What Is Sizing Like at Dorothy Perkins?

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

Dorothy Perkins sizing is generally true to size — but with some real quirks depending on what you're buying, and a few categories that will absolutely catch you out if you're not paying attention. I've been styling women in DP for years (yes, even now it's online-only), and my honest take is that it's one of the more reliable high street options for sizing consistency across the main range — with denim being the notable exception where you almost always need to go up.

A Bit of Context — DP Today

For anyone who hasn't kept up with the changes: Dorothy Perkins is now an online-only brand. The physical stores closed in early 2021 when Boohoo bought the brand following the collapse of Arcadia Group. It's a genuinely nostalgic loss for many of us — I remember spending lunch hours in the DP on Oxford Street — but the good news is that the sizing, the Petite range, and the Curve offering have all survived the transition. You can shop at dorothyperkins.com directly, and selected pieces also pop up on Very and Next.

The brand still targets women roughly 25–40, and the range covers casual, workwear, and occasion dressing at a price point that's hard to argue with. So let's get into the fit.

Dresses — DP's Real Strength

This is honestly where I'd always send someone first. Dorothy Perkins does dresses really well — particularly midi lengths, wrap styles, and smock dresses — and the sizing here is about as reliable as high street gets. Most styles come in at true to size, and the wrap and smock silhouettes are especially forgiving if you sit between two sizes.

Wrap dresses: True to size, and genuinely flattering across a range of body shapes. I've recommended these to clients who struggle to find dresses that work at both the bust and hip — the wrap tie gives you that flexibility.
Bodycon and fitted shift styles: Stick to your usual size, but if you're fuller in the hip, size up. The fabric tends to have limited stretch.
Occasion dresses (for weddings, parties etc.): True to size, and decent quality for the money. I had a client wear a DP dress to a summer wedding a couple of years ago and she got more compliments than the bride. Don't tell the bride.

Jeans & Denim — Size Up

Right, this is the category where DP sizing gets a bit irritating. Across the board, the denim runs slightly small — particularly around the waist and hip. Customer reviews are pretty consistent on this: women who know their DP size in dresses find themselves needing to go up one size in jeans. I'd back that up entirely.

Rigid denim styles (straight leg, skinny) run noticeably snug — size up
Ankle-grazer cuts can also pull across the thigh, especially for curvier builds
Wide-leg styles tend to be slightly more generous — you may be fine at your usual size, but check the waist measurement

Ella's Rule for DP DenimIf you're a 12 in their dresses, try a 14 in the jeans. It sounds counterintuitive, but I've seen this play out too many times to argue with it. Always check the waist and hip measurements against your own before ordering.

Tops & Blouses — True to Size, But Watch the Bust

Tops and blouses are reliable at true to size for most builds. The main caveat: if you're a fuller bust, these can pull across the chest because the fabric has minimal stretch and the cuts are fairly standard. I'd always recommend checking your actual bust measurement rather than just going by dress size here — there's often less ease in the bodice than you'd expect.

Woven shirts and blouses in particular can be a bit boxy if you're petite, even in the standard range, which leads me neatly onto...

The Petite, Tall, Curve & Maternity Ranges — Genuinely Good

This is something I genuinely respect about DP: their specialist ranges are actually designed proportionally, not just scaled up or down from the main line. That makes a real difference.

Petite (sizes 6–18, for women 5'3" and under): Proper proportional design — shorter torsos, adjusted inseams, repositioned waistlines. Not an afterthought. If you're petite and shopping the standard range anywhere, you'll know how rare this is.
Tall (for women 5'8"+): Extended inseams and longer bodices. Again, well executed for the price point.
Curve (sizes 18–28): Proportionally adjusted, not just scaled up. Worth knowing for fuller-figured customers who've had frustrating experiences elsewhere on the high street.
Maternity: True to your pre-pregnancy size, with adjustable waistbands and bump-accommodating cuts.

Coats & Knitwear — Generously Cut

A few customers find the coats run slightly generous — particularly in the bust and hip — so if you're between sizes, you may be fine going down one. That said, this is category-dependent: structured coats with defined waists tend to be truer to size than more relaxed, boxy styles. Knitwear is similarly forgiving — true to size or slightly generous, which is honestly a relief after years of knitwear that mysteriously shrinks after one wash.

Alternatives Worth Knowing — High Street

If you love the DP aesthetic — affordable, wearable, occasion-ready at a sensible price — but want to widen your options (or find a better denim fit), these are the high street brands I'd point you to:

M&S (Marks & Spencer) — similar demographic, arguably better fabric quality at a comparable price. Their Per Una and Collection ranges do midi dresses and blouses brilliantly, and the sizing is very consistent.
Next — a strong Petite and Tall offering, good knitwear, and reliable sizing. Worth bookmarking for jeans particularly — they tend to have better denim fit than DP.
Monsoon — if you love DP's occasion dresses and printed midi styles, Monsoon is the natural step sideways. Slightly higher price point but gorgeous fabric quality and consistent sizing.
Phase Eight — one rung up in terms of occasion dressing. Beautiful construction, reliable true-to-size fit, and consistently strong reviews for weddings and events. If the budget stretches, always worth it.
River Island — good for trend-led pieces and denim, with a similar price bracket to DP. Their sizing can vary slightly by style but is generally true to size.
Warehouse — strong on workwear and smart-casual dressing. Clean, wearable pieces with a more contemporary edge than DP, and consistent sizing.
New Look — even more budget-friendly than DP, with a decent Petite and Curves range. Quality is variable but the dresses in particular punch above their weight.

Premium Step-Up Brands

If you're ready to invest a little more and want consistent sizing, brilliant fabrication, and pieces that last more than a season:

Jigsaw — thoughtfully made, beautifully cut, and extremely consistent sizing. A wardrobe workhorse brand. Their wrap and shirt dresses are especially good.
White Stuff — relaxed, print-led, and genuinely well-made. If you love DP's more casual and printed styles, White Stuff is the grown-up version with better fabric and longer-lasting construction.
Boden — colourful, print-forward, and extremely reliable on sizing. Strong Petite and Tall ranges. A brilliant mid-point between high street and premium.

Designer & Luxury Tier

If budget is no object and you want the polished version of what DP is going for with their occasion dresses and smart separates:

Saloni — London-based, celebrated for print-forward silk dresses and occasion wear. The grown-up, luxury version of what makes DP's dresses so popular. Sizing is UK standard and consistent.
Erdem — when the occasion truly calls for it. Exquisite floral prints and beautifully constructed dresses that echo DP's love of occasion-ready femininity, taken to the highest possible level.

Two Independent Picks Worth Discovering

Nobody's Child — a brilliant, quietly brilliant British brand doing beautiful midi dresses, printed styles, and workwear separates at DP-adjacent prices but with better sustainability credentials and genuinely lovely fabrics. A real left-field gem.
Brora — Scottish luxury knitwear and classic British pieces. If you love DP's knitwear range but want something that'll last fifteen years rather than one season, Brora is your answer. Investment pieces in the truest sense.

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