What Is Sizing Like at Jenny Packham?

Jenny Packham runs true to UK sizing, but her structured, heavily-beaded gowns fit close to the body with almost no give, and the bridal line runs roughly a full size smaller than the ready-to-wear. So if you wear a UK 12 in your everyday wardrobe, that's your starting point for a Packham occasion dress — but the moment you're looking at one of those crystal-encrusted satin showstoppers, or anything from the bridal collection, you'll want to think carefully before you commit. This is a label built for red carpets, galas and weddings, and the fit is precise by design. Let me talk you through exactly what to expect.

So what's the sizing actually like?

Jenny Packham is a British house, founded in 1988, and everything is cut to UK sizing — which catches a lot of international shoppers out. The pieces are designed to sit close to the body with proper tailoring through the bust and waist, so this isn't a brand you can fudge with a forgiving cut. A few things worth knowing before you buy:

Order for your largest measurement. If you're between sizes, size up and have it taken in. You can alter a Packham down beautifully; you cannot conjure fabric that isn't there.
The bust is the deciding factor. These bodices are structured, so a precise bust fit matters more than any other measurement. Get that right and the rest usually follows.
Ease is added — but it varies by style. Packham's own guidance notes that gowns have comfort ease built in, but how much depends entirely on the design. A column gown and a floaty silk midi are two different conversations.

The fabric tells you everything

Here's the bit I always stress to clients: with Jenny Packham, the fabric is the fit guide. The signature embellished pieces — think the Wonder dress, all that exquisite crystal work over satin — have genuinely no stretch. The beading locks the fabric in place, so what looks generous on the hanger can feel snug the second you zip up. By contrast, the day-to-night range of floaty silk and chiffon midis and wrap styles is far more forgiving and tends to fit more like a standard UK size. So before you order, ask yourself which Packham you're buying: the sculpted satin, or the drapey silk. It changes everything.

Bridal is a different beast entirely

If you're shopping the bridal collection, recalibrate completely. Packham bridal runs around a full size smaller than the ready-to-wear, and gowns are intended to be ordered as a sample and altered to you. Never order your street size and hope — take proper measurements, size to the largest part of your body, and budget for alterations. It's couture-adjacent dressing, and the fit reflects that.

A little fitting-room confession

I'll be honest — my own first Packham was a humbling experience. I'd styled a client into one of the beaded gowns months earlier and assumed I knew the drill, so I confidently ordered my usual size online for a black-tie do. It arrived and I couldn't get the zip past my ribs. No give whatsoever. My win came the second time: I sized up, had a brilliant seamstress nip the waist, and that dress is still the best thing I own a decade on. The lesson stuck — with Packham, you buy the bust and tailor the rest.

Where to find the Jenny Packham look at every price

Not every occasion calls for a full designer investment, so here's where I'd send clients across the price spectrum for that same glamorous, embellished energy.

High street & mid-market:

Coast — the high street's go-to for embellished occasion dresses; sequins and sculpted satin at a fraction of the price.
Monsoon — reliably brilliant for beaded and embellished evening pieces with a romantic, Packham-ish sparkle.
Phase Eight — a mother-of-the-bride and wedding-guest stalwart with structured, flattering fits.
Hobbs — polished, grown-up occasionwear with proper British tailoring.
Reiss — sleek, minimal evening dressing when you want elegance over embellishment.
Whistles — modern, understated occasion pieces with a fashion-forward edge.
Ted Baker — excellent for embellished and detailed cocktail dresses with a bit of drama.

Premium:

Self-Portrait — crystal-trimmed and lace occasion dressing; the closest premium cousin to Packham's red-carpet sparkle.
Needle & Thread — sequins, tulle and embellishment in spades, and a genuinely comparable fit reference point.

Luxury & designer:

Temperley London — British eveningwear with intricate embellishment and the same couture sensibility.
Zimmermann — luxe, romantic occasion gowns with standout detailing.

And two independents worth knowing:

Beulah London — a British ethical occasionwear label with embellished gowns and a real conscience behind every piece.
Suzannah London — made-to-order British elegance for those who want something quietly exceptional and entirely their own.

Stop guessing your size — let Tellar do it

Here's the thing: luxury sizing is wildly inconsistent. A UK 10 in one designer can feel like a UK 6 in another, and Packham's structured satin leaves no room for error. Rather than ordering three sizes and praying, Tellar.co.uk sorts it in seconds. It's the UK's leading free sizing tool, matching your body to over 1,500 brands instantly — so you never squint at a size guide again.

Measure once, using your bust, waist and hip — or just your existing size in a brand you already own.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to see your precise size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.
Always free, no downloads, works straight in your browser.

And there's the Tellar Fashion Hub too — a library stacked with free posts from our top stylists. Honest, unbiased, independent and always free: style advice, top picks and the best brands for every query you can think of.

Find your exact Jenny Packham size in seconds — matched to your body, not a generic chart.

Visit Tellar.co.uk • Try the Store Size Lookup