What Is Sizing Like at Shay?

Sizing at Shay runs true to standard UK sizing — the label designs and tags its pieces in UK sizes, so whatever number you take on the high street is usually the right place to start. The catch is that so many of Shay's dresses are fitted through the bodice with a back zip and very little stretch, which means your bust and waist measurements matter far more than the number on the tag. Get those right and the fit is genuinely lovely; gamble on it, and you'll be queuing at the post office.

I've been dressing women for occasions for the best part of two decades, and Shay — the Colombo-designed label founded by Shayani Alwis — is one I keep circling back to for printed, feminine statement dresses that photograph beautifully and don't cost the earth. It's also one I always tell clients to measure for first. Here's exactly why, and how to nail your size first time.

So, does Shay come up big or small?

Neither, in my honest experience — and that's the reassuring bit. Shay's product pages tell you the size the model is wearing in UK terms (the small is a UK 8, the medium a UK 10), so you're never left decoding US or EU numbers in your head. The cut sits true to size across the body. Where people get caught out is the shape, not the scale:

The bodices are properly fitted. Many styles have a structured top half and a back zip, so there's little give if your bust sits between sizes.
The skirts are often A-line or drapey. That half is forgiving — it's the top that decides your size.
Minimal stretch on the woven styles. Lovely for holding a clean shape, less forgiving if you size down hopefully (I've done it; never again).

A quick confession: the first Shay-style printed dress I ordered, I grabbed my "usual" 10 without thinking, and the bodice gaped at the bust because I'm broader across the shoulders than the cut allowed. A 12 with a tiny waist nip from my tailor was perfect — and far cheaper than the disappointment of a dress that nearly worked. It's the lesson I pass on most often.

How to pick your Shay size with confidence

You don't need a maths degree, just a tape measure and two minutes:

Measure your bust and waist first. On a fitted-bodice dress these are the deciding numbers, not your jeans size.
Size to your largest measurement. If your bust says 12 but your waist says 10, order the 12 — a waist is far easier for a tailor to nip in than a bust is to let out.
Read the model's size note on each product. Shay tells you what she's wearing, which is a genuinely useful steer style by style.
Factor in the returns policy. Shay offers exchanges rather than refunds, so it really does pay to get it right the first time rather than ordering two sizes "to be safe".

For a fuller bust, a discreet bra-strap converter or a stylist's tack of fashion tape at the neckline keeps a fitted Shay bodice sitting flat all evening — the difference between a good photo and a great one.

Where else to shop if you love the Shay look

If you adore Shay's printed, occasion-ready dresses but want to compare fits — or you simply need something quicker on UK delivery — these are the brands I send clients to, grouped by budget.

High street

Coast — the UK's occasionwear stalwart; structured, embellished dresses that fit a similar fitted-bodice brief.
Monsoon — beautiful prints and embellishment, brilliant for weddings and events.
Phase Eight — dependable occasion dresses with a generous size range and forgiving fits.
Hobbs — refined, tailored dresses for when you want polish over drama.
Whistles — modern, pared-back occasion pieces with a real fashion edge.
Ted Baker — bold florals and feminine silhouettes, very much in Shay's world.
French Connection — going-out and occasion dresses with a younger, sharper cut.

Premium

Reiss — grown-up tailoring and occasion dresses that hold their shape beautifully.
Ghost — fluid, bias-cut dresses if you prefer drape to structure.
Sézane — Parisian, feminine and print-led, with that hard-to-find indie-luxe feel.

Luxury / designer

Max Mara — impeccable eveningwear and tailoring when the occasion truly demands it.
By Malene Birger — statement prints and architectural shapes; Shay turned up to eleven.
Ralph Lauren — timeless occasion gowns with classic, true-to-size cuts.

Two to discover (my left-field picks)

RIXO — the London label famous for vintage-inspired prints and tea-dress shapes; gorgeous if Shay's florals are your thing.
Olivia Rubin — another London independent, all sequins, colour and joyful print for proper statement dressing.

My honest verdict

Shay is a genuine find for feminine, occasion-led dressing, and the UK sizing makes it refreshingly easy to shop from here. Treat it like any fitted, woven dress: measure, size to your bust, and don't gamble because the returns are exchange-only. Do that, and I think you'll fall for it just like I did.

Never guess a size again

This is the exact problem we built Tellar to solve. Tellar is the UK's leading sizing tool — your body matched exactly to 1,500+ brands instantly, so you never have to squint at a size guide again.

Measure once using your bust, waist, hip, or even just your existing size in a brand you already own — then let Tellar do the rest. Always free, no downloads, works straight in your browser.

Find My Shay Size Free →

How Tellar works

Tellar takes the guesswork out of online shopping. Here's the short version:

Measure once — bust, waist, hip, or your existing size in a brand you know fits.
Use the Store Size Lookup to get your precise size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and over 1,500 more.
Always free, no app needed — it all runs in your browser at tellar.co.uk.

Beyond the tool, there's the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library stacked with free posts from our stylists. Honest, unbiased, independent and always free: style advice, top picks and the best brands for every body, with no sponsored fluff.