What Is Sizing Like at Candy Pants?

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

Candy Pants runs small to true to size, with a deliberately snug fit — especially through the waist and bust. If you're between sizes, or if you like a little breathing room in your bodycon pieces, sizing up is the smarter move. That's the short answer. But if you want to avoid a return (and trust me, you do — their packaging is stunning but the hassle is real), read on, because there's a bit more nuance depending on which styles you're buying.

So What Exactly Is Candy Pants?

If you haven't come across Candy Pants yet, you've been missing out on one of the UK's most unapologetically glam party and eventwear brands. Founded in Britain and now stocked internationally — including on ASOS and Selfridges — Candy Pants is the brand you turn to when you want to genuinely turn heads. Think cut-out bodycon dresses, plunge-neck co-ords, mesh inserts, corset-panelled midis, and silhouettes that make no apologies whatsoever. It's rooftop-in-Ibiza energy meets a London birthday dinner — bold, confident, and very much intentional.

I first came across Candy Pants through a friend who wore one of their cutwork mini dresses to a 30th birthday in Shoreditch. The amount of "where is that FROM?" she fielded all night was impressive. I've since recommended the brand to clients who want something that photographs beautifully but isn't just a disposable fast-fashion throw-on.

The Sizing Reality — What You Actually Need to Know

Here's where it gets important. Candy Pants designs are cut to fit close to the body — that is very much the point. But "close to the body" and "uncomfortable" don't have to be the same thing, and the key is understanding how their sizing actually behaves across different styles.

• Bodycon dresses and minis: These run snug, particularly around the waist and bust. The fabric does have stretch, but corset-style panels and boning can be unforgiving if you try to size down. If you're usually a UK 10 in bodycon styles, order the 10 — but if your waist is fuller than average for your bust, size up to a 12. I've seen this catch people out more than once.

• Co-ord sets: Candy Pants sets typically include a fitted top and matching bottom, and the two pieces can behave slightly differently. The tops in particular tend to be cut short and tight across the chest. Again, if in doubt, size up.

• Plunge and cut-out styles: These are beautiful but leave very little margin for error. The structural elements — boning, reinforced panels — don't flex the way a standard stretch dress would. Measure your bust before ordering these ones specifically.

• Style-to-style variation: This is genuinely worth mentioning — one Candy Pants dress can feel like a perfect 10, and another in the same size can feel more like an 8. Consistency isn't always guaranteed across the range, which is why having your measurements to hand is so useful.

In short: Candy Pants is most comparable in fit to Oh Polly or Club L — but tends to sit tighter through the waist and bust than either. It's a premium-feeling brand that rewards you for knowing your measurements, not just your "usual size."

My Honest Sizing Verdict

If you're true to size across most UK high street brands — so a consistent UK 10 or 12 — you'll likely be fine ordering your standard size in most Candy Pants pieces. If you tend to carry more volume in the waist or chest, or if you're between sizes, go up. You can always belt a slightly roomier dress; you cannot unpick a seam mid-evening.

I had a client order a size 8 in a Candy Pants cut-out midi because that's what she wore in most brands. It arrived and was genuinely a struggle to get on — beautiful dress, completely the wrong size. We exchanged for a 10, it looked absolutely incredible. Save yourself the faff and use your measurements.

Brands to Shop If You Love the Candy Pants Aesthetic

Whether you're waiting on a delivery, want something more readily available on the high street, or just want to see what else is out there in a similar vein, here are my top picks across all price points.

🛍 HIGH STREET

• River Island — One of the best high street options for party-ready bodycon and occasion pieces. Their going-out edit is genuinely impressive, with cut-out detailing and bold silhouettes that rival the mid-tier brands.

• Topshop — Available on ASOS, Topshop's party range is reliably good for trend-forward minis and co-ords. Sizing tends to be more consistent than Candy Pants, making it a useful reference point.

• Coast — If Candy Pants is the night out, Coast is the elevated event. Great for occasion dressing with a bit more polish — fitted midis, structured one-shoulders, and silhouettes that photograph beautifully.

• Warehouse — Often underrated, Warehouse does excellent bodycon and occasion dresses at a fair price. Their stretch fabrics are high quality and the fit tends to be true to size.

• French Connection — Known for their party and occasion dresses, French Connection does sleek, slightly more grown-up versions of bold eventwear. Their stretch jersey pieces in particular are flattering and consistent in sizing.

• All Saints — For the edgier end of the spectrum — structured bodysuits, moto-influenced occasion pieces, and bold silhouettes in rich fabrics. A slightly different vibe to Candy Pants but similar confidence energy.

• Urban Outfitters — Great for the sort of elevated going-out pieces that don't look like they came from a fast fashion factory. Their party edit has a distinctive aesthetic that works brilliantly alongside bolder statement pieces.

✨ PREMIUM

• Reiss — For when you want the glam of a party look but with premium fabric and a finish that feels genuinely luxurious. Their occasion dresses and fitted midis are excellent investment pieces.

• Ted Baker — Romantic, detailed, and consistently well-fitting. Ted Baker's eventwear sits in a sweet spot between high street and designer — great for weddings, parties, and occasions where you want to look thoughtfully dressed.

💎 LUXURY / DESIGNER

• Self-Portrait — The premium occasion dress brand. If Candy Pants is the bold British party girl, Self-Portrait is her older sister heading to a gallery opening. Lace, structured florals, and incredibly flattering cuts in elevated fabrics.

• Retrofête — A New York-based cult label beloved by every major fashion magazine. Sequin minis, feather-trim dresses, and show-stopping occasion wear that channels serious glamour. Stocked in Selfridges.

Two Independent Brands Worth Knowing

• Lavish Alice — A Manchester-based independent womenswear label that does occasion and going-out dressing brilliantly. Lots of cut-out detailing, structured bodices, and bold silhouettes. Their sizing is generally true to size and they cater well to a range of body types. A great discovery if you haven't already found them.

• Nadine Merabi — If you want the crème de la crème of independent British occasion wear, Nadine Merabi is it. Sequin gowns, co-ords, and feather-adorned pieces that turn event dressing into genuine art. Pricier than Candy Pants but utterly worth it for a major occasion. Their sizing guide is detailed and reliable.

For more inspiration on how to dress for every occasion, have a browse through the Tellar ultimate guide to dress styles and body shapes — it covers silhouettes, fit, and where to shop across all budgets.

NEVER GUESS YOUR SIZE AGAIN — TELLAR HAS YOU COVERED

Candy Pants is exactly the kind of brand where getting your size right matters — there's no hiding in a bodycon. That's where Tellar.co.uk comes in. We're the UK's leading free sizing tool, instantly matching your body measurements to your correct size across 1,500+ brands — including Candy Pants.

• Measure once using your bust, waist, and hips (or an existing brand size you trust)

• Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in any brand — instantly, for free

• No app to download, no subscription — just works in your browser

• Works across 1,500+ brands: COS, Reiss, ASOS, River Island, Oh Polly, and many more

The Tellar Fashion Hub is also home to a free library of hundreds of honest, unsponsored posts covering every fashion query you could have — sizing guides, trend edits, brand comparisons, and styling advice from real stylists. Always free. Always independent.

Find Your Candy Pants Size →

Final Thoughts

Candy Pants is genuinely one of those brands that earns its reputation. The quality feels considered, the aesthetic is consistent, and when a piece fits well, it fits brilliantly. The key is just going in with your measurements rather than your "usual" size — because the usual size can vary by up to two sizes depending on the cut. Corset panels and plunge necklines are unforgiving, and that's exactly why brands like this exist alongside tools like Tellar.

Shop boldly, but shop smart. And if you're dressing for a big occasion and want some style guidance beyond just sizing, the Tellar ultimate clothing sizing guide is a brilliant place to start.

Looking for what to wear beyond a single dress? Check out the best jeans trends for 2025–2026 for styling ideas that work around statement party pieces, and the ultimate guide to jackets and cover-ups for those evenings when you need something to throw on top without killing the look.

— Ella Blake, Tellar Fashion Hub