What Is Sizing Like at Diotima?

Diotima runs on a simple numeric size system from 1 to 4, where 1 is a US XS, 2 a US S, 3 a US M and 4 a US L. In British terms, that puts a size 1 at roughly a UK 6–8, a 2 at around a UK 8–10, a 3 at about a UK 12 (the brand confirms size 3 as a Medium on its own chart) and a 4 at a UK 14–16. It is a deliberately small, hand-made range, and honestly, that one fact tells you most of what you need to know about how to shop it.

I've styled enough emerging-designer pieces to know that a four-size run is a statement, not an oversight. Diotima is Rachel Scott's Brooklyn-based label, built on Jamaican crochet, hand-knit techniques and Caribbean craft meeting European tailoring. These are small-batch, made-in-New-York clothes, often produced by hand, so the way they fit your body is as much about the technique as the number on the label.

How Diotima's sizing actually works

Forget the usual high-street size run — there is no 6, 8, 10, 12 here. You're choosing from four numbers, and each maps cleanly onto a US letter size:

Size 1 – US XS, roughly a UK 6–8
Size 2 – US S, roughly a UK 8–10
Size 3 – US M, around a UK 12
Size 4 – US L, roughly a UK 14–16

Because the range stops at a 4, this is one of those labels where I'd always measure yourself properly before committing, rather than guessing from your usual shop size. If you're at the upper end of the range or in between two sizes, it's worth emailing the studio directly — Diotima is small enough that they genuinely will tell you how a specific piece is cut.

Does it run big or small?

This is where the craft matters more than the chart. A huge chunk of the collection is hand-crocheted or knitted, and those pieces have real give — they mould to you, stretch with wear and forgive a half-size either way. The tailoring is a different story: Scott favours a soft, structured shoulder and a relaxed, slightly boxy line, so a jacket in a 3 can feel roomier across the back than a UK 12 blazer you'd buy on the high street.

My rules of thumb after handling these clothes:

Knit and crochet – take your true size; the stretch does the work. Sizing up here just leaves you swimming.
Tailoring and woven pieces – the cut is relaxed, so if you like a closer fit, your usual size is fine; if you're between sizes, the boxiness means you can comfortably take the smaller one.
Dresses and gowns – many are bias or fluid, so they skim rather than cling. Go with your measurements, not your nerves.

One honest confession: early in my career I sized up in a hand-knit piece "to be safe" for a shoot, and it hung off the model like a dropped stitch — we spent twenty minutes pinning it back. Lesson learned. With artisanal knitwear, the fabric is the tailor. Trust your real measurements and let the yarn do its job.

Where to find a similar look on the high street

Diotima is investment-level luxury, so if you're chasing the textured, crafted, relaxed-elegant feeling on a smaller budget, these are the high-street names I'd send you to — each chosen because it does this particular aesthetic well:

Anthropologie – the closest high-street match for Diotima's crochet, fringing and textural, bohemian-luxe energy.
Whistles – clean, modern occasion pieces and softly tailored separates with a grown-up, editorial finish.
Jigsaw – quietly artisanal knitwear and considered cuts; a brand that understands fabric.
Massimo Dutti – premium-feeling tailoring and beautiful knits that punch well above their price.
Mint Velvet – relaxed-luxe textures and easy, boxy-but-elegant shapes that echo Scott's silhouettes.
Me&Em – thoughtful, elevated tailoring with cuts designed to flatter rather than cling.
Hush – for the soft, lived-in, off-duty pieces that sit underneath the statement designer item.

Premium and luxury alternatives

If you want to stay closer to Diotima's craft-led world, here's where I'd point you next:

Toast (premium) – British, texture-obsessed and craft-driven; the most kindred spirit to Diotima at a gentler price.
Sézane (premium) – Parisian polish, lovely knits and an elevated, considered finish.
Ulla Johnson (luxury) – artisanal volume, texture and romance for the same customer Diotima dresses.
Johanna Ortiz (luxury/designer) – Colombian craft and Caribbean colour; a natural neighbour to Scott's vision.

Two left-field labels worth knowing

And because the best wardrobes always have something nobody else is wearing, two independents that share Diotima's hand-made soul:

Story mfg. – a small British label doing genuine hand-crochet and natural plant dyes; slow fashion with real integrity.
Diarte – a Spanish independent specialising in artisanal crochet and knitwear with a quiet, collectible feel.

With both of these, expect the same relaxed, made-by-hand fit philosophy — take your true measurements and let the craft do the rest.

Never guess a designer size again

With a four-size label like Diotima, getting it right first time matters. Tellar is the UK's leading sizing tool — measure once using your bust, waist, hip or an existing brand size, and we'll match your body instantly to 1,500+ brands. No downloads, works in your browser, always free.

Use our Store Size Lookup to get your precise size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.

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Diotima is one of those rare labels where the size number matters less than the maker's hand — learn how the craft fits, trust your measurements, and you'll wear it beautifully.