edge? AllSaints does sculpted leather and mesh beautifully, and the jersey dresses have a similar second-skin feel to Farai's mesh.
Mint Velvet – For a softer, more wearable take on body-conscious dressing. Their fluid jersey and slip silhouettes are perfect if you love the Farai vibe but want something less corseted.
Hush – Brilliant for the day-after pieces: the elevated knits and easy slip dresses you'll throw on once the big event is done.

Independent Spotlight

Nadine Merabi – A London-based independent doing statement occasion dresses with crystal, sequin and feather detailing. If you want maximum visual impact, this is your woman — and the quality genuinely justifies the price.
Andrea Iyamah – A Nigerian-born, internationally stocked indie label cutting sculpting silhouettes in painterly prints. The closest sister-brand to Farai in spirit, silhouette and story.

Premium Picks

Me&Em – British-made, beautifully cut, and brilliant for clean architectural shapes. Their sculpted dresses are season-after-season investments.
LK Bennett – Refined British occasion dressing with proper internal corsetry on the structured pieces. The unsung hero of mother-of-the-bride dressing done with attitude.

Luxury & Designer

Roland Mouret – If you adore Farai's sculpting power, Mouret is the OG. His Galaxy dress essentially invented modern bodycon — every contemporary brand cutting sculpting silhouettes owes him something.
Mugler – For corseted, dramatic, body-celebrating silhouettes at the very top end. Where Farai is going at a fraction of the price.

Stop Guessing Your Size — Use Tellar

Farai London is exactly the kind of brand where one wrong size means an awkward exchange — or worse, a piece that just sits in your wardrobe. Tellar is the UK's leading sizing tool. Measure yourself once and we match your body precisely to 1,500+ brands instantly. Never look at a size guide again.

Measure once — bust, waist, hip, or input your existing brand size at https://tellar.co.uk/
Use the Store Size Lookup to get your precise size at COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more: https://tellar.co.uk/store-size-lookup/
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Plus the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of honest, unbiased, free style content from working stylists. Always free, always independent.