What Is Sizing Like at Rodarte?

Rodarte runs small and slim — its clothes are cut for a willowy, delicate frame, so most people land either bang on their usual designer size or one size up, especially in the bias-cut silks and fitted bodices the label is famous for. If you usually take a UK 10 on the high street, don't assume that translates here. Rodarte's own measurements put a size 0 at roughly a 32" bust, 24" waist and 34" hip, and the numbers climb in tight, couture-style increments from there. This is a label that flatters by skimming and clinging, not by giving you room to breathe.

Let me talk you through how it actually fits, the bits that catch people out, and — because almost nobody buys Rodarte at full whack — where I'd send you for the same dreamy, romantic mood at every budget.

How Rodarte sizing actually works

Rodarte is the Los Angeles house founded by sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy — think gauzy florals, gothic-romantic knits, bias-cut slips and red-carpet gowns that look like they've been spun rather than sewn. A lot of the collection is made-to-order or sold through resale, so you won't always be buying off a rail with a tidy returns policy.

A few things worth knowing before you commit:

It's cut petite-leaning. The sizing sits on the slim, narrow-shouldered end of designer. Curvier figures often size up, particularly through the bust and hip.
Bias-cut silk is its own animal. Those liquid slip dresses cling to every line. Gorgeous, but they show — and they don't have the give of a jersey, so a too-tight one won't magically settle.
Made-to-order is non-returnable. The atelier pieces are final sale with a long lead time, so a phone or email fit consultation isn't optional — it's essential.
Resale is wildly inconsistent. A runway "size 6" from one season can measure like a modern 8 or 10. Never trust the label tag alone on vintage Rodarte.

My honest fit advice

Here's my hard-won lesson. Years ago I styled a client for a literary awards dinner and tracked down a resale Rodarte bias slip in what the listing swore was her size. It arrived, I held it up, and my heart sank — the shoulders were built for someone half a head narrower and the silk pulled across the hip the second she sat. We saved it with a clever underpinning and a wrap, but it taught me the rule I now never break: buy Rodarte to the measurements, never the tag.

So my advice:

Measure yourself properly — bust, waist and hip — and match those to the garment's actual measurements, not the size on the label.
Size up in anything bias-cut or fitted at the bodice. You can take a fraction in; you can't conjure fabric out of thin air.
Mind the length. The Mulleavys design for a tall, drifting silhouette — petites should expect to hem.
For made-to-order, use the consultation. It's free, and on a non-returnable piece it's the difference between a treasure and an expensive mistake.

Where to shop for the Rodarte mood at every budget

Rodarte gowns run into the thousands, so unless it's a once-in-a-lifetime piece, here's where I'd actually shop for that ethereal, romantic, slightly otherworldly feeling.

High street

Nobody's Child — tiered florals and prairie-romantic dresses at a brilliant price; the everyday gateway to the look.
Ghost — the masters of the bias-cut slip on the high street. If you love Rodarte's liquid silhouettes, start here.
Monsoon — embellishment, beading and occasion drama without the designer ticket.
Anthropologie — whimsical texture, delicate detailing and that dreamy, layered prettiness.
Phase Eight — soft, feminine occasion dresses with proper attention to drape.
Coast — go-to for romantic event wear, especially anything with a fluid skirt.
Whistles — when you want the modern, pared-back version of romance — clean lines, lovely fabrics.

Premium

Sézane — Parisian romance done beautifully; delicate prints and feminine cuts that feel quietly expensive.
Ganni — romance with an edge, all puff sleeves and playful prints for the cooler end of the look.
Ba&sh — effortless French femininity, lovely floaty dresses that drape rather than cling.

Luxury & designer

Erdem — the London label closest to Rodarte's heart: painterly florals and old-world romance.
Simone Rocha — gothic-feminine tulle, pearls and ballet drama; Rodarte's spiritual sister.
Cecilie Bahnsen — sculptural, dreamy volume in the most beautiful fabrics.

Two for the fashion insiders

Yuhan Wang — a London-based independent designer doing the most exquisite dreamy florals and lace; properly off-radar and properly special.
Markarian — the small New York atelier behind hand-finished, made-to-order occasion pieces (yes, the inauguration coat); romantic, rare and worth knowing.

How Tellar takes the guesswork out

Sizing this varied is exactly why I built Tellar. It's the UK's leading sizing tool — your body matched precisely to 1,500-plus brands in seconds, so you never have to squint at a confusing size guide again.

Measure once using your bust, waist, hip — or just an existing brand size you already know fits.
Use the Store Size Lookup to get your exact size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and many more.
Always free, no downloads, works straight in your browser.

And the Tellar Fashion Hub is a free library of posts from our stylists — honest, unbiased, independent. Style advice, top picks and the best brands for every shape and occasion.

Find your perfect fit in seconds

Match your body to 1,500+ brands instantly. Never look at a size guide again — always honest, always unbiased, always free.

Visit Tellar Store Size Lookup