What Is Sizing Like at House of Fraser? An Honest Stylist’s Guide

Sizing at House of Fraser is genuinely inconsistent — and that isn’t a criticism, it’s simply the nature of the shop. Because House of Fraser (now officially rebranded as Frasers from spring 2026) is a department store rather than a single label, there is no one “House of Fraser size”. You’re buying from hundreds of separate brands under one roof, and a 12 in one concession can fit like a snug 10 in the next. I learnt this the hard way: I once carried two size-12 dresses into the same fitting room on the same afternoon — one swam on me at the shoulders, the other wouldn’t do up past my hips. Same number, two completely different garments. So let me walk you through how to actually shop it.

Why there’s no single “House of Fraser size”

House of Fraser works on a concession model. Think of it as a curated street of boutiques, each running its own sizing. The retailer historically carried its own in-house labels — Linea, Biba and Label Lab among them — alongside hundreds of third-party brands, and that mix is exactly why your size shifts as you move around the floor. The practical upshot:

Own-label pieces (Linea, Biba, Forenza) tend to run close to UK high-street standard — a reliable, slightly relaxed fit.
Designer and premium concessions each bring their own quirks — Italian sizing, vanity sizing, slim tailoring — so you cannot assume your “usual”.
Always check the brand’s size guide on the product page, not a generic store one.

The high-street concessions — and how each one fits

This is where most of us shop, and where the fit really varies. Based on customer reviews and the consensus across the fashion press, here’s how the key high-street names at House of Fraser actually come up:

Phase Eight — my go-to for occasionwear. Runs true to size with a forgiving, flattering cut through the waist; brilliant if you’re between sizes on a wedding-guest dress.
Hobbs — classic British tailoring that comes up neat and structured. The blazers and shift dresses are cut for a defined waist, so size up if you’re broader across the shoulder.
Monsoon — generous and roomy, especially in maxi dresses and anything embellished. I usually drop a size here, particularly in their floaty summer styles.
Coast — built for events, and the bodycon and fitted styles run small. If you want to breathe at a party, go up one.
Oasis — aimed at a younger, slimmer cut. Lovely prints, but the fit is on the trim side through the bust and hip.
French Connection — contemporary and fairly true to size, though the knitwear is cut long and lean. Reliable for everyday separates.
Mint Velvet — relaxed, “quiet luxury” pieces with a generous, drapey fit. If you like a softer silhouette this one rarely disappoints.

Premium concessions worth knowing

Step up a tier and the fit gets sharper — and smaller:

Reiss — beautifully tailored but cut slim and neat; I almost always size up one in their dresses and trousers.
Whistles — modern minimalist pieces that come up true to size with a slightly relaxed, contemporary line.
AllSaints — edgy leather and drapey knits that run distinctly small and slim. Try before you commit, or size up.
Barbour — the waxed jackets are deliberately roomy so you can layer a jumper underneath, so don’t panic and oversize.

Luxury & designer fit

At the top end, expect European sizing and a more sculpted cut:

Max Mara — impeccable Italian coats and tailoring that run true to a polished, structured fit; the iconic teddy and camel coats are an investment that lasts decades.
Hugo Boss — sharp, clean-lined workwear cut on the slim, precise side — superb for a tailored trouser.

Two left-field labels I’d send you to instead

If the concession maze frustrates you, these two independents do fit beautifully and deserve more love:

Albaray — a small, sustainable British label founded by ex-high-street designers. Grown-up, easy-fitting separates that run true and wash brilliantly.
Kitri — an independent London brand doing standout prints and party dresses in small drops. The fit is feminine and fairly true, with real personality you won’t see on everyone else.

My honest tips for shopping House of Fraser

Treat every brand as a separate shop — never assume your usual number carries across.
Order two sizes online when you’re unsure; returns are far cheaper than a dress that never gets worn.
Read the reviews on each product page — “runs small/large” comments are gold.

How Tellar takes the guesswork out of it

This is exactly the problem I built Tellar to solve. Tellar is the UK’s leading sizing tool: you measure once — using your bust, waist, hip, or simply a brand size you already own — and your body is matched instantly to over 1,500 brands. Never squint at a confusing size guide again.

Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.
Always free, no downloads needed — it works straight in your browser.
Plus a Tellar Fashion Hub: a library stacked with free posts from our top stylists. Honest. Unbiased. Independent. And always free — style advice, top picks and best brands.

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