What Is Sizing Like at Grace Jacob?

Grace Jacob runs true to size but on the snug, body-skimming side — so if you’re caught between two sizes, or you simply like room to breathe, size up. It’s a British resortwear and swim label made in Brazil, and that detail matters: Brazilian-cut pieces tend to sit closer to the body than the relaxed high-street fit a lot of us are used to. Sizing spans XS to XL (roughly a UK 6 to a UK 16), the fabrics have a generous amount of stretch, and the brand’s own advice when you’re in between is to go up. After fifteen years of styling women for holidays, weddings abroad and the dreaded poolside reveal, that’s exactly the call I’d make too.

How Grace Jacob sizing actually works

Grace Jacob uses simple letter sizing (XS–XL) rather than UK numbers, which trips people up. Their house model is 5’6” and wears a size S, which is a useful anchor — if you’re around that height and a UK 8–10, the S is your starting point. The pieces I’ve looked at are cut from a stretchy polyamide and elastane mix, so there’s give in the fabric, but the silhouettes are designed to skim rather than swamp. That’s gorgeous on, but it does mean there’s nowhere to hide if you size down hoping for “snatched”.

A few things worth knowing before you order:

The size range stops at XL. Honestly, this is my one real gripe. A UK 16 is the ceiling, so this isn’t the brand for everyone, and I’d love to see it extended.
Returns are 14 days, swimwear included (with the hygiene seal intact), which is more generous than a lot of swim brands — so you can size-test at home.
It’s stocked in Selfridges as well as online, so if you can get to a store, trying before you buy takes all the guesswork out.

Fit by piece — what to expect

Resortwear is never one fit across the board, so here’s how the different categories actually behave:

Swimwear & bikinis: Expect a Brazilian-leaning cut — bottoms are cheekier and briefs sit higher on the hip than a typical British style. If fuller coverage is non-negotiable, size up on the bottoms specifically. Tops are stretchy but supportive on a smaller-to-medium bust; busty figures may find the fixed-triangle styles limiting.
Maxi dresses & cover-ups: These are the most forgiving things in the range. The drape is generous and flowing, so your usual size will work for most, and you can even size down if you want less volume through the body.
Co-ords, crop tops & skirts: More fitted and more revealing — the crop tops are properly cropped and the skirts sit low. The stretch saves you here, but take your true size rather than going down.
Mesh pieces: Lovely, but they cling. A mesh layer shows everything underneath and skims every curve, so factor that in rather than sizing down.

A quick word on length

Because the model is 5’6”, the maxi lengths are cut for an average-to-tall frame. I’m on the petite side, and the first floor-length resort dress I ever bought from a Brazilian label pooled around my feet like a puddle — I had to get it taken up two inches before a friend’s Mykonos wedding, and I made it to the ceremony with the hem still warm from the iron. If you’re under 5’4”, budget for a small alteration on the maxis. If you’re 5’8” and over, they’ll graze the ankle beautifully.

My stylist tips for nailing the fit

Measure first, guess never. Take your bust, waist and hip with a soft tape and match them to the brand’s chart rather than assuming your “usual”.
Between sizes? Go up. Especially for swim bottoms and anything mesh. I learned this the hard way with a holiday bikini I sized down in “for the photos” — it spent the entire trip in my case because it cut in everywhere.
Buy the dresses for forgiveness, the co-ords for confidence. If you’re unsure about the body-con styles, start with a maxi.
Use the 14-day window. Order two sizes if you’re genuinely torn, try them over light underwear, and send one back.

Where else to shop if Grace Jacob isn’t your fit

If the size range or the cut isn’t right for you, these are the brands I send clients to for holiday and resort dressing, across three budgets.

High street

Mango — consistently the best on the high street for resortwear and crochet; their swim and kaftans punch well above the price.
M&S — the gold standard for swimwear sizing, with proper cup sizing and tummy-control options the indies rarely offer.
Monsoon — beautiful embellished kaftans and beach dresses; a go-to for occasion resortwear.
Boden — flattering, colourful swimsuits cut for real bodies, with a generous size range.
Seasalt Cornwall — relaxed coastal pieces and easy linens, lovely if you want covered-up over barely-there.
Hush — their summer edit nails the off-duty holiday look: linen, slip dresses and easy cover-ups.
Sweaty Betty — sporty, supportive swim if you actually swim rather than just sunbathe.
Anthropologie — boho, print-led resort dresses with that effortless beach-to-bar feel.

Premium

Sézane — the French answer to easy resort chic; broderie, breezy dresses and timeless cuts.
Baukjen — sustainable, beautifully cut holiday separates with a slightly more grown-up silhouette.
Ganni — Scandi prints and statement resort pieces if you want something photographed-on-the-feed cool.

Luxury & designer

Max Mara — the investment beach edit; impeccable tailoring, linen and resort coats that last decades.
Ralph Lauren — classic, polished poolside glamour — think crisp shirting, elegant one-pieces and that old-money holiday look.

Two left-field independents worth knowing

Davy J — a brilliant British sustainable swim label making genuinely durable, supportive swimsuits from recycled fabric. Less “trend”, more “wear it for ten summers”.
Reina Olga — the cult Italian resort name beloved by stylists; playful, sun-soaked swim and matching sets that feel like a holiday in themselves.

Match your body to 1,500+ brands with Tellar

Working out your size letter-by-letter for every label is exhausting — which is exactly why I built Tellar. It’s the UK’s leading sizing tool: enter your measurements (bust, waist and hip, or just a brand size you already own) once, and Tellar matches your body to 1,500+ brands instantly, so you never squint at a size guide again.

Measure once using your bust, waist, hip, or an existing brand size you know fits.
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Ella Blake — Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder, Tellar