What Is Sizing Like at JBQ? A Complete Guide for UK Shoppers

By Ella Blake — Fashion Stylist | Tellar Fashion Hub

JBQ (Just Bee Queen) is a US-based sustainable resort-wear brand founded in Miami, Florida, designing feminine, figure-flattering pieces across sizes XXS to L using US sizing conventions.

I'll be honest — I only stumbled across JBQ when I was deep in a holiday packing spiral, desperately searching for something that would look effortless on the beach but still work for dinner. Resort wear can be such a minefield; half the time it's either too costumey or so casual it reads as actual pyjamas. JBQ sits very neatly in the gap between those two things, which is exactly why it ended up on my radar. The question, of course, was how on earth to size it.

US sizing always requires a bit of a mental adjustment. Add to that the fact that JBQ leans towards body-conscious, fitted silhouettes, and you really do need to know your measurements before you click buy. Here's everything I've worked out, so you don't have to do the guesswork.

JBQ Size Guide: UK to US Conversion

JBQ runs in US sizes. As a general rule, UK women's clothing sizes sit four numbers above the US equivalent — so a UK 10 is a US 6, a UK 12 is a US 8, and so on. Use this table as your starting point:

JBQ Measurement Chart

Sizes on a label only get you so far. Always cross-reference with measurements — particularly at JBQ, where the cuts are designed to be quite form-fitting. All measurements are in inches:

Ella's tip: Measure your high waist (the narrowest part of your torso, usually an inch or two above the belly button), not just your natural waist. JBQ's high-waisted skirts and trousers use this measurement, and it can catch you out if you size purely by bust.

Does JBQ Run True to Size?

Broadly speaking, yes — but with some important caveats. JBQ is a resort brand that designs for fit. The pieces are meant to skim your body, and they do. That means if you're between sizes, there's a strong argument for sizing up rather than down, particularly if you carry your measurements in your hips and thighs rather than your waist.

I'd say JBQ sizing sits on the snugger side of true-to-size. Think of it less like a floaty holiday brand and more like a considered, structured resort label — the kind of thing that looks incredible on, but that you notice if you've gone too small.

Sizing by Garment Category

Dresses & Jumpsuits

These are JBQ's showstoppers — the wrapped, ruffled, and draped numbers that turn heads at beach bars and rooftop dinners alike. Because many styles use a single size for the full garment (no separate top and bottom), sizing is dictated by whichever measurement is largest on you. If your bust and hips differ significantly, go by your hips.

Wrap dresses: good forgiving fit — go true to size
Fitted bodycon styles: size up if you're between sizes or if your hip measurement sits at the top of the range
Jumpsuits: check the rise and inseam measurements listed on the individual product page — these can vary quite a bit between styles

Skirts

JBQ does some wonderful tiered and fringe skirts that are genuinely versatile — they dress up beautifully with a simple cami or down with a cropped tee. The high-waisted styles are cut quite close at the waist before flaring out, so size by your high waist measurement rather than your hip.

Tiered and flared styles: true to size tends to work well
Fitted midi skirts: size up if your hip is towards the upper end of the range
Mini skirts with fringe or embellishment: tend to run a touch generous — you may find yourself between sizes

Tops & Bodysuits

The tops and bodysuits are where I'd say sizing is most straightforward. They're largely bust-led, with enough stretch in most fabrications to allow a little flex. I found the fit flattering without being restrictive. If you're a fuller bust, size up by one.

Cropped tops: true to size
Wrap tops: forgiving — true to size works for most
Bodysuits: go by your torso length as well as your chest; very long torsos may find the fit short

Trousers & Shorts

JBQ's trousers (including the linen-blend Oslo Pants that seem to be everywhere right now) use a high-rise cut with a zip fly and hook-and-eye closure. These are not designed with ease in mind — they're tailored to sit close. Measure your high waist and compare carefully before ordering.

Wide-leg trousers: size up if you're between sizes; the rise is cut high and leaves little room
Shorts: fairly true to size but check the rise measurement on individual products
Matching set bottoms: size by your hips if the waist is elasticated, by your high waist if it has a fixed closure

Fabric and How It Affects Fit

JBQ places sustainability at the centre of what they do, and that extends to fabric choice. You'll find a lot of linen and linen blends (the Oslo Pants are 90% linen, 10% polyester, for instance), as well as lightweight gauze and natural-fibre fabrications. What that means practically for sizing:

Linen: minimal stretch, so don't expect the fabric to give. Size by your measurements, not your usual label size.
Gauze: floaty and forgiving, particularly in dresses and skirts — true to size works well
Blends: a touch more flexibility, but still relatively structured — size by measurements rather than assuming stretch will compensate

A word of warning from experience: I once ordered a linen midi in my "usual" size without checking the measurements — linen doesn't move, and I ended up with a dress that was technically on but looked strained at the hips. Always, always measure first with linen. It's the rule I now live by.

Returning and Exchanging JBQ

JBQ ships internationally and has a returns policy via a dedicated returns centre. Because they're a US brand, returns from the UK do involve international postage costs, so it really does pay to get the size right first time. Check their current returns policy on jbqthelabel.com before ordering, as terms can update seasonally.

If JBQ Doesn't Quite Work for You — Similar Brands Worth Trying

JBQ occupies a very specific niche — sustainable, feminine, resort-leaning — and there are plenty of other brands that hit a similar note, some with more generous size ranges and easier UK returns. Here's where I'd point you:

High Street & Accessible

ASOS — huge resort and vacation edit, wide size range, easy UK returns
River Island — great for feminine co-ords and holiday occasion dressing
Warehouse — consistently good on structured, figure-skimming styles
Nobody's Child — sustainable credentials, feminine silhouettes, very JBQ in spirit
Whistles — understated, well-cut resort pieces that wear beautifully on holiday
Monsoon — brilliant for holiday-occasion dresses with print and texture
French Connection — sleek, body-conscious styles, great for beach-to-bar dressing

Independent Labels

Agua by Agua Bendita — Colombian resort brand with similar tropical, artisanal energy to JBQ; beautiful prints and considered fits
Cult Gaia — if you love JBQ's sculptural resort aesthetic, Cult Gaia is a worthy next step; US sizing, similar size conventions

Premium & Luxury

Vix Swimwear — for resort occasion pieces with a more elevated price point
Johanna Ortiz — if JBQ's Latin-inspired, beach-to-dinner aesthetic resonates and you want to invest further

Not Sure What Size You Are at JBQ?

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