What is Sizing Like at Nissa?

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

Nissa sizes small compared to standard UK sizing — as a general rule, you should size up by one, and sometimes two sizes if you’re fuller through the bust or hips, as the brand follows a close-fitting EU cut designed for a slim, straight silhouette.

I first came across Nissa when a client of mine — a lawyer with an eye for polished, occasion-ready pieces — showed up to a session wearing the most beautifully structured blazer dress I’d seen that season. "Romanian brand," she said, matter-of-factly. I went straight home and had a thorough look. Gorgeous tailoring, strong design aesthetic, incredibly reasonable pricing for the quality. I ordered a midi dress in what I thought was my size. It arrived looking like a dream on the hanger. On me? Nowhere close. The waist was fine, but it was pulling across the shoulders and uncomfortably tight through the hips. A size up transformed it completely. Nissa is absolutely worth the learning curve — you just need to know the rules going in.

What is Nissa? A Quick Brand Overview

Nissa is a Romanian womenswear brand founded in Bucharest in 1994, with three decades of experience in designing contemporary, feminine clothing. They’re particularly well known for their occasion wear — elegant midi dresses, tailored suits, structured blouses, and smart co-ords — all with a distinctly European sensibility. Think polished, grown-up, quietly confident rather than trend-led. The quality for the price point is genuinely impressive, and in recent years they’ve built a strong online following across Europe as more UK shoppers have discovered them.

The brand sells primarily through their own website and ships internationally, so it’s entirely accessible from the UK. Just be prepared: their sizing chart is based on EU measurements, their cuts lean towards a narrow, elongated European frame, and the fit reality on a typical UK body can be quite different to what you see modelled on site.

Nissa Size Guide: UK, EU & Measurements

Nissa SizeUK SizeEU SizeBust (cm)Waist (cm)Hips (cm)XS6–834–3682–8664–6890–94S8–1036–3886–9068–7294–98M10–1238–4090–9472–7698–102L12–1440–4294–9876–80102–106XL14–1642–4498–10280–84106–110XXL16–1844–46102–10684–88110–114

Ella’s tip: Always measure yourself in centimetres before ordering from Nissa — don’t rely on UK label size alone. If your measurements fall between two sizes, always go for the larger. Their fitted silhouettes leave very little room for error, especially across the shoulders and chest.

How Nissa Sizing Plays Out by Category

Dresses — Their Hero Category

Dresses are what Nissa does best, and they’re also where sizing is most critical to get right. Their occasion midi and maxi dresses are exquisitely designed — elegant necklines, flattering wrap silhouettes, strong use of colour — but they are cut close to the body throughout. A standard UK 12 should look carefully at sizing up to an L or even XL depending on bust and hip measurement. If you have a fuller chest (a C cup or above), be especially careful: Nissa bodices are not cut generously and a too-small dress will pull and gap across the front, ruining the whole look. Order a size up, trust me on this one.

Blouses & Tops

Blouses are the area where I’d say Nissa sizing is most inconsistent across their range. Some styles — particularly looser, relaxed designs — come up surprisingly close to true size. Others, particularly anything with a structured bodice, fitted sleeve, or button-through front, run noticeably small through the shoulders and upper chest. Check the garment measurements rather than the size label whenever you can, and when in doubt, go up.

Tailoring — Blazers & Trousers

The tailoring at Nissa is the real hidden gem of the brand. Their blazers are beautifully constructed — clean lapels, structured shoulders, a nipped waist — and they look far more expensive than they are. However, the cut is distinctly slim. If you have broader shoulders or a fuller bust, size up by one without hesitation. The trousers follow a straight or tapered leg and can be snug through the thigh and hip on athletic or curvy frames. Again, size up and you’ll be rewarded with something that looks properly tailored rather than strained.

Co-ords & Sets

Nissa does lovely matching sets — trouser suits, skirt and blouse combinations, co-ordinated knit sets — and the same rule applies as with all co-ord shopping: size by your largest measurement, then go up. Never try to split the sizing on a matching set unless the brand explicitly offers mixed sizing, which Nissa does not. A set that fits the waist but strains the hips is not a set that fits.

Knitwear

A relative bright spot for sizing. Nissa’s knitwear tends to be a little more forgiving due to natural stretch in the fabric. True to size is generally fine here, although if you prefer a relaxed fit rather than a close one, still go up a size. Their knits are well made and hold their shape nicely after washing — a proper test of quality at this price point.

A Note on Returns

Ordering from an overseas brand always brings a slightly more complicated returns process, so getting the size right first time matters more with Nissa than it would with a domestic retailer. Always measure carefully, always check their garment measurements (which they do list), and when in genuine doubt between two sizes, go larger. A dress that’s slightly loose is far easier to work with — a belt, a tuck — than one that won’t do up.

Brilliant Alternatives to Nissa Across Every Budget

If Nissa’s cut proves too slim for your frame, or you’d simply prefer a UK-stocked brand with easier returns, here are my picks across high street, premium, and designer tiers:

High Street

Whistles — The closest UK high street match to Nissa’s polished, grown-up aesthetic. Beautifully cut occasion dresses and tailoring, reliable sizing, and a restrained colour palette that feels genuinely sophisticated.
Jigsaw — Another brand that shares Nissa’s quiet elegance — quality fabrication, considered silhouettes, and nothing too trend-driven. Sizing is consistent and runs true to UK size.
Reiss — Probably the best UK high street equivalent for Nissa’s tailoring. Their blazers and dresses in particular are beautifully constructed and the sizing is very reliable for UK bodies.
Phase Eight — Brilliant for occasion dressing in a similar register — feminine, elegant, event-appropriate. Sizing is consistently true and the range covers a wider size spectrum than Nissa.
Hobbs — A natural alternative for anyone who loves Nissa’s tailored separates and occasion dresses. Exceptional quality for the price, genuinely true-to-size, and reliably consistent across categories.
Ted Baker — If you love Nissa’s feminine silhouettes and detailed design work, Ted Baker offers a very similar sensibility with the convenience of UK sizing and easy returns. Excellent for weddings and smart occasions.
Massimo Dutti — For the Nissa customer who wants that same European sophistication but with slightly more relaxed tailoring. Their blouses and tailored trousers are particularly good, and sizing is more accommodating for UK frames than Nissa.
Me&Em — A brilliant British brand for anyone who wants the polished, put-together aesthetic without the sizing gamble. Excellent quality, honest sizing, and a grown-up, editorial feel that echoes Nissa’s best work.

Two Independent Picks You Should Know

Kitri Studio — A London-based independent label making beautifully considered dresses, blouses, and co-ords in a very similar vein to Nissa — feminine, occasion-ready, polished — but with sizing that works far more consistently for UK bodies. Their prints are glorious and the quality is excellent for the price. A genuine find.
Story Mfg. — A left-field pick, admittedly, but bear with me. If what you love about Nissa is the quality and the considered, grown-up approach to design, Story Mfg. offers a very different aesthetic — natural dyes, artisanal construction, deeply considered fabrics — but the same sense that clothes have been made with genuine care. Sizing is generous and their pieces are genuinely special.

Stop Guessing Your Size in Nissa — Let Tellar Do It For You

Nissa’s EU sizing and close-cut silhouettes make getting the right size genuinely tricky. Tellar is the UK’s leading clothing size tool — match your measurements to over 1,500 brands instantly and never stare at a size guide again.

Measure once — bust, waist, and hips, or simply enter your size in a brand you already know well.
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And while you’re there, explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — a growing library of free posts from our top stylists. Honest. Unbiased. Independent. Always free.

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