What Is Sizing Like at Lime?

Lime generally runs true to size, but the fit shifts noticeably depending on what you're buying — the statement tops are cut roomy through the body, while the tailored pieces sit snug across the shoulders, so the smart move is to size by the garment, not by the number you "always" take. If you treat every Lime piece the same, you'll end up swimming in a blouse and straining at a blazer in the same order. I know, because I've done exactly that.

So, does Lime run true to size?

For the most part, yes. Lime is built on bold prints, quirky silhouettes and a genuinely size-inclusive range, and its core dresses and skirts land where you'd expect. The catch is consistency. Because so many pieces are print-led and cut for a specific shape, the same label size can feel quite different across a frill top, a wrap dress and a co-ord. My rule of thumb: take your usual size as the starting point, then adjust by category using the notes below.

A quick confession

My first Lime order was a lesson. I ordered a tailored blazer and a bow-detail blouse in the same size, feeling very pleased with myself. The blouse arrived like a beautiful colourful tent; the blazer wouldn't do up across the back. Two different fits, one size — and a returns trip I could have skipped entirely. That experience is precisely why I size Lime garment-by-garment now.

Where Lime's sizing gets tricky

Statement & frill tops — Cut oversized through the body but tapered at the waist. Lovely and forgiving, but they can balloon. If you're between sizes, take the smaller one.
Structured blazers — The colours are gorgeous, but the cut runs snug across the back and shoulders. If you're broader on top or want layering room, size up.
Wrap & printed dresses — Universally flattering, though the waistband and tie can vary. Check the bust isn't gaping before you commit.
Printed midi skirts — Watch the stretch content. A jersey midi skims; a structured one needs your true hip measurement to sit right.
Co-ords & matching sets — The top and bottom don't always match in fit. Buy each half to your measurements rather than assuming one size covers both.

My styling tips for getting the fit right

Mind the fabric. If a piece has elastane or spandex and you're on the cusp, lean down a size — the stretch will give you room.
Choose volume where you want forgiveness. A-line skirts and full-sleeve tops are far kinder than anything fitted, so save the precision sizing for blazers and pencil shapes.
Anchor the bold. Lime's prints do the talking, so let the silhouette stay simple — a clean heel, a neat tailored trouser, no competing pattern.
Read the reviews. Print-led brands cut to a model's frame; other shoppers will flag when a particular dress runs short or tight before you find out yourself.

Where to shop if you love Lime

If Lime's bold, occasion-led energy is your thing, here's where I'd point you across the price spectrum — each picked for how well it actually matches Lime's vibrant, statement aesthetic.

High street

Mango — The closest high-street match for Lime's printed midis and tailored co-ords, with sizing that's reliably true to size.
Coast — My first stop for wedding-guest and event dressing; bold-hued occasion pieces cut a touch more generously through the waist.
Monsoon — Embellishment, colour and floaty silhouettes in softer, more forgiving shapes if Lime's fitted pieces feel daunting.
Phase Eight — Beautifully finished occasion dresses with built-in structure; the wrap and fit-and-flare styles flatter without clinging.
Hobbs — The grown-up, tailored take on Lime's blazers and shift dresses; refined British cuts that run true but neat through the shoulder.
Ted Baker — Bold florals and graphic prints are its signature, with a defined waist; sizing runs slightly small, so size up.
River Island — The most affordable way to chase Lime's trend-led, statement-sleeve energy; fun and youthful, though fit varies piece to piece.

Premium

Sandro — Parisian polish with a playful edge in structured tailoring and statement knits; French sizing runs small, so go up.
Maje — Romantic prints, ruffles and frill detail that echo Lime's statement tops, in a noticeably more elevated fabric.
Sézane — Effortless French colour and cult wrap dresses; sizing is fairly true but cut for a slimmer frame.
Ganni — Scandi-cool prints and quirky silhouettes with relaxed, generous fits — the premium pick that best captures Lime's fun factor.

Luxury / designer

Max Mara — The luxury benchmark for tailoring and colour-blocked occasion pieces; the place to invest in one perfect statement coat or dress.
By Malene Birger — Elevated Scandinavian colour and bold print, beautifully made — Lime's spirit translated into investment-grade occasion-wear.

Two left-field independents worth knowing

Olivia Rubin — A London label built on sequins, rainbow stripes and joyful prints; an almost spiritual match for Lime, with a true-to-size, body-skimming cut.
Never Fully Dressed — An independent British brand famous for its bold wrap dresses and clashing prints; brilliantly size-inclusive and forgiving on the waist.

How Tellar takes the guesswork out

Here's the honest truth: even with all these notes, the only way to be certain is to match your body to the actual garment data. That's exactly what we built Tellar.co.uk to do. It's the UK's leading sizing tool — your body matched precisely to 1,500+ brands in seconds, so you never have to squint at a confusing size guide again.

Measure once — using your bust, waist and hip, or simply an existing brand size you already wear.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your exact size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.
Always free, no downloads, works straight in your browser.

Plus: 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, with no adverts and no sponsored nonsense. A few of my favourites to read next:

Stop guessing your Lime size

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Find My Size on Tellar Try the Store Size Lookup

Written by Ella Blake, Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder, Tellar.co.uk