What Is Sizing Like at Sahara?

By Ella Blake — Fashion Stylist | Tellar Fashion Hub — Always honest, unbiased, & unsponsored post

Sahara runs true to size across most of its range, with a relaxed, generously cut silhouette that leans fluid and unstructured — if you're between sizes, sizing down will generally give you a cleaner fit. I discovered this the slightly expensive way after falling head over heels for one of their linen dresses and ordering my usual size, only to find it swimming around me in a very "art teacher at an opening night" way that I wasn't entirely going for. Lesson learned. Now I size down one in their dresses and it's spot on.

Sahara is one of those genuinely wonderful British brands that doesn't get nearly enough attention. Founded in 1988, it's built a loyal, devoted following among women who want clothes that feel considered — loose, breathable, naturally dyed, and beautifully made. Think layered linens, painterly prints, easy jersey separates, and structured knitwear. It's artistic without being eccentric, and the quality is genuinely impressive for the price point.

How Sahara Sizes Its Clothing

Sahara uses standard UK sizing running from a UK 8 through to a UK 22, covering a solid range. What sets their sizing apart is the relaxed ease built into every garment — these are not clothes engineered to skim the body. They're designed for movement, for layering, for real life. That intentional roominess is part of the brand's identity, which is brilliant when you know what to expect, and slightly alarming if you don't.

Their jersey pieces (and they do excellent jersey) behave more like you'd expect — they drape beautifully and follow the body without clinging. Their woven pieces — the linens, the silks, the cotton voiles — are where that generous cut really shows up. If you're petite or slight, I'd definitely recommend going down a size in those.

Sahara Size Conversion Guide

UK SizeEU SizeUS SizeBust (cm)Waist (cm)Hips (cm)8364806287103868466911240888709514421093751001644129880105184614103851102048161089111622501811497122

These measurements align with standard UK sizing — Sahara doesn't stray wildly from them, which is reassuring. The key thing to remember is that their garments are cut with significant ease added on top of these measurements, so what you're getting is a size guide, not a guide to how the clothes will actually land on your body. Always check the product description for any specific fit notes — they do flag when a style runs particularly roomy.

Garment-by-Garment: What to Expect

Dresses & Kaftans: Often cut very generously. I'd recommend sizing down one if you want any kind of defined shape. If you want that easy, floaty vibe Sahara is famous for, stick to your usual size — just know it'll be relaxed.
Tops & Tunics: Tend to run one size large. If you're between sizes, go smaller. Their tunics especially are designed to wear long and loose, so don't panic when they arrive — they're meant to do that.
Trousers & Wide-Leg Styles: True to size on the waist generally, but with a very wide, relaxed leg. Not the place to try and go down a size — the waistband won't thank you.
Knitwear: Runs true to size, maybe very slightly generous. Their knitwear is some of my favourite — beautifully textured and not scratchy in the least.
Coats & Jackets: True to size with room for layering, as you'd hope. No need to size up — they've already done it for you.

The Fabric Factor

One thing worth knowing about Sahara: they use a lot of natural fibres — linen, cotton, silk blends, and bamboo jersey. This is genuinely wonderful for wearing comfort and sustainability, but it does mean some shrinkage is possible if you're not careful. Always check the care labels. I've learned to wash everything on a cool, gentle cycle or handwash, and I've never had an issue. The linen, in particular, softens and improves dramatically with every wash — it's one of those happy facts about natural fabric dressing.

Who Is Sahara Best For?

Sahara genuinely works across a wide range of body types, specifically because of that relaxed, fluid cut. If you love an easy, layered look — or if you find most high-street clothes too body-con or fussy — this brand will feel like a revelation. It's especially wonderful for:

Women who prefer clothes that don't cling but still look put-together
Anyone looking for thoughtful occasion dressing that doesn't scream "special occasion" — great for weddings, events, or gallery openings
Those who love layering — Sahara is built for it, seasonlessly
Petite frames may find some pieces overwhelming — sizing down helps significantly, and sticking to their shorter lengths or cropped styles works brilliantly

If You Love Sahara — Other Brands Worth Knowing

If Sahara's aesthetic is your thing — relaxed, natural, artistic — there's a whole ecosystem of brilliant brands sitting alongside it. Here are my honest picks across different price points:

High Street & Accessible:

White Stuff — Prints, natural fabrics, and a beautifully relaxed sensibility. A real spiritual sibling to Sahara at a lower price point, and the quality is reliably solid.
Seasalt Cornwall — Linen-heavy, Cornish-inspired, joyful. Their fit is relaxed and their colour palette is exceptional. Brilliant for casual and smart-casual dressing.
Fat Face — More outdoorsy in spirit but their linen trousers, jersey dresses, and casual separates hit a very similar note to Sahara's easy-living aesthetic.
Boden — Brilliant prints, quality cotton and linen, and a slightly more fitted silhouette than Sahara if you want a touch more shape. Their dresses are reliably excellent.
Anthropologie — For the artsy, romantic edge. Their prints are extraordinary and they do the flowing, layered look brilliantly. Slightly more fashion-forward than Sahara.
Great Plains — Underrated and worth knowing. They do beautifully simple, natural-feeling separates at a very fair price. The quality punches well above its cost.
Hush — Relaxed, pared-back, quality-focused. Think Sahara but in a more neutral palette. Brilliant jersey basics and easy linen pieces.
Oliver Bonas — For the playful print moment. Their dresses lean artistic and they're wonderful for the woman who wants colour without going full maximalist.

Premium:

Me&Em — Elevated basics with a relaxed British sensibility. If you love Sahara's quality but want a sleeker finish, Me&Em is your answer.
Jigsaw — Beautifully made, understated, and quietly brilliant. Their linen and silk pieces sit in a very similar creative space to Sahara with a more tailored edge.

Independent & Worth Discovering:

Gudrun Sjödén — A Swedish brand with an utterly brilliant approach to colour, print, and natural fabrics. If Sahara and a Scandinavian folk artist had a fashion collaboration, it would look like this. Genuinely distinctive and sustainably produced.
East — A wonderful British brand with Indian craft influences, natural fabrics, and a deeply relaxed fit philosophy. Their prints and embroideries are beautiful and their sizing is similarly generous. A true Sahara kindred spirit.

Never Guess Your Size Again — Try Tellar

Figuring out your size in a brand like Sahara — where the cut is intentionally relaxed and the sizing is a little generous — is exactly the kind of thing Tellar was built for. Tellar is the UK's leading clothing sizing tool, matching your exact measurements to over 1,500 brands instantly. No more returns. No more guessing. No downloads required.

Measure once — your bust, waist, and hips (or use an existing brand size you trust)
Use the Store Size Lookup to get your precise recommended size in Sahara, or any other brand — tellar.co.uk/store-size-lookup
Always free — no app, no subscription, just works in your browser

Plus, the Tellar Fashion Hub is packed with free, honest, unsponsored posts from our stylists — covering every sizing question, brand comparison, and style dilemma you can think of. Honest. Independent. Always free.

Visit Tellar → Find My Size →