What Is Sizing Like at House of CB?

House of CB runs snug and slightly small, and that’s entirely by design — the whole point of the brand is that corseted, sculpted, “snatched” silhouette, so the pieces are cut close and built with boning, underwire and structure to hold you in. The single most important thing to know is this: don’t order your usual size. Order by your actual body measurements against their size guide, because their XS–L+ scale does not map neatly onto a standard UK 6–16.

I’ve styled more House of CB than I can count for events, weddings and that one client who only ever wants to look like she’s been poured into a dress (we love her). So let me talk you through how it really fits, where people go wrong, and who it actually suits.

How House of CB Sizing Actually Works

House of CB is a London-designed brand built around feminine, body-conscious occasionwear — think satin slip dresses, corset bodices, bandage styles and structured midis. Because the silhouette is the selling point, “true to size” here means “true to their size guide,” which is cut for a smaller, hourglass-leaning frame. A few things to keep front of mind:

Measure properly first. Bust, waist and hips with a soft tape, snug but not pulled tight. Their sizing leans on your measurements far more than your high-street habit.
Sizes go XS to L+. Several reviewers note that even L+ can feel on the smaller side, so if you’re at the upper end of a size, lean up.
The fabric “works.” A lot of their stretch styles compress — lovely if you want to feel held, less lovely if you hate the sucked-in feeling.

The Stretch Factor — Their Secret Weapon

This is the bit most people miss. Every House of CB product page carries a stretch factor indicator telling you how much give the fabric has — from rigid, structured pieces with almost no stretch through to bodycon styles that move with you. It matters enormously:

Low/no stretch (corsetry, tailored bodices, satin): the least forgiving. If you’re between sizes, size up here every time.
High stretch (bandage, jersey bodycon): far more accommodating, and where you can stay true to your measured size.

Read the stretch factor before the size chart. It’s the difference between a dress that skims and one that won’t do up over your ribs.

The Cup Situation

House of CB builds many bust-fitted styles with a choice of A–C or D–E cup, and this is where the brand divides people. It’s genuinely brilliant if you have a fuller bust and a smaller waist — the boned, cupped bodices give you support and shape that high-street dresses simply don’t. But if you’re smaller-chested, you can get that dreaded gaping at the bust, where the cup is built for more than you’re bringing. My honest take: this is a brand that rewards curves through the chest. If that’s you, you’ll never look back.

Should You Size Up? A Quick Guide

Corset & bodice dresses: size up if you’re on the cusp — rigid boning won’t budge.
Bandage & bodycon: stay true to your measured size unless you loathe a tight fit.
Trousers: usually high-waisted; check the rise if you’re short in the torso.
Pencil skirts: meant to be tight — size up to actually walk in them.
Smaller bust: consider the A–C cup and read reviews for gaping on that exact style.

A quick confession of my own: I once ordered a boned satin midi in my “usual” size for a launch party, ignored the low stretch factor, and could not get the zip past my waist with anything resembling dignity. Sized up one, chose the larger cup, and it became the most photographed dress I owned that year. Lesson learned — respect the structure.

Where Else to Shop for That Sculpted, Occasion-Ready Look

If House of CB doesn’t fit your shape or budget, here’s where I send clients chasing the same glamour.

High Street

Reiss — the best high-street tailoring for a polished, structured event look.
Coast — my go-to for fitted wedding-guest and occasion dresses.
Phase Eight — flattering, beautifully cut occasionwear that actually holds its shape.
Hobbs — grown-up, considered event dressing with a tailored finish.
Ted Baker — feminine, nipped-in silhouettes with that bodycon DNA.
River Island — affordable going-out bodycon and corset-detail dresses.
Mango — sleek satin slips and sharp tailoring at a brilliant price.
Whistles — modern, minimal occasion pieces with clean lines.
ASOS — vast range of corset and bandage styles if you want choice on a budget.

Premium

Sandro — Parisian structure and tailoring with quiet polish.
Maje — feminine, going-out edge with a designer feel.
Sézane — elegant, timeless cuts for the less-is-more dresser.
Cefinn — sharp, flattering British tailoring for occasions and beyond.

Luxury / Designer

Max Mara — investment-grade tailoring and structured glamour that lasts decades.
Self-Portrait — the designer name for sculpted, embellished occasion dressing.

Two Independents Worth Knowing

Nadine Merabi — a UK independent doing show-stopping sequins and bodysuits for an entrance.
Misha — corseted, sculpted occasion glamour and arguably the closest cult alternative to House of CB itself.

Never Guess Your Size Again

This is exactly why I built Tellar — the UK’s leading sizing tool, matching 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, and you’re set. Use the Store Size Lookup to get your precise size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more. Always free, no downloads, works straight in your browser.

Stop returning dresses that don’t fit.

Match your body to House of CB and 1,500+ brands in seconds — free, honest, instant.

Find My Size Now →

More From 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. A few to read next:

— Ella Blake, Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder, Tellar