What Is Sizing Like at Clio Peppiatt?

Clio Peppiatt runs snug, body-conscious and just a touch on the small side — so if you’re hovering between two sizes, size up. Almost everything in the collection is cut close to flatter, made either from four-way stretch fabrics or fully corseted with internal boning, which means the fit hugs rather than skims. The brand itself tells you to size up when you’re unsure, and after years of dressing clients in pieces like these, I’d echo that advice every single time.

That’s the short version. Here’s everything you actually need to know before you click “add to basket.”

First, a little about the label

Clio Peppiatt launched her London label in 2015 and quickly became a name you’ll spot on red carpets and front rows — Dua Lipa, Miley Cyrus and Adwoa Aboah have all worn her hand-beaded, surrealist designs. Think celestial motifs, intricate embroidery and a slightly otherworldly, whimsical sort of glamour. These are proper statement occasion pieces, made by artisan hands, and a good chunk of the range is made-to-order rather than churned out in bulk. That craftsmanship is exactly why the fit is so specific.

So what’s the fit actually like?

The house cut is deliberately curve-hugging. Their models tend to be a UK 6 in an XS and a UK 8 in a small, which tells you the sizing maps fairly closely to standard UK high-street numbers — but because the silhouettes are corseted and sculpted, there’s very little give in the structure even when the fabric itself stretches.

A few things I’d keep front of mind:

Embellished mesh and crepe styles stretch — but only so far. The four-way stretch hugs your shape beautifully, yet the beadwork itself doesn’t move. Size up if you carry curve through the bust or hip.
The corseted, boned dresses run firmest. Internal boning and structured panelling mean the dress holds you rather than the other way round. Go up a size if you actually want to breathe and dance.
Check the length. Many pieces are cropped or structured through the body, so torso length matters more than usual here. If you’re tall, factor that in before you commit.
Made-to-order is your friend. Because so many pieces are crafted to order, you can request custom tweaks — lengthening a hem, adjusting a bust — in the notes at checkout. Use it.

My honest take, from experience: I once styled a client into a corseted beaded mini in her “usual” size for an awards do, totally convinced the stretch would sort it out. It did not. The boning was unforgiving and we were safety-pinning backstage with two minutes to spare. Lesson well and truly learned. With Clio Peppiatt, size up and have it nipped in if needed, rather than squeezing in and praying.

How I’d style it

These dresses do all the talking, so let everything else whisper. I keep accessories minimal — a sculptural heel, a tiny bag, bare or barely-there jewellery — and let the embroidery be the main event. For a wedding or a party, a sleek low chignon and a bold lip is genuinely all you need. The one styling sin here is over-egging it: a beaded celestial gown does not need a chandelier earring fighting it for attention.

Where else to look if you love the look

If Clio Peppiatt is out of budget, or sold out in your size, here’s where I’d point clients chasing that same embellished, occasion-led mood.

High street

Coast — reliably brilliant for embellished occasion dresses at a fraction of designer prices.
Monsoon — beadwork and sequins done with real craft; quietly underrated for evening.
Phase Eight — beautifully made occasionwear that genuinely flatters real bodies.
River Island — the go-to for affordable, of-the-moment going-out glamour.
Reiss — cleaner and more pared-back, but unbeatable for a polished party dress.
Whistles — modern, grown-up occasion pieces with an editorial edge.
Anthropologie — for the whimsical, embroidered, slightly romantic end of the spectrum.

Premium

Self-Portrait — the obvious step up: intricate, embellished, endlessly Instagrammed occasionwear.
Needle & Thread — hand-embellished, beaded gowns; about the closest accessible cousin to Clio’s aesthetic you’ll find.

Luxury / designer

16Arlington — sleek, sequinned London glamour for the serious investment piece.
Halpern — full-throttle sequins and drama for anyone who wants maximum impact.

And two left-field independents

Because I never give you the same names twice, two under-the-radar labels worth knowing:

Yuhan Wang — a London designer working in whimsical, floral-embroidered, vintage-tinged romance. If you love Clio’s storytelling, you’ll fall for this.
De La Vali — a London independent doing print-led, bohemian occasion dresses with a real party spirit.

Stop guessing — let Tellar size you

Tellar.co.uk is the UK’s leading free sizing tool, matching your exact body to over 1,500 brands instantly — including Clio Peppiatt. You never have to squint at a size guide again. Here’s how it works:

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

There’s also the Tellar Fashion Hub: a library stacked with free posts from our top stylists. Honest, unbiased, independent and always free — style advice, top picks and the best brands, with nothing sponsored sneaking in.

Find your perfect Clio Peppiatt size in seconds

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Visit Tellar.co.uk Try the Store Size Lookup

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