What Is Sizing Like at Chesca?

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

Chesca sizing is generous, curve-led and reassuringly consistent — the brand designs every garment from a UK size 20 upwards and offers its occasionwear in roughly sizes 12 to 24, with some lines reaching a 26. So if you usually shop the “extended” rail at a standard high street shop and feel like an afterthought, Chesca flips that on its head: the cut, the proportions and the fit are built for fuller figures first, not squeezed up from a sample size 8. That alone makes the fit feel different the moment you put it on.

I’ve styled enough mother-of-the-bride and big-birthday looks to know that occasionwear is where sizing anxiety peaks. Nobody wants to be tugging at a waistband through the speeches. The good news is that Chesca takes a lot of that worry away — but there are a few quirks worth knowing before you order.

The short answer on Chesca fit

Designed curve-first. Founder Jacqui Green is a size 20 and fits the range on herself, so the balance between bust, waist and hip is built for a real curvy frame rather than graded up from a tiny base.
Roughly true to UK size, but with a kind, comfortable cut — you rarely need to size up the way you might with stiffer tailoring brands.
Forgiving fabrics. Think floaty georgette, jersey, chiffon and soft embellished pieces that drape over the body rather than cling.

Where Chesca runs large, small or just differently

Even a brand this consistent has its little personality traits. From fitting clients and from the feedback I trust most, here’s what to watch:

Tops and dresses run generous on the bust and through the body — lovely if you carry weight there, but if you’re narrower up top you may want the size below your usual.
Structured jackets and embellished pieces are cut closer to the body, so go by your true measurement here rather than guessing.
Wide-leg trousers with part-elasticated waists are very forgiving — brilliant for all-day events where comfort matters as much as the photos.
Bias-cut and fit-and-flare styles skim beautifully, but the waist placement can sit higher than you expect, so check where it lands on you.

How to nail your Chesca size first time

My honest confession: years ago I once ordered a gorgeous embellished occasion dress in my “normal” size for a wedding, didn’t check the waist measurement, and spent the whole day holding my breath. Lesson learned. Now I always do this:

Measure your bust, waist and hip with a soft tape, standing relaxed — not pulled in.
Buy for your largest measurement in fitted styles (usually the hip or bust) and let the fabric do the rest.
For occasion dresses, prioritise the waist fit — it’s the bit that ruins comfort fastest. A shrug or waterfall jacket hides a multitude of fastenings.
Order two sizes if you can for a big event, and send one back. The peace of mind is worth it.

Best brands to pair with — or shop alongside — Chesca

Chesca is a specialist, so I’m always asked where else to look for curvy occasion and everyday pieces. Here are my genuine picks across the board.

On the high street

Monsoon — my first port of call for embellished and floral occasionwear that flatters fuller figures; the fabrics feel far more expensive than the price tag.
Phase Eight — superb for fit-and-flare dresses and mother-of-the-bride looks, with a size range that genuinely caters to curves.
Coast — the place I send clients for a statement wedding-guest dress when they want a bit of drama.
Hobbs — beautifully cut tailoring and elegant separates if you want polish over fuss.
Marks & Spencer — reliable, well-priced occasion separates and the best value lingerie to build the right foundation underneath.
Next — brilliant for trouser suits and co-ords in a wide spread of sizes, often with petite and long options too.
Mint Velvet — relaxed luxe everyday pieces that slot perfectly between Chesca occasion buys.

Premium picks

Whistles — for clean, modern occasionwear with an editorial edge when you want understated rather than embellished.
Me&Em — clever, figure-considered design with built-in shaping and proportions that genuinely think about curves.

Luxury & designer

Max Mara — investment coats and tailoring; its Marina Rinaldi line is one of fashion’s best-kept secrets for luxe plus-size design.

Two independents worth knowing

Scarlett & Jo — a British independent doing joyful, vintage-inspired plus-size occasion dresses with proper built-in support. A real gem most people miss.
Anna Scholz — the designer’s designer for curves; luxurious prints, expert cut and the kind of fit that looks made-to-measure.

Never guess your size again

Chesca caters beautifully for curves, but fit still varies between structured jackets, unlined dresses and jersey separates — and it varies even more once you shop across Coast, Hobbs, Phase Eight and the rest. That’s exactly what Tellar solves.

Tellar is the UK’s leading sizing tool — your body matched to 1,500+ brands instantly, so you never look at a size guide again.

Measure once using your bust, waist and hip — or just enter a brand size you already fit well.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.
Always free, no downloads needed — it works straight in your browser.

And there’s the Tellar Fashion Hub: a library stacked with free posts from our top stylists. Honest. Unbiased. Independent. Always free — style advice, top picks and the best brands for every body.

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