What Is Sizing Like at Religion? An Honest Stylist’s Fit Guide

Religion runs broadly true to size on its tops and tees, but the dresses, jackets and draped pieces are where things get unpredictable – expect generous, fluid silhouettes through the body paired with surprisingly slim shoulders and arms, so your usual UK size is a starting point, not a promise. In short: don’t assume. This is a brand built on attitude rather than standardised blocks, and that’s exactly why so many people end up sending pieces back.

Religion is a stridently independent, East London label rooted in club culture, gothic prints and a fearless approach to draping. That creative cutting is the whole appeal – but it also means the fit doesn’t always follow tidy high street conventions. Here’s how it actually fits, category by category, and what I’d do about it.

Why Religion sizing trips people up

The brand leans into asymmetric hems, raw edges, elongated backs and deliberately oversized shapes. The catch is that an “oversized” piece on the rail is often only oversized in the body – the shoulders and sleeves can be cut quite lean. So a dress might float beautifully over the hips while feeling tight across the upper arm. It’s a brand where two pieces in the same labelled size can genuinely feel a size apart.

How each category fits

Tops & tees: The closest to true to size. Their slogan and graphic tees fit as you’d expect, though longtime fans note the cut has crept slimmer over the years – if you like a relaxed tee, consider going up one.
Dresses: The signature pieces. Fluid, draped and often cut on the bias, so they skim the waist and hips generously but can cling unexpectedly at the bust or upper arm. Size for your shoulders and bust, not your hips.
Jackets & coats: Raw hems and oversized lapels with a deceptively slim shoulder. If you layer knitwear underneath, size up – the armhole is the pinch point.
Trousers & jeans: The most conventional of the lot, but check the rise and length, as the leg lines run long and lean.

My honest take (one win, one fail)

A confession: my first Religion buy was a bias-cut slip dress in my standard UK size, and it was a genuine win – it pooled around the hem exactly as intended and looked effortless with a leather jacket. Emboldened, I ordered a draped midi jacket in the same size for a client shoot … and couldn’t lift my arms. The body was roomy, the armholes were not. Lesson learned: with Religion, your shoulders and arms make the decision, and the body usually has room to spare. Measure, don’t guess.

Where else to shop if Religion isn’t fitting

If a piece doesn’t land, or you want the same edgy, draped, going-out energy from somewhere with sizing you can rely on, these are the brands I’d steer you towards – chosen specifically because they share Religion’s DNA, not just because they’re convenient.

High street

AllSaints – the single closest match to Religion’s whole world: leather, distressing and draped, asymmetric silhouettes, but with far more consistent, dependable sizing.
Zara – brilliant for directional, draped and asymmetric-hem dresses at a fraction of the price; reach here for the fluid party shapes.
Urban Outfitters – your home for the club-culture graphic tees and slogan pieces if Religion’s have crept too slim for you.
Topshop – the go-to for slinky slip dresses and statement going-out pieces with a younger, edgier cut.
River Island – bold, embellished occasion and night-out dressing when you want maximum impact for the money.
Mango – reach here for the fluid, drapey eveningwear and tailored-with-attitude separates that feel more grown-up.
French Connection – my pick for slinky, body-skimming occasion dresses with a clean, modern edge.

Premium

Whistles – refined, considered draping for when you want the directional look in elevated fabrics that hang properly.
Reiss – the place for leather and sharply-cut tailoring with a quietly rebellious edge.
Mint Velvet – relaxed, luxe draping and soft separates – the grown-up version of Religion’s easy silhouettes.

Luxury & designer

Max Mara – investment-level draping and the kind of coats that make a fluid silhouette feel architectural.
Hugo Boss – for the dark, sharp, minimalist edge – tailoring with a moody, after-dark sensibility.

Two independent gems worth knowing

The Ragged Priest – a London independent doing genuinely directional, alt-streetwear with the same fearless print-and-attitude spirit as Religion.
Disturbia – an indie gothic-leaning label for the darker, occult-tinged graphics and club-ready pieces that scratch the exact same itch.

How Tellar takes the guesswork out

This is precisely the kind of brand Tellar was built for. Tellar.co.uk is the UK’s leading sizing tool – we match your body exactly to 1,500-plus brands instantly, so you never have to squint at a size guide again. With a brand as unpredictable as Religion, that’s the difference between a piece that drapes like a dream and one that goes straight back.

Measure once – using your bust, waist, hip, or simply your existing size in a brand you already own.
Use our Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in any brand – COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.
Always free, no downloads needed – it works straight in your browser.

The Tellar Fashion Hub

Alongside the tool there’s the Tellar Fashion Hub – a library stacked with free posts from our top stylists. Honest. Unbiased. Independent. And always free. Style advice, top picks and the best brands for every occasion, all in one place.

A few of my favourites to read next:

Religion makes some of the most characterful pieces on the high street – just go in knowing the shoulders and arms call the shots, and let Tellar handle the rest.