What Is Sizing Like at SHUSHU/TONG?

SHUSHU/TONG runs small, so most UK shoppers are safer sizing up one from their usual. The label is cut to Asian/Chinese sizing, which sits trimmer through the bust, waist and shoulder than European high-street equivalents — so if you're normally a UK 10, a 12 will usually feel far more like the brand intends. I've fitted a lot of clients into this kind of feminine-with-an-edge designer wear over the years, and SHUSHU/TONG is one of those names where I always tell people to ignore the letter on the label and trust the measurements instead.

Founded in Shanghai in 2015 by Liushu Lei and Yutong Jiang — two London College of Fashion MA graduates — SHUSHU/TONG is all bows, ruffles, peplums and deconstructed tailoring with a knowing, rebellious streak. It's properly lovely, properly directional, and not cheap, so getting the fit right first time genuinely matters. Here's everything I'd tell a client before they hit "add to basket".

How SHUSHU/TONG Sizing Actually Works

The brand labels in both letter sizes and UK numbers, and the two map together neatly — a UK 6 is their XS, a UK 8 their S, a UK 10 their M, and so on up. Sounds simple. The catch is that the cut underneath is leaner than you'd expect for those numbers. Here's what I've learned watching these pieces fit on real bodies:

Bust and shoulders are the tightest point. The structured tops, bustiers and bodices are engineered close to the body, so if you carry across the chest, that's your deciding measurement.
Waists are nipped. Lots of styles are designed to cinch — gorgeous on, but unforgiving if you size literally.
Anything fitted or tailored: size up. The avant-garde cuts actually look better with a touch of breathing room rather than strained across the seams.
Returns are tight. Many stockists run final-sale or exchange-only, so I'd never gamble on a borderline size with this label.

My honest steer: take your bust and waist measurements, compare them to the specific garment's chart (not a generic body chart), and lean to the larger size if you're between two. A bow blouse that skims is chic; one that gapes at the bust is a return waiting to happen.

A Quick Confession From My Own Wardrobe

I learned the size-up lesson the expensive way years ago with a similarly cut Asian-sizing designer top — I bought my "normal" size out of stubbornness, couldn't do the back zip up over the bust, and it sat in tissue paper for a year before I sold it on. My fashion win, by contrast, was a structured mini dress I sized up in: it skimmed where it should and held its shape beautifully, and I've worn it to three weddings since. Room, with this kind of tailoring, is your friend.

Where to Shop for the SHUSHU/TONG Look

If you love the brand's mix of romance and edge but want options at different price points, here's where I'd send you. Different feel, different budgets — all genuinely worth a look.

High Street

Whistles — clean, modern tailoring with quiet drama; the closest high-street match for SHUSHU/TONG's structured side.
Reiss — polished, body-conscious occasion pieces and sharp bodices when you want that nipped-waist silhouette.
Ted Baker — the high street's go-to for bows, prints and feminine detailing done with confidence.
Coast — bow-front and embellished occasion dresses that channel the playful side beautifully.
Phase Eight — flattering, feminine event dressing with proper attention to fit and structure.
Hobbs — grown-up tailored femininity; lovely for the smarter, more sculptural pieces.
Monsoon — romantic embellishment, ruffles and texture without the designer price tag.
Nobody's Child — sustainable, print-led and properly girlish; great for the softer, ditsy-detail end of the look.

Premium

Ganni — Scandi cool with a playful, rebellious wink; arguably the closest premium cousin in spirit to SHUSHU/TONG.
Sézane — Parisian femininity, bows and beautiful blouses with that effortless French-girl ease.
Maje — Parisian edge meets romance; ruffles and structure in equal measure.
Claudie Pierlot — refined, pretty and a little bit knowing; perfect for elevated everyday.

Luxury & Designer

By Malene Birger — elevated feminine tailoring with a sculptural, considered hand.
Max Mara — for when you want investment-grade structure and craftsmanship in the coat-and-tailoring space.

Two Left-Field Independents I Adore

Sister Jane — a London indie obsessed with bows, ruffles and a touch of theatre; if SHUSHU/TONG had a more affordable British cousin, this is it.
Shrimps — playful, whimsical London label known for faux fur, beading and joyful detailing; pure feminine fun with a designer eye.

Both indies run truer to UK sizing than SHUSHU/TONG, so you can shop your usual there — a handy reset if you're juggling a wardrobe of brands that all fit differently.

Stop Guessing Your Size — Use Tellar

Here's the thing: every brand fits differently, and SHUSHU/TONG is a perfect example of why a generic size chart fails you. That's exactly why I built Tellar.co.uk — the UK's leading sizing tool. Measure once using your bust, waist and hip (or just tell us a brand size you already own), and we match your body to 1,500+ brands instantly. No more squinting at size guides, no more guesswork.

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

And once you've nailed your size, dive into the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library stacked with free posts from our top stylists. Honest. Unbiased. Independent. Always free. Style advice, top picks and best-brand guides for every fashion question you've ever had.

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Ella Blake — Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder, Tellar.co.uk. Always honest, always unbiased, always free.