What Is Sizing Like at Lemiem?

The short answer: Lemiem sizing runs broadly true to standard UK sizing, but the cut is on the neat, feminine side — close through the bust and waist with a defined silhouette rather than a relaxed, boxy one. So if you're between two sizes, fuller-busted, or curvier on the hip, sizing up is almost always the smarter move. If you're straight up and down or you like a sharper line, your usual size will do nicely.

There — that's the answer in one breath, because I know exactly how maddening it is to scroll three thousand words of waffle just to find out whether to order the 10 or the 12. Now let me actually earn your time and walk you through how Lemiem fits piece by piece, what I'd do if you're hovering between sizes, and where else to look if it turns out not to be your shape.

A quick word on the cut before you add to basket

Lemiem sits in that lovely contemporary, feminine pocket — pieces designed to flatter and shape rather than swamp. That's a compliment and a warning in equal measure. A defined, body-skimming cut looks gorgeous when it fits, but it's far less forgiving than the slouchy, oversized stuff, so the gap between "just right" and "slightly snug" is narrower than you'd get from a relaxed label. The fabric matters enormously too: a piece with a touch of stretch will be far kinder than a rigid woven, and that single difference is usually what decides whether you size up or stay put.

How Lemiem fits, piece by piece

Dresses and occasionwear: the most fitted part of the range, and the place to be most careful. Expect a neat bust and a nipped waist. If you're a fuller cup or you carry a little more on the hip, take the next size up — you can always have the waist taken in by a tenner at the tailor, but you can't add fabric that isn't there.
Blouses and tops: generally truer to size, though anything described as "fitted" or "cropped" will sit close. If you're broad across the shoulders or like room to layer, hedge upwards.
Trousers and tailoring: cut clean and slim through the hip and thigh. Order to your hip measurement, not your waist — a slim leg that's tight on the hip is the fastest way to a return.
Knitwear: the friendliest category. The natural give means your usual size almost always works, and only size up if you genuinely want a relaxed, slouchy line.

The fashion fail that taught me to always size up in a fitted dress

Years ago I ordered a beautiful fitted midi in my "usual" size for a wedding, felt smug, didn't try it on until the morning of — and it pulled straight across the bust in every photo. I spent the whole day with my arms politely glued to my sides. The lesson stuck: with a feminine, close-cut label, your "usual" size is a starting guess, not a guarantee. These days I size up on anything structured and let a good tailor do the rest. It costs less than a return courier and you end up with something that actually fits you.

If you're stuck between two sizes

Going somewhere it needs to look sharp? Size up and have it nipped in — a tailored fit beats a tight one every time.
Buying a relaxed or knitted piece? Stay true to size; the give will do the work.
Always size to your largest measurement (usually bust or hip) and adjust the rest.
Check the fabric. A little elastane buys you grace; a stiff woven does not.

Where else to shop if Lemiem isn't quite your fit

If the neat cut isn't playing nicely with your shape, don't despair — there's a whole world of brands working the same feminine, contemporary register. Here's where I'd send you, by budget.

High street

For polished occasion and workwear in a similarly defined cut, Reiss (grown-up tailoring with a sharp, modern line) and Hobbs (proper British occasionwear that understands a real waist) are my first ports of call. Whistles nails the minimal, modern silhouette if you like clean and understated, while Phase Eight is the safe hand for forgiving occasion dresses that flatter without clinging. For something softer and more relaxed-luxe, Mint Velvet trades a little structure for comfort beautifully. Me&Em is worth every penny for its clever cut and genuine length options, and Boden remains the queen of a joyful printed dress with a kinder, roomier fit.

Premium

Move up a tier and Sézane delivers that effortless French-girl elegance — though do note it runs neat and a touch petite, so apply the same size-up logic. Ghost is my go-to for fluid, bias-cut dresses that skim rather than grip, perfect if Lemiem felt too fitted, while ba&sh offers that relaxed-Parisian softness with a more generous hand.

Luxury and designer

When you want investment pieces, Max Mara is unbeatable for refined tailoring and coats with a timeless, true-to-size cut, and By Malene Birger brings that Scandi-luxe drama to occasionwear with a slightly more relaxed silhouette than its sharp lines suggest.

And two off the beaten track

Because I never want to send you only to the obvious places: KITRI is a brilliant London-based independent doing small-batch prints and occasion pieces with real personality — its limited drops mean you rarely turn up in the same dress as three other guests. And Damson Madder is the playful, sustainability-minded indie I keep recommending for feminine, fun pieces that don't take themselves too seriously. Both are worth a follow even if you're not buying today.

The shortcut: get your Lemiem size right the first time

Here's the thing — everything I've told you above is the stylist's rule of thumb, but you deserve the precise answer, not a guess. That's exactly why we built Tellar, the UK's leading sizing tool. Match your body to over 1,500 brands instantly and never squint at a confusing size guide again.

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And once you've sorted your size, have a wander round the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library stacked with free posts from our stylists covering pretty much every fashion query going. Honest, unbiased, independent and always free: style advice, top picks and the best brands, with no one paying to be top of the list.

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