What Is Sizing Like at Jolie Moi? Does It Run True to Size?

By Ella Blake — Fashion Stylist | Tellar Fashion Hub — Always honest, unbiased & unsponsored

Jolie Moi generally runs true to size, and thanks to their extensive use of stretch fabrics — jersey, mesh, and elastane blends — the fit tends to be more forgiving than many other occasionwear brands. That said, there are a few nuances worth knowing before you order, because not every style behaves the same way. If you’re shopping Jolie Moi for a wedding, a special event, or just a really good occasion dress, this is everything you need to know to get it right first time.

What Does Jolie Moi Actually Make?

If you haven’t come across Jolie Moi before, they’re an Essex-based British brand that’s carved out a real niche in the occasionwear market — think flattering midi dresses, printed wrap styles, fit-and-flare silhouettes, and long-sleeved lace or mesh pieces that genuinely work for weddings, Mother of the Bride, work events, and everything in between. They’re stocked by John Lewis and have a loyal following of women who come back to them season after season. The designs combine a nod to vintage 1950s femininity with modern prints and cuts, and they’re particularly well-loved by curvier and hourglass figures. They also offer sizes from UK 8 to UK 20 (or 24 in some styles), which is another reason they’ve built such a devoted customer base.

So, Does Jolie Moi Run True to Size?

Yes — for the most part. The majority of Jolie Moi’s sizing aligns well with standard UK sizing charts. Their size guide runs from an 84cm bust at a UK 8 through to 108cm at a UK 20, which is fairly consistent with the British high street.

The key factor that makes Jolie Moi’s fit so accommodating is fabric. The brand leans heavily on stretch jersey, printed mesh, and elastane-rich blends across almost all of their bestselling styles. That means a dress that might feel borderline on you in a rigid woven fabric from another brand will often sit comfortably in Jolie Moi. I’ve genuinely recommended them to friends who struggle to find occasionwear that works on a fuller bust or wider hip — the stretch element is a real leveller.

That said, it’s not completely uniform across the range. A handful of customer reviews flag that some structured or less stretchy styles can come up slightly snug, particularly across the bust and upper arms. So while “true to size” is the general rule, it’s worth paying attention to the fabric content of a specific style before ordering.

Fit by Style — What to Expect

Jolie Moi have a few signature silhouettes, and they each behave a little differently in terms of fit:

Midi Jersey & Mesh Dresses — These are their biggest sellers and the most forgiving. The stretch fabric moves with you, and styles with ruching or wrap fronts are particularly brilliant for accommodating different bust-to-waist ratios. Order your usual size, or size down if you fall between two.
Fit-and-Flare Styles — Usually structured through the bodice with a flared skirt. The bodice can be less forgiving, so if you’re fuller on top, sizing up one is a smart call. The flared skirt always looks incredible regardless of hip size.
Wrap Dresses & Tie-Waist Styles — Wonderfully adjustable. These are the easiest to size because the wrap or tie element gives you a built-in fit buffer. Great for hourglass and pear shapes especially.
Bodycon & Lace Styles — More form-fitting and slightly less forgiving. If in doubt on these, size up. The lace and heavier fabrics don’t stretch as much as the jersey styles, and you want a clean line rather than anything pulling.
Long-Sleeve Mesh Styles — The long mesh sleeves are a Jolie Moi signature and they’re cut generously. If you’ve historically found sleeves tight across the upper arms or shoulders in standard sizing, this is actually one of the better brands for you.

A Note on Buying Direct vs Through Retailers

Something worth flagging from customer reviews: Jolie Moi’s direct website has attracted some negative feedback around refunds and returns. If you’re trying them for the first time and aren’t sure on the size, buying through John Lewis or Next gives you the added protection of those retailers’ far more straightforward returns policies. Honestly, it’s just less hassle if something doesn’t fit.

Who Does Jolie Moi Work Best For?

I’d say Jolie Moi is at its absolute best on curvy and hourglass figures. The stretch fabrics, waist definition, and wrap-style cuts are clearly designed with shape in mind, and customers with those proportions consistently report the most flattering results. That said, the fit-and-flare and A-line styles work beautifully on pear and straight body shapes too — the voluminous skirt creates the illusion of a defined waist and balances out narrower hips brilliantly.

If you’re petite, do double-check the dress lengths on individual product pages. Jolie Moi’s midis tend to hit at or below the knee, which can read as a full-length maxi on a shorter frame. Not always a problem — but worth knowing.

My Tips for Getting the Right Size at Jolie Moi

Use your bust measurement as your primary guide, not your usual dress size — especially for the more structured styles
If you’re between sizes and choosing a stretch jersey style, size down
If you’re between sizes and choosing a lace, velvet, or less stretchy style, size up
If you have broad shoulders or a fuller upper arm, the long-sleeve mesh styles are genuinely one of the most comfortable fits on the market
Check the fabric content on the product page — anything with less than 5% elastane will have significantly less give

Alternatives to Jolie Moi — High Street & Premium

If you’re looking to compare similar occasionwear options before deciding, here are my picks across different price points — all strong for the same kind of event dressing:

Phase Eight — Consistently brilliant for occasionwear, with beautiful fabrics and a flattering fit across a wide range of body shapes. Their midi dresses are a particular highlight and regularly feature in wedding guest edits.
Hobbs — A go-to for smart, polished occasion dressing with a slightly more restrained aesthetic. Excellent quality and very consistent sizing. Brilliant if you want something that looks expensive without the designer price tag.
Coast — The ultimate wedding guest destination brand. Big on embellishment, florals, and occasion-ready silhouettes. Great value for the quality and tends to run true to size.
LK Bennett — Where occasion dressing meets investment dressing. Beautifully cut, premium fabrics, and the kind of piece you’ll wear for years. Particularly brilliant on neat, hourglass figures.
Monsoon — Exceptional for bold prints, embroidered details, and festive occasion dressing. Their sizing is generous and the dresses are particularly good on taller frames and fuller figures.
Jigsaw — Understated, elegant, and beautifully cut. Jigsaw does occasion dressing without the fuss — ideal if you’d rather stand out through quality and cut than sequins and print.
Mint Velvet — Brilliant for that slightly bohemian, relaxed-occasion look. Their printed midi dresses and wrap styles are perennial bestsellers, and sizing is very consistent.
French Connection — A solid mid-price option with strong eveningwear and occasion pieces each season. Good for sleek, simple silhouettes that photograph brilliantly.

Two Independent Brands Worth Knowing

Rixo — A London-based independent brand that has become the go-to for occasion dresses among stylists and fashion editors alike. Their vintage-inspired prints, tea dresses, and midi styles are genuinely stunning and tend to sell out fast. Sizing is true to size with a relaxed, floaty cut — ideal if you love Jolie Moi’s prints but want something with a more artisan feel.
Kitri — Another London independent producing beautifully flattering midi dresses and occasion pieces at an accessible luxury price point. Known for vibrant prints, clean silhouettes, and sizing that’s refreshingly consistent. A brilliant discovery if you haven’t shopped them yet.

Stop Guessing Your Size — Use Tellar

The trickiest thing about shopping Jolie Moi online is that stretch fabric can make sizing feel deceptively flexible — right up until the point where you order and it arrives a bit too snug or slightly too big. That’s exactly the kind of guesswork that Tellar.co.uk was built to eliminate.

Tellar is the UK’s leading free sizing tool — you enter your measurements once and get your correct size across 1,500+ brands instantly. Not a generic conversion chart. Your actual measurements, matched against each brand’s real sizing data.

Measure once — bust, waist, and hips, or use an existing brand size as your starting point
Use the Store Size Lookup tool — get your precise size in Jolie Moi, Phase Eight, LK Bennett, Coast, and 1,500+ more brands
Always free — no app to download, no subscription, works instantly in your browser

The Tellar Fashion Hub is also home to 5,000+ honest, unsponsored fashion articles from our in-house stylists. No ads, no sponsored content, just genuinely useful advice — always free.

Find Your Size at Tellar →