What Is Sizing Like at Manila Grace?

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

Manila Grace runs small — as an Italian brand, their sizing follows Italian conventions, which typically means you'll need to go up one to two sizes from your usual UK number. A UK 12 will generally need an Italian 44, not the 40 you might instinctively reach for. I've seen this catch people out repeatedly, and it's genuinely the single most important thing to know before you buy.

I first came across Manila Grace at a multi-brand boutique in Milan about seven years ago and fell completely in love with the aesthetic — that effortlessly romantic, slightly literary Italian-woman energy that no one else quite replicates. Floaty blouses with just the right amount of detail, trousers that drape beautifully, dresses that look complicated but aren't. The brand has a devoted following in the UK now, largely through Net-a-Porter and independent stockists, but the sizing question comes up constantly. Let me save you the guesswork.

Manila Grace: The Brand & Its Sizing Philosophy

Founded in Bologna in 2009 by Nicola Perin, Manila Grace sits in that appealing sweet spot between accessible luxury and contemporary fashion. It's not cheap — pieces typically range from £150 to £450 — but it's also not stratospheric. The aesthetic is distinctly Italian: romantic without being fussy, feminine without being overtly sexy, and always with a little something unexpected — a print, a fabric combination, a cut that makes you look twice.

Their sizing runs from IT 38 to IT 46, which in UK terms spans roughly a 10 to an 18. The brand cuts with the Italian woman in mind: generally a slimmer silhouette in the shoulder and torso, though not aggressively so. What this means in practice is that if you have broader shoulders, a fuller bust, or carry weight across the back, you will almost certainly need to size up — sometimes by two sizes. I'd call their standard fit best suited to a straighter or slim-hourglass body shape in their more structured pieces, though their floatier, unstructured styles are far more democratic.

Key rule: Always size up at least one when buying Manila Grace from your standard UK size. If you're between sizes, go up. If you have a fuller bust or broad shoulders, go up two. This isn't a criticism of the brand — it's just Italian sizing reality, and once you know your Manila Grace size, it's consistent.

Manila Grace Size Conversion Table

Use the Italian (IT) column as your starting point — this is what their labels and website will show. Always cross-reference with their individual product measurements where available, as some styles run particularly slim.

IT SIZEUK SIZEEU SIZEUS SIZELABELBUST (CM)WAIST (CM)HIP (CM)3810386S84–8666–6890–924012408S–M88–9070–7294–9642144210M92–9474–7698–10044164412L96–9878–80102–10446184614XL100–10282–84106–108

Ella's tip: If you're shopping Manila Grace online and unsure, always check the garment's specific measurements rather than relying purely on the size label. The brand does publish per-product measurements and they're worth the 60 seconds it takes to check — particularly for anything with a structured bodice or tailored shoulder.

Manila Grace Sizing by Garment Type

DRESSES

Dresses are one of Manila Grace's real strengths — the brand does beautiful midi and maxi styles with the kind of considered fabric and drape that feels properly grown-up. In terms of fit, their wrap and draped styles are the most forgiving and tend to work true to your Manila Grace size once you've established it. Their more structured, fitted styles — particularly anything with a defined waist seam or a zip fastening — run noticeably smaller and I'd size up one from your established brand size even within the range.

Draped & wrap dresses: True to Manila Grace size once established — the adjustable or wrap element creates natural flexibility
Structured/zip-fastened midi dresses: Size up one — the torso and bust area runs snug
Shirt dresses & button-through styles: Size up one, particularly if you have a fuller bust — button gaps are not the look
Maxi dresses in floaty fabrics: Generally true to size; check shoulder width if you're broader across the back

BLOUSES & TOPS

This is honestly where I think Manila Grace really excels. Their blouses have that elusive quality of looking expensive and considered without trying too hard — the kind of piece that looks just as good tucked into wide-leg trousers as it does with jeans. Sizing in their tops is where you need the most vigilance: the shoulder seam position and the chest width run slim, and even their more relaxed blouses can pull across the back if you size down.

Fitted blouses & shirts: Size up one, sometimes two if you're broader across the shoulders or back
Relaxed/oversized tops: Size up one from your UK size — the "oversized" on Italian sizing is still narrower than you'd expect
Knitwear: Size up one; the yarn tends to be fine-gauge and doesn't have as much stretch as chunkier knits

TROUSERS & SKIRTS

Manila Grace does gorgeous trousers — wide-leg, palazzo-style, and beautifully tailored cuts with a distinctly Italian elegance. In my experience, the waistband is where these run tightest. Size up one from your UK size as a baseline, and if you have a difference of more than about 10cm between your waist and hip measurements, you may need to size up two for the waist and have the hem taken in slightly. Worth it, I promise — these trousers are a wardrobe investment.

Wide-leg & palazzo trousers: Size up one on the waist; leg width is generous
Tailored/straight-leg trousers: Size up one — these are cut slim in the thigh and seat
Midi & maxi skirts: Size up one; the waistband runs snug but the skirt itself tends to have good drape and room

OUTERWEAR & JACKETS

Manila Grace's outerwear is occasionally brilliant — they do beautiful oversized coats and structured blazers in their core collections. For outerwear specifically, size up two from your UK size if you're planning to layer underneath. Their blazers, which are tailored quite closely to the body, need at least one size up and ideally two if you have broader shoulders. The payoff for getting the size right here is enormous — a well-fitted Manila Grace coat is a serious piece.

Coats & padded jackets: Size up two for comfortable layering
Structured blazers: Size up one to two depending on shoulder width
Unlined/lighter jackets: Size up one as a safe starting point

My Styling Verdict: Is Manila Grace Worth It?

Absolutely yes — but go in with the right information. The sizing learning curve is real, and I'd be doing you a disservice if I glossed over the fact that buying Manila Grace without checking your measurements first is a bit of a gamble. But once you know your size in the brand? It opens up a world of genuinely beautiful Italian fashion that you won't find replicated on the high street.

The pieces that earn the most consistent praise from my clients are the blouses (particularly the printed silk-feel styles), the wide-leg trousers, and the draped jersey dresses. These are the garments where Manila Grace's understanding of fabric and drape really shows. If you're new to the brand, I'd start with a draped dress or a relaxed blouse rather than a structured blazer — you'll get a better sense of how the brand fits your body before committing to anything tailored.

If You Love the Manila Grace Aesthetic — Try These Too

Whether Manila Grace's sizing doesn't quite suit your shape, or you simply want more options in that romantic, Italian-inflected feminine space, here are my honest picks across every budget.

HIGH STREET

Massimo Dutti — Perhaps the closest high street equivalent in spirit: Mediterranean elegance, quality fabrication, and clean feminine silhouettes. Sizing is more consistent and UK-friendly. A brilliant alternative for anyone who loves Manila Grace's grown-up approach.
Mango — Consistently strong for romantic blouses, wide-leg trousers, and floaty midi dresses at a fraction of Manila Grace's price. Their suits and tailored pieces in particular get strong write-ups in Grazia and Elle. Sizing runs true to UK size.
Whistles — For the more understated, quietly elegant side of Manila Grace's aesthetic. Excellent quality for the price point and very reliable sizing. Particularly good for blouses and tailored trousers.
Jigsaw — One of the best UK high street brands for beautifully draped jersey dresses and considered separates. A natural step-down from Manila Grace in price but not hugely in quality. Runs true to UK size.
Ted Baker — Perfect for Manila Grace lovers who want more occasion-readiness: floral prints, feminine silhouettes, and a slightly more polish-forward approach. Good for event dressing when Manila Grace is out of budget.
Hobbs — Sophisticated, well-cut, and genuinely long-lasting. Hobbs does a similar kind of feminine tailoring to Manila Grace's more structured pieces, with consistent UK sizing and excellent fabric quality for the price.
LK Bennett — For occasion and workwear pieces with a similar Italian-inspired elegance. Their midi dresses and blazers particularly mirror Manila Grace's sensibility at a more accessible price. Sizing is true to UK.
Claudie Pierlot — French rather than Italian, but very much in the same romantic-feminine-grown-up universe. Beautiful prints and elevated basics. Available in UK stockists and sizes run close to UK standard.

PREMIUM

Me&Em — A brilliant British premium brand for anyone who loves Manila Grace's clean, elevated feminine separates but finds the Italian sizing frustrating. Excellent quality, consistent sizing, and a very similar customer in mind.
Reiss — Strong for the tailored, structured end of Manila Grace's range — blazers, midi skirts, sharp trousers — at a comparable or slightly lower price point and with more reliable UK sizing.

INDEPENDENT & LEFT-FIELD PICKS

Kitri — A London-based independent brand that has built a devoted following for exactly the kind of considered, print-forward feminine dresses and blouses that Manila Grace does so well. Kitri is frequently name-checked in Vogue and Stylist for good reason — the quality is remarkable for the price and the designs are genuinely original. Sizing is true to UK and they publish detailed measurements. A must-know brand.
Borgo de Nor — A London-based label with a distinctly Mediterranean-Italian soul: bold prints, romantic silhouettes, and beautifully fluid fabrics. If you love Manila Grace's more vivid, print-led pieces, Borgo de Nor is the independent alternative you didn't know you needed. Sizing is generally true to UK.

TELLAR.CO.UK

Italian Sizing Confusing You? Tellar Sorts It Instantly

Tellar is the UK's leading clothing size tool — your exact measurements matched to 1,500+ brands in seconds. No more Italian-to-UK size calculator rabbit holes. Just enter your measurements once and Tellar tells you your precise size in Manila Grace, and every other brand you shop. Free, in-browser, no account needed.

Visit Tellar.co.ukFind My Size in Any Brand →

STEP 01

Measure once — bust, waist, hip, or use an existing brand size you trust

STEP 02

Use the Store Size Lookup to get your exact size across 1,500+ brands instantly

STEP 03

Shop with total confidence — always free, works in-browser, no downloads needed

More from the Tellar Fashion Hub

The Tellar Fashion Hub is a library of free, honest fashion posts — no sponsorship, no brand partnerships, no agenda. Just real advice from stylists who've done the legwork. Whether you're navigating European sizing across multiple brands or hunting for the best dress for your body shape, there's a post in there for you.