What is sizing like at Runway 1.8.1.8?

By Ella Blake – Senior fashion stylist & Founder | Tellar — Always honest, unbiased, & unsponsored post

Runway 1.8.1.8 sizing broadly follows Warehouse’s standard UK sizing (a 6 through to an 18), and the majority of pieces run true to size — but the structured tailoring and corseted occasion dresses tend to come up slightly snug through the bust and waist, so if you’re between sizes, curvier through the chest, or unsure, I’d nearly always size up by one.

I’ve spent more time than I’d care to admit (and an embarrassing chunk of next-day-delivery returns) getting to grips with the fit of Runway 1.8.1.8 — Warehouse’s elevated statement line that you’ll also find dropping at Debenhams, Wallis and PrettyLittleThing. It’s a collection built to be seen: corsage-trimmed minis, halter maxis, sculpted blazers, lace-detail event dresses, the kind of pieces you reach for at a summer wedding or an invite-only do. Because it leans into structure, sheer panels and architectural seams rather than stretchy jersey forgiveness, the size you choose genuinely matters — far more than for your average Friday-night dress.

The fit personality, in plain English

Across the wider Runway 1.8.1.8 edit, here’s what consistently shows up in my own fittings and across the customer reviews:

Occasion dresses: cut to skim the body, not cling. Bust and waist are nipped in, hems tend to run on the longer side — brilliant if you’re 5’7”+, worth a tailor visit if you’re petite.
Blazers & tailoring: precision-cut, structured, beautiful — but unforgiving across the back and shoulders. Sleeves come up long.
Co-ords: tops tend to fit close, bottoms looser. Mixing sizes between the two pieces is perfectly fine.
Outerwear: deliberately oversized — stick to your usual UK size for the intended drape, do not size up “for layering”.
Knit and ruffled bodices: minimal stretch — go by your bust measurement, not your habitual size on the label.

The single biggest reason a piece doesn’t work? Ordering on autopilot from your usual high street size rather than your actual measurements. Runway 1.8.1.8 is a tailored event line; it doesn’t behave like a relaxed Sunday jumper.

My honest stylist take by category

Occasion dresses

This is the hero of the brand. Bodices are usually fitted, often boned or corseted, and your bust measurement is the most reliable size guide here. I’m a UK 10 on top and a 12 on the bottom — on one halter maxi I went with a 12 “just to be safe” and the bust was actually generous. Lesson learned: trust the tape measure, not your default label size.

Blazers and tailoring

Tailoring is where Runway 1.8.1.8 really earns its ‘runway’ credentials — and where it runs smallest. Broader shoulders or a fuller bust? A 12 in the blazer over a 10 in everything else looks infinitely better than crushed-seam regret.

Statement co-ords

Heaven for a holiday or summer event. Tops can come up snug, especially anything with a tie, ruffle or cropped element — you’ve got room to size up without ruining the proportions.

Outerwear

The drape is intentional. I once sized up in a Warehouse-line wool coat “for room” and ended up looking like I’d nicked it from my dad. Stick to your usual size and you’ll get the shape the designer actually wanted.

How to actually get the size right first time

Measure bust, waist and hips with a soft tape, in centimetres, every six months. Our bodies shift more than we credit.
Check the Warehouse master size chart when buying Runway 1.8.1.8 from third-party stockists — the grading is the same.
Read three or four customer reviews focused on bust and waist comments rather than overall feel.
If between sizes, size up for tailoring and event dresses; size down for outerwear.

Where else to shop for that elevated, event-led look

If you love the mood of Runway 1.8.1.8 but want to compare fits, these are my honest high street picks — each chosen for what they genuinely do best:

Coast — the UK’s most consistent occasionwear brand. Bridesmaids, wedding guest, gala — they’re built for it, and the fit runs closer to true UK than Warehouse.
Phase Eight — drapey occasion dresses with more give through the bust. Brilliant for hourglass and pear shapes.
Hobbs — polished tailoring done properly, cut more generously through the shoulder than Runway 1.8.1.8.
Reiss — sleek, minimal event dressing. Their tailoring runs slim, so size up if you’re curvier.
Whistles — architectural modernist cuts; my go-to for a more relaxed event vibe.
Ted Baker — feminine ruffles, prints and embellishment, with a softer waist than the Runway 1.8.1.8 equivalent.
LK Bennett — refined Mayfair-style separates and dresses. Reliably true to UK size.
Monsoon — embellished maxis and mother-of-the-bride staples, often cut more generously through bust and hip.

And two left-field independents I’d genuinely recommend you look at:

Rixo — London-based, with hand-painted prints and a tea-dress fit that’s flattering on almost everyone. The fit is forgiving in a way Runway 1.8.1.8 isn’t.
Galvan London — modernist slip dresses with red-carpet polish, ideal if you want the sleek minimalism of Runway 1.8.1.8’s tailoring but in eveningwear form.

Premium picks: Me&Em for elevated, fit-forward event pieces and Hush for relaxed-luxe occasionwear.

Luxury / designer step-up: Self-Portrait for sculpted lace, Saloni for printed dream dresses, and Roland Mouret for the most architectural occasionwear money can buy.

Skip the sizing guesswork — with Tellar

This is exactly where Tellar.co.uk comes in. We’re the UK’s leading sizing tool: your real body measurements matched to 1,500+ brands in seconds — including the full Warehouse / Runway 1.8.1.8 range. Never look at a size guide again.

Measure once — bust, waist, hip, or just enter your usual size in a brand you trust.
Use the Store Size Lookup at tellar.co.uk/store-size-lookup to get your exact size in Runway 1.8.1.8, Coast, Reiss, Hobbs, Whistles and 1,500+ more.
Always free, no downloads, works straight in your browser at tellar.co.uk.

You’ll also find the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of free posts from our stylists. Honest. Unbiased. Independent. Always free.