What Is Sizing Like at Red Herring?

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

Red Herring uses standard UK sizing and generally runs true to size — so if you're a UK 12, a Red Herring UK 12 is where you should start. Originally a Debenhams own-brand label before the retailer's collapse in 2021, Red Herring has continued online under the Boohoo Group umbrella, keeping its accessible, trend-led identity intact. The sizing has remained largely consistent with its Debenhams days, which is reassuring — though as with any brand at this price point, fit can vary a little between styles and fabrications, so it pays to know a few things before clicking buy.

Red Herring was always one of those quietly reliable Debenhams labels — not the flashiest brand in the building, but solid, affordable, and consistently decent on fit. I have a real affection for it, actually. Back in the Debenhams era, it was the brand I'd point clients towards when they needed something occasion-ready on a tight budget and didn't want to look like they'd obviously scrimped. A good Red Herring dress, styled properly, could hold its own. The brand still delivers that same accessible appeal — you just need to shop it slightly differently now that it's online-only.

Red Herring Sizing: What You Need to Know

Standard UK sizing is the good news here — no EU label confusion, no Italian sizing gymnastics. That said, there are a few things worth flagging before you order:

Red Herring sizes run from a UK 8 to a UK 22, making it a reasonably inclusive range at its price point.
Sizing is generally true to standard UK measurements — no notable vanity sizing, and no consistent trend towards running small or large.
Fabric and cut will affect fit more than the size label here. Jersey and stretchy fabrics are forgiving; structured or woven styles are less so.
Since moving online via Boohoo, product quality can vary more than it did in the Debenhams era — reading customer reviews on individual products is genuinely useful and I'd recommend doing it before you commit.
Returns are straightforward online, but it's still worth getting the size right first time — particularly for occasion pieces where you're working to a deadline.

Red Herring Size Guide

Here's how Red Herring's UK sizing maps to EU, US, and body measurements. Use this as your starting reference, and always check the individual product measurements where they're available.

UK SizeEU SizeUS SizeBust (cm)Waist (cm)Hips (cm)83648465901038688699412408927398144210967710216441210182107184614106871122048161119211722501811697122

Sizing by Garment Category

Red Herring's range spans dresses, occasionwear, tops, and separates — and here's how fit plays out across the key categories:

Dresses: True to size as a rule. Red Herring's dresses have always been a highlight of the brand — shift styles, wrap dresses, and occasionwear pieces that deliver far more than their price tag suggests. Wrap dresses are particularly forgiving if you're between sizes. Fitted bodycon styles are the exception — go true to size and do not size down.
Tops & Blouses: True to size. Jersey and relaxed-fit styles are very consistent. Anything with a defined shoulder seam or structured construction — less common in the range but it does appear — is worth checking against your bust measurement specifically.
Skirts: True to size in most cases. Elasticated waist styles (common in the range) are especially reliable and will work well even if you're between sizes. Pencil skirts and more tailored cuts need your precise waist and hip measurement cross-referenced with the product dimensions.
Occasionwear & Party Dresses: This is where Red Herring has always had a genuine following — affordable occasion dressing that actually looks presentable. Structured bodices and fitted silhouettes need your true size; I would not size down here. Check the product carefully and, if reviews are available, read them — fit feedback on individual occasion pieces tends to be very useful at this price bracket.
Knitwear: True to size or slightly generous. Knitwear has natural give, so most people find their usual size works well. If you run between sizes, go with your smaller UK size for a fitted look; go up for something more relaxed and cosy.
Trousers & Jeans: True to size. Waist and hip measurements are the critical measurements to check here — Red Herring's trouser cuts can be fairly straight through the leg, so if you have a fuller hip or thigh, check the product dimensions carefully and consider sizing up.

My Honest Stylist Take

Red Herring is a budget brand — let's be clear about that — and it performs admirably within those constraints. The sizing is straightforward, the range is decent, and for occasion dressing on a genuine budget, it still delivers. My honest caveat is that the transition to online-only via Boohoo has introduced a bit more variability in quality than there used to be, and the product photography can occasionally be more flattering than the reality. Reading customer reviews before buying has always been good practice; it's even more important now.

If the sizing is giving you any doubt at all — and particularly if you're buying for a specific event — measure yourself properly and use a sizing tool. A last-minute returns situation because a dress doesn't fit is genuinely stressful, and it's entirely preventable.

Similar Brands Worth Exploring — Across All Budgets

If you love Red Herring's accessible, occasion-friendly approach to womenswear, here are the brands I'd put on your radar at different price points — all with strong reputations for sizing reliability and wearable, well-priced fashion.

High Street

Phase Eight — The natural step up from Red Herring for occasion dressing. Better fabrics, more considered construction, and exceptionally reliable sizing across a consistently sophisticated range. A brilliant investment for anyone who occasions-dresses regularly.
Coast — For proper occasion glamour at an accessible premium price. Coast's dresses and occasionwear sit in a slightly higher bracket than Red Herring but offer a significant leap in quality and finish. UK sizing, very consistent.
Monsoon — Brilliant for print-led, occasion-friendly dressing with a slightly bohemian edge. Sizing is standard UK, inclusive, and reliable across the range. A great alternative if Red Herring's more contemporary edge isn't quite your style.
Next — One of the most reliable UK high street brands for true-to-size, consistent fit across a very broad range. If sizing reliability is your priority above all else, Next is as trustworthy as it gets at this price point.
M&S — Marks & Spencer continues to be one of the great unsung heroes of accessible womenswear. Excellent sizing consistency, a proper petite and tall range, great fabrics for the price, and occasion dressing that genuinely holds its own.
New Look — A natural companion to Red Herring for trend-forward, budget-friendly womenswear. New Look's occasion range in particular has improved enormously in recent years, with UK standard sizing and a very helpful size guide.
Hobbs — If you want to graduate from Red Herring's price point into something with significantly more polish, Hobbs is the brand I'd recommend. Beautifully made, classic British designs with meticulous sizing consistency and a very loyal following for good reason.

Independent & Niche Finds

Chi Chi London — A London-based independent that occupies a very similar space to Red Herring's occasionwear range — affordable, trend-led party dresses and occasion pieces — but with slightly more distinctive design and better finish details. UK sizing throughout and a strong customer review culture that makes sizing decisions easier.
Joanie Clothing — A Bristol-based independent with a devoted following for its retro-inspired, vintage-print dresses and separates. Exceptionally detailed size guides, inclusive sizing up to a UK 26, and a genuinely charming aesthetic for anyone who loves Red Herring's wearable, unfussy approach to dressing but wants something a little more individual.

Get Your Size Right Every Time — Try Tellar

Even with a true-to-size brand like Red Herring, knowing your exact measurements takes the guesswork out of online shopping entirely. Tellar is the UK's leading clothing sizing tool — matching your body to over 1,500 brands in seconds, so you always order the right size first time.

✦ Measure once using your bust, waist, and hips — or use a brand size you already know fits you well
✦ Use the Store Size Lookup to get your precise size across Red Herring, Phase Eight, Next, M&S, and 1,500+ more brands
✦ Completely free, no download needed — works instantly in-browser
✦ Plus explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — hundreds of honest, unsponsored posts covering every brand, sizing question, and style query you've got

Visit Tellar →Find Your Red Herring Size