What Is Sizing Like at Ottodame?

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

Ottodame sizes small by UK standards — being an Italian luxury brand, their clothing follows Italian sizing conventions, which means you should expect to size up by at least one, and sometimes two, UK sizes from your usual. If you're a UK 12, start by looking at a UK 14, measure your waist carefully, and don't skip the size guide. Trust me on this one.

I'll be honest — the first time I ordered from Ottodame for a client, I made the classic mistake of assuming Italian luxury meant generous tailoring. It absolutely does not. What it means is impeccably structured, artfully cut clothing that requires you to know your measurements precisely. Once you crack the sizing, though, the reward is enormous. Ottodame is one of those labels that makes you walk into a room differently. The bold graphic prints, the painterly colour clashes, the sculptural shapes — it's fashion as art, and it deserves to be worn properly. Let me help you get there.

Ottodame Size Guide: Conversion Table

Ottodame uses Italian sizing. Here's how that translates across to UK, US and EU:

IT SizeUK SizeUS SizeEU SizeBust (cm)Waist (cm)Hips (cm)386234816287408436846590421063887689344128409172974614104295761014816124499801055018144610384109

As a rule, always work from your actual measurements when buying Ottodame — particularly your bust and waist. The brand's silhouettes are architectural and the cut leaves very little room for error. An Italian 44 that fits your bust perfectly may still catch across the shoulders if you carry width there, so measure everything.

Ottodame Jackets & Coats: The Brand's Signature Pieces

The outerwear is genuinely where Ottodame shines — bold printed coats and tailored jackets with a maximalist edge that you simply won't find anywhere else at this level. The structured shoulders and cropped or box-cut silhouettes are a trademark, and this is exactly where the Italian cut can catch you out.

Jackets & blazers — These are cut with very little ease across the chest and shoulders. If you're broader across the back or carry any volume through the bust, size up without hesitation. The sleeves tend to run slightly short too — worth noting if you're tall.
Printed coats — Generally more generous than the jackets, particularly in the boxy, cocoon shapes. A single size up from your usual UK size should work well here. Fitted, belted coat styles are a different story — treat those like the jackets and go up.
Knitwear — Ottodame's knitted pieces tend to be the most forgiving in the range. Their intarsia and graphic knits have a relaxed, oversized quality. Sizing up is still wise, but you're unlikely to be wrestling with a garment that simply won't close.

Ottodame Trousers & Skirts

The trousers are where I've seen the most frustration — and the most joy, when clients get it right. Ottodame's wide-leg and tailored trouser styles look extraordinary but the waist is cut firmly and there is no stretch in the fabric whatsoever. Measure your natural waist and compare it directly to the Italian size guide before ordering. Don't guess, don't assume, just measure.

Wide-leg trousers — Fabulous and architectural, but unforgiving at the waist. Size up by one, check the waist measurement specifically.
Printed & pleated skirts — Usually a little more generous through the hip. Midi and maxi lengths work beautifully and the proportion is generous at the hem even if the waist is trim.
Straight-leg & cropped trousers — Cut close to the body. Definitely size up and, if you're petite, expect to have the hem taken up — the inseam tends to run on the longer side.

Dresses at Ottodame

The dresses are statement pieces — bold prints, strong silhouettes, nothing that blends into the background. Shift and A-line styles are the most straightforward to size for: go up one Italian size from your standard UK equivalent and you should be in good shape. Wrap styles offer a little more flexibility through the waist and are a brilliant starting point if you're new to the brand — you can adjust the tie to suit your shape, which takes some of the pressure off getting the size exactly right.

For anything with a defined waist seam or a zip at the back, I cannot stress enough — please measure your waist. It is the single measurement that will make or break the fit on Ottodame's structured dresses.

My Honest Sizing Advice for Ottodame

Always size up at least once from your standard UK size. No exceptions — this is a consistent pattern across the range.
Measure your waist in centimetres and compare it to the Italian size guide directly. This is non-negotiable for fitted styles.
If you're between sizes, always go larger. The structured, unlined fabrics cannot be let out easily, but a good tailor can take them in.
Check the fabric content. Ottodame uses a lot of woven fabrics — crepe, wool, printed cottons — with no elastane. What you see is what you get in terms of stretch, which is to say: none.
Buy from a stockist with good returns. Net-a-Porter, Farfetch and Mytheresa all stock Ottodame and have reliable UK return policies. Buying direct from the brand website means dealing with international returns, which adds time and cost.

Brilliant Alternatives at Every Price Point

Obsessed with the bold, graphic, maximalist spirit of Ottodame but want to explore other options? Here's where I'd point you depending on your budget.

HIGH STREET & ACCESSIBLE

Anthropologie — The closest high street approximation to Ottodame's maximalist print sensibility. Their collection regularly features bold florals, artistic prints and interesting textures that scratch the same itch at a fraction of the price. Sizing tends to be well-labelled and generous.
Zara — Not always associated with bold prints, but Zara's annual maximalist collections — printed wide-leg trousers, graphic jackets, statement knitwear — are genuinely excellent. Keep an eye on their Studio line for the most Ottodame-adjacent pieces.
Mango — Consistently strong on printed co-ords, bold-coloured tailoring and statement outerwear. Their quality has improved substantially and the price point remains accessible. A reliable source for colourful, graphic dressing.
Massimo Dutti — A slightly more restrained take on European tailoring, but Massimo Dutti's printed blouses, structured jackets and wide-leg trousers feel genuinely elevated for the price. Their Italian-leaning aesthetic makes them a natural alternative.
Jigsaw — One of the high street's best-kept secrets for interesting prints and grown-up colour. Their artisan-influenced collections regularly feature bold botanical and abstract prints in quality fabrics. Sizing is generous and runs true to UK.
Me&Em — British brand with a focus on quality basics and elevated occasion pieces. Their bold prints and co-ords are consistently well reviewed, and their sizing is thoughtful and detailed. Great if you want something polished that lasts.
Mint Velvet — Excellent for bold-print midi skirts, graphic knitwear and statement blouses. Mint Velvet has carved a strong niche for women who want interesting fashion without veering into costume territory. Sizing runs true to UK.

PREMIUM

Roksanda — London-based designer known for architectural shapes, bold colour-blocking and confident silhouettes. If you love Ottodame's sculptural approach to dressing, Roksanda is a natural next step up. Sizes run to UK standard but the cuts are structured — measure carefully.
Stine Goya — The Danish label that has made joy-dressing its entire identity. Extravagant prints, floaty silhouettes and an infectious maximalism that feels genuinely modern. A brilliant mid-point between accessible and luxury.

LUXURY & DESIGNER

Etro — The Italian heritage house that arguably does bold prints and maximalism better than almost anyone. Paisley, florals, rich colour — Etro is for when you want Ottodame energy but with true Italian luxury craftsmanship behind it. Sizing follows Italian conventions, so apply the same size-up rule.
Pucci — The original Italian house of bold print. If Ottodame's graphic sensibility resonates with you, Emilio Pucci's archive-inspired collections are the historic reference point for all of it. Investment-level prices, but genuinely extraordinary pieces.

TWO INDEPENDENT PICKS WORTH KNOWING

Borgo de Nor — A London-based independent label that has quietly built a devoted following for its maximalist printed dresses and structured silhouettes. The brand's bold colour palette and graphic florals are deeply reminiscent of Ottodame's spirit, but at a more accessible price point. Their dresses in particular are extraordinary. Sizing runs to standard UK measurements and the fit notes are detailed and reliable — a genuinely brilliant find.
Bernadette — A Belgian label producing some of the most beautiful, boldly printed occasion dresses on the market. Think extravagant florals, silk-feel fabrics and silhouettes that feel like a painting come to life. It's the kind of brand that gets passed between friends with a breathless "have you seen this?" Sizing follows European conventions so size up from UK as you would with Ottodame — but the result is absolutely worth it.

Sort Your Ottodame Size in Seconds — Use Tellar

Italian sizing and a structured cut is exactly the kind of combination that makes online shopping feel like a gamble. Tellar.co.uk removes the guesswork entirely — it's the UK's leading free sizing tool, matching your measurements to 1,500+ brands instantly.

Measure once using bust, waist, hip — or use your existing size in a brand you already know fits well
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to find your exact size at Ottodame and hundreds of other brands — from Etro and Roksanda to Zara and Jigsaw
Always free — no account needed, works instantly in your browser

And while you're there, explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of honest, unsponsored posts written by stylists, covering every fashion brand, sizing question and style dilemma you've ever had.

Find Your Size at Ottodame →