What Is Sizing Like at Loretta Caponi?

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

Loretta Caponi generally runs true to Italian sizing — but with some important nuances depending on the garment: dresses and kaftans are often cut generously, while blouses and fitted styles can run narrower through the bust, so it pays to know your measurements before you buy.

I'll be honest — I first stumbled across Loretta Caponi in a rather gorgeous boutique in Florence about four years ago, and I very nearly walked past it. White broderie anglaise in the window, the softest cotton I'd ever touched, and a price tag that made me put it straight back on the rail. But something about those hand-embroidered details kept pulling me back. I bought a blouse. It's still one of the most-complimented pieces I own. So when clients ask me about sizing at Loretta Caponi, I take it very seriously — because getting it wrong on a £500+ piece is genuinely heartbreaking.

A Bit of Background: Who Is Loretta Caponi?

Founded in Florence in 1967, Loretta Caponi is one of Italy's most storied luxury houses. What began as a trousseau and lingerie atelier — beloved by the Kennedys, the Gettys and reportedly the Windsors — has grown into a full ready-to-wear collection that stays true to its roots: hand-embroidery, heirloom-quality cotton and silk, and a deeply romantic, old-world Italian femininity. Today the house is run by Loretta's grandson Guido from their atelier on Florence's Via Tornabuoni, and every piece is still made in Italy using artisan techniques passed down through generations.

These are not fast-fashion pieces. They are considered, crafted, and — crucially — sized according to traditional Italian standards. Which means the usual UK rules don't always apply.

Loretta Caponi Size Conversion Table

Loretta Caponi uses Italian numeric sizing. Here's how it maps across to UK, EU and US equivalents:

Loretta Caponi (IT)UK SizeEU SizeUS SizeBust (cm)Waist (cm)XS / 36834482–8464–66S / 381036686–8868–70M / 401238890–9272–74L / 4214401094–9676–78XL / 4416421298–10080–82

Note: Some styles — particularly kaftans, robes and flowing maxi dresses — use universal sizing (S/M or M/L) and are cut with considerable ease. Always check the individual product description.

How Does Loretta Caponi Fit, Garment by Garment?

This is where it gets interesting, because Loretta Caponi is not a one-size-fits-all brand in terms of fit logic. The silhouette varies enormously across categories.

Embroidered cotton dresses: These are the signature pieces — the Fiocco, the Aria, the smocked styles — and they generally run true to Italian size. Most are cut with a relaxed, slightly generous body through the waist and hips, but the shoulder and chest fit is quite precise. I'd always advise sizing up if you're between sizes or have a fuller bust above a 36-inch chest.
Blouses & embroidered shirts: This is where customers most often come unstuck. Button-front styles follow traditional Italian tailoring — slim through the bust and waist — and can run small at the chest. If you're a fuller C or D cup, I'd go up one size here without a second thought. I've seen too many clients with pulling buttons to tell you otherwise.
Kaftans & robes: Beautifully generous. Often one-size or S/M and M/L, these are designed with a lot of ease. They're quite forgiving on body shape, though if you're petite, the proportions can feel a little overwhelming — it's worth checking the length.
Trousers & skirts: Generally true to Italian size, but I'd always double-check the hip measurement. The fabrics — mostly pure cotton and silk — have little to no stretch, so there's no forgiving give. The brand's skirts have occasionally been noted as running slightly generous through the hip on smaller sizes.
Nightwear & lingerie: The heritage category, and the most relaxed fit. Designed to be worn with ease. Stick to your usual size or go by bust measurement for the best result.

My Stylist's Rule of Thumb

Know your bust measurement in centimetres. That is the number that matters most with Loretta Caponi. The silhouettes are often relaxed enough at the waist and hips, but the shoulder seam and chest opening on fitted styles won't forgive you going too small. If you're a UK 12 but have a 92–93cm bust, lean towards the M/40 rather than trying to squeeze into the S/38. You'll thank me for it.

Also — and this matters — the fabrics are exceptional but mostly non-stretch. Pure cotton voile, silk charmeuse, broderie anglaise: gorgeous, but unforgiving. There's no lycra safety net here. Measure carefully, and when in doubt, go up.

Where to Shop If You Love the Loretta Caponi Aesthetic

Look, Loretta Caponi pieces start at around £300 and climb well beyond £1,000 for embroidered evening styles. Stunning — and for the right occasion, absolutely worth it. But most of us aren't buying a hand-embroidered Florentine cotton dress every season. Here's where I'd point clients who want that romantic, feminine, artisan-inspired look at different price points:

High Street & Accessible:

Anthropologie — The closest high-street match in terms of aesthetic. Embroidered cotton dresses, prairie-inspired florals, and artisan-feel details that genuinely echo the Caponi spirit at a fraction of the price.
White Stuff — Brilliant for embroidered cotton everyday dresses in that same relaxed, artisan-inspired register. Quality has improved enormously in recent seasons.
Phase Eight — Particularly strong for occasion dresses with broderie anglaise detailing and flowing silhouettes. Their summer and resort collections are consistently solid.
Hush — A quietly brilliant option for cotton smock dresses and relaxed-fit floral styles. The fabrics punch above their price point.
Oliver Bonas — More affordable but genuinely charming for embroidered and smocked summer dresses. Worth a look if you want to test the silhouette before committing to the Caponi price tag.
Jigsaw — For the tailored separates side of Caponi's wardrobe, Jigsaw does clean, elegant trousers and blouses in quality natural fabrics that hold their own beautifully.
Boden — Underrated for embroidered cotton dresses and summer smocks. The quality is there and the fit tends to be forgiving through the bust — a good gateway look.

Premium:

Reiss — A step up in finish and fabric, particularly for occasion dressing and elevated summer separates.
Me&Em — Fantastic for quality cotton separates and dresses with a considered, grown-up aesthetic. The blouses in particular are excellent.
LK Bennett — Strong for occasion-worthy dresses with feminine detailing, particularly for garden parties and summer events where Caponi's pieces truly shine.

Luxury & Designer Alternatives:

Borgo de Nor — A genuinely wonderful London-based independent brand with bold prints and that same romantic femininity that defines Caponi. Their dresses are beautifully made and far less well-known than they deserve to be. A real fashion insider pick.
Cefinn — Founded by Samantha Cameron, Cefinn produces refined, beautifully constructed womenswear with a quiet luxury sensibility. The fabrics are excellent and the silhouettes have that same considered elegance as Caponi's more understated pieces.

Never Guess Your Size in Loretta Caponi Again

Loretta Caponi's Italian sizing and varied cuts across categories make it trickier than most to buy online confidently — especially at these price points. That's exactly why Tellar.co.uk exists.

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