What Is Sizing Like at Aspiga?

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

If you’ve been eyeing an Aspiga linen shirt dress or a pair of their leather sandals and wondering whether to size up or down, here’s the short answer: Aspiga fits true to size, but with very little give. The label is honest — a 12 is a genuine 12 — but the cut tends to be structured rather than relaxed, which is exactly why some shoppers swear it runs small when, technically, it doesn’t.

I’ll be straight with you, because that’s the only way I know how to style. I bought a Carmen-style print dress from Aspiga two summers ago for a wedding in Puglia, ordered my usual size, and on the hanger it looked spot on. The moment I sat down at the reception, the buttons across the skirt gaped just enough to make me tug at the fabric all night. Lesson learned — and one I’ll pass straight on to you below.

The honest truth about Aspiga’s fit

Aspiga is a B Corp brand handmade by artisans in Kenya and India, using GOTS-certified cotton and natural linens. Beautiful, ethical, and built to last — but that craftsmanship comes with quirks worth knowing before you buy:

Linen and cotton run accurate but stiff. There’s no stretch, so if you fluctuate or like a bit of ease, the structured pieces can feel snug at first. The good news: the linen softens beautifully after a wash and a steam.
Shirred and elasticated styles are far more forgiving. Anything with a stretch bodice or gathered back gives you wiggle room across the bust and waist.
The button gape is real. On classic shirt dresses, the spacing can pull when you’re seated — not ideal for a fuller bust or hip. Aspiga actually offer a small alterations service, and a discreet underslip or a hook-and-eye solves it in seconds.

Dresses — where Aspiga truly shines

This is the heart of the brand and where I’d spend my money. The tiered, block-print and floral dresses are summer-wardrobe staples in breathable fabrics. My styling steer: take your normal size in the relaxed, shirred designs, and if you’re busty, check your bust measurement carefully on the more fitted shirt-dress shapes rather than going by your dress size alone. A loose linen midi worn with flat tan sandals and gold hoops is effortless holiday dressing — you genuinely cannot overthink it.

Sandals & espadrilles — size down if you’re between

Aspiga’s leather sandals and beaded flats run in European sizing and fit true to size for most feet. If you have a narrower foot you may notice slight gaping, and my firm advice if you fall between sizes is to size down for a snug, secure fit — leather gives a touch with wear, never the other way around.

Trousers, jumpsuits & the petite question

Fixed-waistband trousers and the palazzo styles can run slightly small, particularly anything made in Europe, so if you carry a little more on the hip I’d size up here. And a candid note for my petite readers: Aspiga’s petite range is limited, and the longer hems often need taking up. Stunning clothes — just factor a tailor into the budget if you’re under 5’4”.

Where to shop if Aspiga isn’t quite your fit

If you love the relaxed, print-led, ethically-minded Aspiga look but want a different fit or price point, here’s where I’d send my clients.

High street picks:

Boden — the closest high-street match for joyful prints and proper midi dresses, with a roomier, more forgiving cut than Aspiga.
Seasalt Cornwall — organic-cotton, coastal and relaxed; brilliant if you found Aspiga’s linen too structured.
Monsoon — the original boho-occasion brand for embellished, resort-ready dresses at a gentler price.
White Stuff — easy printed cottons cut generously, ideal for anyone between sizes.
Fat Face — soft, beachy, throw-on jersey and cotton that needs zero alteration.
Joules — cheerful florals and breezy summer shapes with a true-to-size, relaxed fit.
Phase Eight — the one for a structured event dress when you want a polished, tailored finish.

Premium picks:

Hush — understated boho-luxe with beautiful drape; sizing is generous and reliable.
Mint Velvet — relaxed-glamour separates and dresses in lovely soft fabrics that move with you.

Luxury / designer picks:

Zimmermann — the gold standard of luxe resort dressing; broderie, prints and dreamy silhouettes (run snug, so know your bust).
Faithfull the Brand — sustainably-minded holiday dressing with the easy, sun-soaked feel Aspiga fans adore.

My two left-field independents to know:

Pink City Prints — a small British label hand-block-printing in India; if you fell for Aspiga’s ethical print story, this is your next obsession.
YOLKE — an independent London brand doing painterly silk and cotton dresses with real personality and a flattering, true-to-size cut.

Never squint at a size guide again

Sizing quirks like Aspiga’s are exactly why I built Tellar — the UK’s leading sizing tool. Match your body to 1,500+ brands instantly and stop guessing.

Measure once — using bust, waist, hip, or your existing size in a brand you already own.
Use the Store Size Lookup to get your precise size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket & more.
Always free, no downloads — it works straight in your browser.

And the Tellar Fashion Hub is a library stacked with free posts from our top stylists. Honest. Unbiased. Independent. Always free — style advice, top picks and the best brands, all in one place.