What Is Sizing Like at Bardot?

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

Bardot runs small — particularly if you're curvy, busty, or anything above a slim-straight frame. That's the short answer. The longer answer is that Bardot is an Australian brand using Australian sizing, which already sits a step or two away from what UK shoppers are used to, and their cuts tend to be close-to-the-body and tailored with minimal stretch. It's a brand I genuinely love, but I've also learned the hard way that ordering your usual UK size without checking is a gamble I wouldn't take twice.

The Australian Sizing Thing — What You Need to Know

Bardot is Australian-born and proud of it, and their sizing reflects that. Australian sizing runs roughly two sizes above UK sizing numerically — so an AU 12 is broadly equivalent to a UK 10. It sounds simple, but in practice it trips people up constantly, especially when you're shopping via Revolve, ASOS, or any third-party retailer that lists items in a mix of size systems.

The good news is that Bardot now tends to display sizes with international conversions on their product pages. The less good news? Even when you nail the number, the fit can still feel snug depending on the silhouette and fabric. I've found their dresses and tops especially fitted through the ribcage and chest. If you're hourglass-shaped or carry your weight on your hips, be prepared to potentially go up a size — or use a tool like Tellar.co.uk to take the guesswork out of it entirely.

How Does Bardot Actually Fit?

In a word? Fitted. Bardot is built around a specific silhouette — feminine, sleek, and close to the body. Think corset-style bodices, off-shoulder necklines, bodycon midi dresses, and satin slip styles. These are not forgiving cuts, and they're not designed to be. That's part of the brand's appeal — when Bardot fits, it really fits, and you feel incredible. But that also means the margin for error is small.

Dresses: Bardot dresses are where the sizing issue shows up most. Expect a slim-fitting bodice, especially in structured styles. If you're between sizes, always go up. I once ordered a satin midi in my usual size after a friend raved about it — it arrived and looked stunning hanging up and genuinely worrying on my body. Lesson learned.
Tops and corset styles: These are particularly unforgiving across the bust. Reviews consistently flag tightness through the ribcage. If you're a D cup or above, sizing up is almost always the right call.
Bottoms and co-ords: A little more forgiving through the waist, but if you're pear-shaped or curvy on the hips, the same rule applies — size up and have a tailor take in the waist if needed.
Knitwear and relaxed pieces: Bardot does occasionally venture into softer, stretchier styles, and these tend to be more size-flexible. Still check the fabric content before assuming.

Body Shape Tips for Shopping Bardot

I always tell clients that understanding the brand's intended fit is half the battle. Bardot designs with a relatively narrow size block in mind — slim through the waist and chest, with not a huge amount of ease built in. Here's how to approach it by shape:

Hourglass: Great news — Bardot's silhouettes were essentially designed for you. The fitted waists and structured bodices will look stunning. Just be prepared to size up if your bust is fuller, and always check that hips are accounted for in their sizing.
Pear-shaped: Size to your hips, not your waist. Some dresses may be a little roomy through the top, but that's easier to tailor than an outfit that doesn't do up.
Straight / athletic frame: You'll likely find their cuts very wearable — reviewers with straighter builds have noted that even after sizing up, the garments still look polished and well-proportioned.
Fuller bust: This is where Bardot is most challenging. Their structured, off-shoulder and corset silhouettes don't have a lot of built-in bust room. I'd always recommend sizing up by at least one, sometimes two sizes.

Similar Brands — If Bardot Isn't Quite Right for You

Bardot occupies a fairly specific space: affordable-premium, feminine, occasion-ready, with great quality for the price. If the sizing isn't working for you, or you're looking for something with similar energy on the UK high street, here's where I'd point you:

High Street & Accessible

Phase Eight — consistently brilliant for occasion dressing with more generous sizing across the bust and hips. One of my personal go-tos for weddings and events.
Coast — similar feminine aesthetic, lovely structured dresses, and more accommodating across different body shapes.
Hobbs — beautifully tailored with a more classic British sensibility. Slightly more relaxed through the body than Bardot.
Mint Velvet — great for that relaxed-elegant middle ground; their satin and occasion pieces have a similar feel to Bardot without the same sizing anxiety.
Whistles — elevated, polished, and genuinely well-cut. A brilliant Bardot alternative if you want something a bit more understated.
Me&Em — excellent quality and generous sizing that works brilliantly across body shapes. Their co-ords and occasionwear are a strong match for the Bardot shopper.
LK Bennett — another UK brand with a strong tradition of occasion-ready, feminine dressing. More forgiving fit, and ideal if you love Bardot's dressier pieces.
Anthropologie — gorgeous feminine prints and styles with a slightly boho-romantic edge. Worth checking if Bardot's sleekness isn't quite your vibe.

Premium

Reiss — for a more polished, workwear-leaning take on the same sleek feminine silhouette. Great quality, consistent sizing, and a strong occasionwear edit.
Claudie Pierlot — a favourite of mine for Parisian feminine dressing. Similar price point to Bardot, beautiful fabrics, and a very flattering cut across most body types.

Independent & Worth Discovering

Never Fully Dressed — a brilliant London-born independent brand with gorgeous print dresses and a far more inclusive sizing approach. If you love Bardot's energy but want a brand that works harder for curves, this is your one.
Ghost London — iconic, slinky, and wildly flattering. Ghost's signature jersey fabric drapes beautifully across the body and is endlessly forgiving. A hidden gem if you want elegant femininity without the sizing stress.

Never Guess Your Size in Bardot Again — Use Tellar

Sizing in Bardot doesn't have to be a lottery. Tellar.co.uk is the UK's leading free sizing tool — it matches your exact body measurements (or your known size in another brand) to over 1,500 brands instantly. No size guides to squint at. No guessing. Just your precise size, every time.

Measure once — bust, waist, hip — or enter a size you already know works for you
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your exact size in Bardot, and hundreds of other brands
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