What Is Sizing Like at Ripe? An Honest Maternity Fit Guide

By Ella Blake – Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder | Tellar – Always honest, unbiased, & unsponsored post

Ripe Maternity runs broadly true to size, and the golden rule is to order your pre-pregnancy size rather than sizing up in anticipation of your bump. The brand designs its pieces with a normal pregnancy weight-gain range built in, so the room is already there — you don't need to second-guess it. The only times I'd nudge up a size are if you're carrying multiples, you've gained more than the average, or you're eyeing one of their slightly snugger styles. Beyond that, the size you wore before the test turned positive is almost always the size you want.

I've dressed a lot of pregnant clients over the years, and maternity sizing is where people get tripped up most — partly because the instinct to "buy big" is so strong. With Ripe, resist it. Here's everything you actually need to know before you add to basket.

So How Does Ripe Actually Fit?

Ripe is an Australian-born brand, so its sizing follows the AU/UK scale (their XS–XXL maps neatly onto UK 8 to 18). The fit is genuinely well-judged for the maternity market — the bust coverage is generous, the side panels stretch and recover beautifully, and most pieces are cut to carry you from a flat tummy right through to the third trimester. A few fit notes worth flagging from real customer feedback:

Dresses and nursing tops: Spot on, true to size. The nursing styles get particularly good marks for soft fabric and practical zip access.
Overalls and dungarees: These run a touch small, especially on curvier frames, so if you're between sizes or fuller through the hip, size up here.
Jeans and trousers: Lovely quality, but the fit can feel less predictable postpartum when your shape is shifting — this is the category where people most often order the wrong size.
Lightweight summer dresses: Some of the thinner fabrics can read slightly sheer, so check the composition if you want full coverage.

My honest take? Ripe is one of the more reliable maternity brands out there for consistency. Where it occasionally wobbles is across the trouser and dungaree lines — so if you only take one thing away, let it be that.

How to Get Your Ripe Size Right First Time

Maternity returns are a faff when you're tired and nesting, so getting it right on the first order matters more than usual. A few stylist habits:

Start from your pre-pregnancy size and only adjust if you're carrying multiples or have gained above the average range.
Measure your bust at its fullest — and if you're nursing, measure when your breasts are at their fullest point, not first thing in the morning.
For trousers and dungarees, lean towards the larger size if you're hovering between two.
Think about the whole journey — you want pieces that work in trimester three and postpartum, not just for the month you're buying in.

Where to Shop for Maternity: My Brand Edit

Ripe is a brilliant starting point, but a great maternity wardrobe is rarely built from one label. Here's how I'd spread it across the price points — these are the brands I genuinely rate for bump-friendly fit.

High Street

H&M — The H&M Mama range is the everyday workhorse: soft jersey basics, leggings and nursing tops at prices that don't sting when you'll only wear them for a few months.
ASOS — ASOS Maternity has the widest spread of trends and sizes, and it's where I send clients hunting for occasionwear and going-out pieces that aren't dowdy.
Next — Reliable, well-cut maternity essentials with a grown-up sensibility; their workwear and denim are particularly dependable.
New Look — The budget hero for trend-led pieces — great for not overspending on items with a short shelf life.
Topshop — Still the go-to for maternity denim and a bit of edge; their over-bump jeans are a long-standing favourite.
Mango — The Mango Mama line brings that effortless Spanish polish — tailored pieces and knitwear that look far more expensive than they are.
Marks & Spencer — Quietly excellent for maternity underwear, nightwear and the kind of comfortable basics you'll live in.

Premium

Seraphine — A British premium maternity specialist (and a royal favourite) for beautifully tailored dresses and coats that carry you from desk to dinner.

Luxury / Designer

Isabella Oliver — London-based luxury maternity with an architectural, drape-led cut. The fabrics and finish are a real step up, and the ruched signature pieces are genuinely flattering on a bump.

Two Independents Worth Knowing

Tiffany Rose — A small British label making the most gorgeous maternity occasionwear going. If you've a wedding or christening on the horizon, this is your secret weapon.
The Bshirt — An independent, female-founded UK brand built entirely around breastfeeding-friendly design. Thoughtful, ethical and made for real postpartum life.

Find Your Exact Ripe Size in Seconds

Here's the thing — even the best fit notes only get you so far, because every body is different. That's exactly why I built Tellar.

Tellar is the UK's leading sizing tool, matching your body to over 1,500 brands instantly so you never have to squint at a size guide again. You measure once — using your bust, waist and hip, or simply your existing size in a brand you already own — and Tellar tells you precisely what to order, including in Ripe.

Measure once and get matched to 1,500+ brands instantly: https://tellar.co.uk/
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your exact size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more: https://tellar.co.uk/store-size-lookup/
Always free, no downloads needed — it works straight in your browser.

The Tellar Fashion Hub

Alongside the sizing 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 fashion question you can think of.

A few of my favourites to read next:

Never guess your maternity size again

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