What Is Sizing Like at Scarlett & Jo?

Scarlett & Jo runs true to standard UK sizing across its UK 12–32 range, so nine times out of ten you can order your everyday size and trust it. What sets this brand apart is that the patterns aren’t simply scaled-up versions of a size 10 — they’re engineered from the ground up for fuller figures, which is precisely why the fit feels so reliable. If you’ve ever had a dress gape at the bust or pull across the hips, this is the brand that quietly fixes both.

The short answer on fit

Take your usual UK size. Scarlett & Jo is a London-based, UK-made label that has spent over a decade obsessing over one thing: dressing curves properly. It’s an occasion-wear specialist — weddings, mother-of-the-bride, christenings, galas — so the cuts are built to flatter, not to chase fast-fashion trends. The result is sizing you can actually count on.

Why the fit actually works

Three pieces of in-house technology do the heavy lifting:

Advanced Fit Technology® — bust, waist and hip ratios designed for plus-size proportions, so there’s no gaping at the chest or pulling across the seat.
MagicBand® — a clever waist-shaping band that nips you in without a single seam digging in.
POWERFIT® mesh — a structured stretch lining that holds and smooths rather than squeezes.

In practice, this means the dresses do a lot of the styling work for you — which is rarer than it should be in this corner of the market.

When to size up or down

Honest caveat: fabric changes everything. A few rules I’d follow:

Stretch jersey and POWERFIT styles — stick to your true size; they’re designed to skim.
Structured chiffon, satin and occasion fabrics — if your bust or hips are your widest point, size up one for comfort.
Anything shirred or elasticated — very forgiving, so resist the urge to go up.

The golden rule with any curve-cut brand: fit to your largest measurement and tailor the rest.

My honest take

I’ll be candid — I once talked a client out of a Scarlett & Jo wrap dress for a wedding because she was convinced plus-size occasion wear meant shapeless and beige. She ordered her usual 18, and the photo she sent me from the fitting room I’ve still got saved: the MagicBand did in seconds what an hour of shapewear and safety pins never managed. My own fail? Years ago I sized down in a satin column dress telling myself “it’ll give” — it absolutely did not, and I spent a christening unable to sit down comfortably. Lesson learned: respect the fabric, every time.

Love this fit? Shop these too

If Scarlett & Jo’s curve-first approach is your thing, these are the names I send clients to across every budget.

High street

Monsoon — beautifully embellished occasion dresses with a generous, forgiving cut.
Phase Eight — the mother-of-the-bride favourite; structured, elegant and sizing well into the 20s.
Coast — glamorous event dresses with built-in support and a real sense of occasion.
Marks & Spencer — the Autograph and curve lines are brilliantly consistent on fit.
Next — an enormous size range and dependable, true-to-size tailoring.
Oasis — feminine prints and waist-defining shapes that suit an hourglass.
Hobbs — polished, tailored occasion wear that holds its shape all day.

Premium

Me&Em — clever proportion-led design and a genuinely inclusive size range.
Mint Velvet — relaxed luxe with soft, draping fabrics that flatter curves.
Reiss — sharp tailoring for a more minimal, modern take on occasion dressing.

Luxury / designer

Max Mara — investment coats and dresses cut with real generosity through the body, built to last decades.

Two independents worth knowing

Because the big names aren’t the only game in town:

Anna Scholz — a London designer who has championed luxury plus-size since the 90s; her draped jersey gowns are a masterclass in flattering fuller figures.
Elvi — an independent London label doing contemporary, print-led occasion wear in sizes 8–26, with a fashion-forward edge you won’t find on the high street.

How Tellar takes the guesswork out

Here’s where I’ll save you the returns faff. Tellar is the UK’s leading sizing tool — match your body to 1,500+ brands instantly and never squint at a size guide again.

Measure once using your bust, waist, hip, or an existing brand size you already trust.
Use the Store Size Lookup to get your precise size in any brand — Scarlett & Jo, COS, Reiss, Arket and more.
Always free, no downloads needed — it works straight in your browser.

Find your size → tellar.co.uk Store Size Lookup →

The Tellar Fashion Hub

There’s also 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 best brands, with no sponsored nonsense in sight.

Further reading from the Hub: