What Is Sizing Like at Missy Empire?

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

Missy Empire runs small — and if there's one thing I'd tell my best friend before she clicked "add to bag," it's to size up at least one size, especially on anything bodycon. I've styled clients in Missy Empire pieces and the fit can be genuinely brilliant when you've got the right size, but get it wrong and even the most gorgeous going-out dress will be doing no one any favours.

So Who Is Missy Empire, Really?

If you don't already know the brand, Missy Empire is a Manchester-born fast fashion label aimed squarely at the going-out, looking-incredible, confidence-first crowd. We're talking figure-hugging midi dresses, cut-out co-ords, bandeau tops and seriously strappy heels territory. It's bold, it's sexy, and it's done at a price point that means you can actually afford to wear a different look every Saturday night. I have a soft spot for it — there's no pretension, just pure fun fashion.

The Honest Truth About Missy Empire Sizing

Here's the thing I've noticed time and time again, both from my own experience and from the dozens of customer reviews I've read: Missy Empire sizing is consistently on the small side. This isn't just one bad batch or a single style — it runs across dresses, tops, and trousers pretty uniformly.

Dresses: Bodycon styles in particular come up tight, especially across the chest and hips. If you're usually a UK 12, go straight to a 14. I've seen clients who are a solid 10 everywhere else find they need a 12 here.
Tops & co-ords: If the style has any kind of stretch fabric, you might get away with your normal size — but anything structured or woven? Size up without hesitation.
Trousers & skirts: The waist runs small and the hip allowance is generous, which works brilliantly for a curvier frame. Hourglass and pear shapes often do very well in Missy Empire — the designs feel like they were actually built with curves in mind.
Petite range: Their petite sizing is a solid offering. If you're under 5'4" and usually find midi dresses becoming maxi dresses, the Missy Empire petite edit is worth a look — the proportions are much better.
Plus size range: Missy Empire does offer an extended size range and it gets good reviews for actually delivering on the curves. The styles translate well rather than just being a scaled-up version of the regular range.

Fabric & Fit — What to Know Before You Buy

Most Missy Empire pieces are made from stretch fabrics — your polyester blends, your scuba, your jersey. That's both the best and worst thing about them. Best, because a little give goes a long way on a night out. Worst, because stretch fabric can sometimes disguise how tight something actually is until you try to breathe or dance. I always advise clients to check the fabric content before ordering — if it says less than 5% elastane, treat it like a non-stretch piece and size up accordingly.

The cut on their dresses tends to be quite short too, even in regular sizing — so if you're tall (5'8" and above), what's described as a midi could well sit at knee length on you. Always check the length measurements in the product description. I learnt this the hard way when I was styling a client for a hen do and the "midi" she'd ordered arrived very much above the knee. Not the vibe she was going for.

My Sizing Tips for Missy Empire

Always size up one size from your usual UK size — this is the single most consistent piece of advice across customer reviews
If you're between sizes, go bigger rather than smaller — there's nothing worse than a dress that won't zip
Check the model's measurements and the size they're wearing — Missy Empire usually includes this, and it's genuinely useful
Read the individual product reviews — the brand has a large and vocal customer base and the reviews are often very detailed and honest
If you're ordering a co-ord set and the top and bottom feel like different sizes, it's completely fine to size up on one piece — mix and match within the set

Alternatives to Missy Empire — By Budget

Love the vibe but want to explore similar styles with potentially better size consistency? Here's where I'd point you, broken down by price point.

High Street Picks:

ASOS — An absolute giant for going-out fashion. The size range is exceptional (UK 2–26), the reviews are detailed, and you can filter by height too. A go-to for anyone navigating fit anxiety.
River Island — Known for their bodycon dresses and party wear. Sizing is generally more consistent than Missy Empire and their tall and petite ranges are strong.
New Look — Brilliant for affordable occasion and going-out styles. Sizing tends to run true to size and their curve range is genuinely one of the best on the high street.
Urban Outfitters — If you want something a bit more editorial and less obvious, UO's going-out pieces have a cool-girl edge. Slightly more relaxed in fit too.
H&M — Always worth a browse for affordable evening wear. Some of their premium pieces punch above their weight visually, and the sizing is fairly reliable.
Topshop — Now stocked through ASOS, Topshop still delivers some of the best party dresses on the market. Sizing is consistent and the quality has improved notably.
Zara — For a more elevated going-out look without tipping into designer territory. The cut and fabric quality are noticeably better, though Zara does also run small, so the same size-up rule applies.

Premium Picks:

Reiss — Beautiful occasion-wear with excellent tailoring. A completely different price point to Missy Empire but worth it if you want a going-out dress that could also work for a wedding or work event.
Ted Baker — Feminine, figure-flattering designs that tend to be well-cut and size consistently. Their bodycon dresses are particularly well-made.

Luxury/Designer:

Max Mara — For a dressed-up evening look with serious elegance, Max Mara's simpler pieces are investment buys you'll wear for years.
Hugo Boss — Structured, polished evening wear that fits impeccably. Their sizing is meticulous and they offer detailed fit guidance online.

Two Independent Picks You Might Not Know:

WYLDR — A brilliant independent UK brand with a strong going-out edit and a genuine commitment to inclusive sizing. The aesthetic is very Missy Empire but with slightly more elevated fabric quality. Definitely one to follow.
Rebellious Fashion — A UK indie label that delivers trend-led going-out styles at a similar price point to Missy Empire. Their size guidance is excellent and they're transparent about fit, which I really appreciate.

Final Verdict on Missy Empire Sizing

Missy Empire is genuinely one of the most fun brands to shop when you're dressing for a night out on a budget. The styles are confident, bold and unapologetically glamorous. But the sizing is small and occasionally inconsistent, so go in with your eyes open: size up, read the reviews, and check those model measurements. Do that and you're very likely to get a piece that makes you feel completely brilliant.

Never Guess Your Size Again — Use Tellar

If Missy Empire's inconsistent sizing has ever had you going back and forth on what to order, Tellar.co.uk was built exactly for this. It's the UK's leading clothing sizing tool — measure once (bust, waist, hips, or an existing brand size you trust) and get your precise size matched across 1,500+ brands instantly. No more size guides, no more guesswork, no more returns.

Use the Store Size Lookup tool to find your exact size at Missy Empire, COS, Reiss, Zara and hundreds more
Completely free, no app to download — works straight in your browser
Honest, unsponsored, independent size advice you can actually trust

And while you're there, explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — a free library of style guides and brand deep-dives written by our stylists. Honest. Unbiased. Always free.

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