What Is Sizing Like at Roksanda?

Roksanda runs broadly true to UK sizing, but the brand's signature architectural shapes mean the top half — shoulders, bust and sleeves — often sits more generously than the number on the label suggests, while trousers and skirts stay reassuringly true to size.

If you've ever fallen for one of those sculptural, colour-blocked dresses and wondered whether to take your usual size or drop down, you're asking exactly the right question. Roksanda is one of those labels where the cut does most of the talking, and that has a real effect on how a piece lands on the body.

The quick fit summary

Here's what I'd tell a client before they buy:

Roksanda is built on the UK sizing system, so a UK 10 is a UK 10 as your starting point.
Dresses and outerwear tend to run large across the shoulders and bust because of those dramatic, structured silhouettes.
Trousers and skirts are more tailored and generally true to size.
Fabric matters enormously — stiff, structured crepe holds its shape, while fluid silk and draped styles can fall bigger, so sizing down often gives a cleaner line.
Main-line and pre-collection pieces don't always match, so never assume your size carries across the whole wardrobe.

A quick confession from my own wardrobe

I'll be honest — Roksanda taught me a lesson the hard way. Years ago I bought a voluminous cape-sleeve dress in my "safe" size for a press evening, convinced more room meant more comfort. I spent the whole night hitching up a neckline that kept sliding off one shoulder, looking less editorial and more like I'd borrowed my big sister's frock. The following season I sized down on a similar draped style and it was transformative — the volume looked intentional rather than accidental, and I've never looked back. With this label, trust the architecture and don't over-buy for "comfort".

How Roksanda sizing actually works

The thing to understand about Roksanda is that designer Roksanda Ilinčić builds clothes like a sculptor. The brand is famous for bold colour-blocking, exaggerated sleeves and clean, building-like lines, and that vision shapes the fit at every turn.

Statement dresses: expect generosity through the upper body. If you're between sizes or smaller on top, sizing down usually gives a more deliberate silhouette.
Tailoring and separates: structured trousers and pencil skirts behave themselves and follow standard UK measurements closely.
Draped and fluid pieces: these can swamp a smaller frame, so a size down keeps the drape elegant rather than overwhelming.

Because the cut varies so much piece to piece, the worst thing you can do is buy on autopilot. I always check the garment measurements against my own before committing — especially online, where a returns fee and a tight returns window leave little room for guesswork.

How to wear Roksanda

Roksanda is event dressing at its most confident, so let the piece be the hero. A colour-blocked midi needs nothing more than a sleek heel and a sculptural earring. If a dramatic sleeve is doing the work up top, keep everything below streamlined and simple. And don't be frightened of the colour — these clothes are designed to be seen, not styled into submission.

Where to shop if Roksanda is out of reach

A Roksanda dress is a serious investment, so here's where I'd look for that same bold, sculptural energy across every budget.

High street

COS — the closest high-street match for Roksanda's clean architectural lines and minimalist, sculptural shapes.
Whistles — beautifully cut occasion dresses with a modern, considered edge.
Reiss — polished tailoring and elegant event pieces that photograph brilliantly.
Mango — increasingly strong on elevated colour and statement occasionwear at a brilliant price point.
Hobbs — the British occasion specialist, with structured, flattering dresses that hold their shape.
Coast — my go-to for event dresses with proper drama and colour.
Oliver Bonas — joyful, colourful and slightly off-beat occasion pieces for the bolder dresser.

Premium

Cefinn — Samantha Cameron's label, all modern silhouettes and clever colour, ideal for a workwear-to-event wardrobe.
Ganni — Scandi-cool with a playful, colourful streak that echoes Roksanda's sense of joy.
By Malene Birger — elevated colour, print and occasion dressing with a real designer feel.

Luxury / designer

Max Mara — for sculptural coats and refined, architectural tailoring in the same elevated league.
Emilia Wickstead — structured, ladylike occasionwear with the same grown-up polish.
Victoria Beckham — clean lines and confident colour for that same special-occasion slot.

And two left-field independents I love for this look

Rejina Pyo — a London label built on exactly the sculptural shapes and colour-blocking Roksanda fans adore.
Stine Goya — Copenhagen-based and gloriously colourful, perfect when you want the joy without the designer price tag.

Find your exact Roksanda size with Tellar

Here's the genuinely useful part. Rather than wrestling with a size chart, Tellar.co.uk matches your body to 1,500-plus brands instantly — so you never have to second-guess a label again.

Measure once using your bust, waist and hip, or simply enter a brand size you already own.
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in any brand — Roksanda, COS, Reiss, Whistles and more.
It's completely free and browser-based, with no downloads needed.

Never look at a size guide again

Tellar is the UK's leading sizing tool — your body, matched exactly to 1,500+ brands in seconds. Always honest, always unbiased, always free.

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More from the Tellar Fashion Hub

Once you've nailed the fit, the Tellar Fashion Hub is a free library of honest, unbiased style guides from our stylists — top picks, best brands and straight-talking advice, always free. A few reads worth bookmarking: