What Is Sizing Like at Leem?

Leem generally runs true to size, but the fit shifts noticeably from one style to the next — the structured blazers and tailored co-ords come up snug, while the drapey dresses, kaftans and knits are cut with deliberate room to move. So the honest answer is there’s no single “Leem size”, and the clever move is to size by the garment, not the label on the rail.

I’m Ella Blake, Senior Fashion Stylist and Founder of Tellar, and Leem is one of those brands I get asked about constantly — partly because it’s everywhere now (Next, Selfridges, Westfield) and partly because it sits in that tricky space between high street and premium where fit consistency tends to wobble. I learned this the slightly embarrassing way: I ordered a Leem midaxi knit dress in my usual size for a christening, assumed it’d be true to size like the blazer I’d bought weeks earlier, and ended up swimming in it. Gorgeous fabric, wrong read on the cut. Lesson very much learned.

So, does Leem run true to size?

Mostly, yes — but with caveats that matter. Leem is a contemporary modest-fashion label built around elegant, fluid silhouettes: maxi and midaxi dresses, kaftans, co-ords, tailored separates and soft knits. Because the range spans everything from sharp tailoring to floaty occasion pieces, the fit genuinely depends on what you’re buying. The collections are designed by an international team and made across several countries, which is part of why one style can feel spot-on and another a full size out.

Here’s where I most often see people get caught out:

Tailored blazers and structured co-ords — these run on the snug side through the shoulder and bust. If you’re between sizes or plan to layer, size up.
Drapey dresses and kaftans — cut with generous ease and usually a little stretch. Take your normal size; sizing up here just drowns you (see: me, at that christening).
Knit dresses — deceptive. They look fitted on the model but the fabric relaxes as you wear it, so they grow. Don’t over-compensate by sizing up.
Length — Leem leans modest, so sleeves, hems and necklines are more covered than you might expect. Brilliant if that’s your brief, worth knowing if it isn’t.

How I’d size each Leem piece

As a stylist, my rule with Leem is to size from your highest-precision measurement and let the cut guide you:

Dresses and tops — size on your bust and shoulders, not your waist. Leem’s draped styles skim the middle anyway.
Blazers and tailoring — size for the shoulders. You can nip a waist; you can’t fix a tight shoulder seam.
Trousers and skirts — go by waist and hip. The mid-to-high rises can run tight on the hip even when the waist is fine.
Knits — your true size, and trust that they’ll soften and lengthen slightly with wear.

The other thing to watch: a few resale listings I’ve seen had Leem dresses labelled one size that clearly fitted a size or two smaller. On occasion and event pieces especially, don’t buy on the tag alone — check the actual garment measurements.

What’s worth buying at Leem

The fluid occasion dresses and the kaftans are the standouts — that’s where the premium fabric and the elegant, forgiving cut earn their keep. The tailoring is lovely but a more committed buy, so that’s the one to size carefully. If you want the Leem look without the fit lottery, here’s where I’d send clients depending on budget.

On the high street

Monsoon — the natural high-street match for Leem’s embellished, occasion-led maxis.
Phase Eight — reliable for elegant event dresses with a covered, flattering cut.
Mint Velvet — closest in spirit to Leem’s relaxed-luxe, drapey separates.
Massimo Dutti — elevated fabrics and fluid tailoring at a similar price feel.
Hobbs — polished, grown-up dressing and beautifully cut occasion pieces.
Coast — strong for event and wedding-guest dresses if you want more glamour.
Mango — the trend-led, fashion-forward kaftans and co-ords at a friendlier price.

Premium

ME+EM — elongated, modest-friendly silhouettes in considered fabrics; very Leem-adjacent.
Ghost — the queen of fluid, bias-cut dresses that move beautifully.
Sézane — French elegance with that effortless, understated polish.

Luxury & designer

Max Mara — for investment tailoring and that quietly luxurious drape.
By Malene Birger — contemporary, slightly directional, full of fluid evening pieces.
Totême — minimalist, architectural elegance if you want pared-back over embellished.

Two off-the-radar independents I love

Aab — a British modest-fashion label doing elevated abayas, kaftans and tailored modest pieces beautifully; arguably the truest spiritual cousin to Leem.
Asceno — independent London label specialising in fluid, washable silk dresses and resort pieces with that same easy, draped elegance.

Never guess your Leem size again

Sizing by garment is the right approach — but it’s a faff doing it style by style. That’s exactly why we built Tellar, the UK’s leading sizing tool. We match your body to over 1,500 brands instantly, so you never have to squint at a size guide again.

Measure once — using your bust, waist and hip, or just an existing brand size you already know fits.
Use our Store Size Lookup to get your precise size in any brand, from COS and Reiss to Everlane, Arket and beyond.
Always free, no downloads, works straight in your browser.

There’s also 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 for every body, with no affiliate noise pulling the strings.

A few more guides worth a read:

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