What Is Sizing Like at Sisters of the Tribe?

By Ella Blake — Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder | Tellar · Always honest, unbiased & unsponsored

Sisters of the Tribe runs small compared to UK sizing — as a general rule of thumb, you'll want to size up at least one size, sometimes two, particularly in dresses, playsuits and anything fitted through the bust. It's an Australian brand, and AU sizing consistently comes up smaller than its UK equivalent, especially across the bust and hips.

I'll be honest — the first time I ordered from Sisters of the Tribe, I sized based on my usual UK 10 and the playsuit arrived looking like it had been designed for someone considerably more petite than me. We've all been there. A quick, embarrassing return, a re-order in a 14, and suddenly it was the most flattering thing I owned. The brand is genuinely beautiful — floaty maxi dresses, lace-trim playsuits, kimono-style jackets — but you need to approach the sizing with a bit of insider knowledge. That's what this post is for.

The Australian Sizing Gap — What It Actually Means

Sisters of the Tribe is a Sydney-based bohemian brand stocked by UK retailers including ASOS and SilkFred. Because it's an Australian label, the sizing follows AU standards — and the key thing to know is that AU sizes don't map directly onto UK sizes the way many shoppers assume.

An AU 10 typically aligns closer to a UK 8, not a UK 10
Bust and hip measurements in particular tend to come up smaller than equivalent UK high street brands
Woven fabrics with no stretch — like their printed cotton dresses — leave no room for error
Playsuits and bodysuits are the most unforgiving — size up generously here

The practical advice? Always use your actual body measurements rather than relying on a UK label size when shopping Sisters of the Tribe. If you know your bust, waist and hip measurements, you'll be able to cross-reference directly against their garment measurements rather than guessing. This is exactly where Tellar's Store Size Lookup tool is genuinely useful — it matches your measurements to the brand's actual data and gives you a straight answer.

How Different Garments Fit — Style by Style

Sisters of the Tribe is best known for its boho dresses, playsuits and relaxed separates, and each category behaves slightly differently when it comes to fit.

Maxi and Midi DressesThese are the brand's real strength — flowing, printed, often with a wrap or tie-waist construction. The good news is the relaxed, floaty silhouette is forgiving if you have a slightly bigger waist. The less good news: if you have a fuller bust, the wrap-style necklines can gape. Sizing up by one and tying the waist tighter is usually the solution.

Playsuits and JumpsuitsThis is where I've seen the most sizing complaints, and frankly the most chaos. Playsuits are cut short in the body — which suits petite frames beautifully — but the bust and hip fit is snug. If you're between sizes, go up. Always.

Kimono Jackets and TopsGenerally more relaxed in construction. Open-front styles and oversized tops are the most size-flexible pieces in the range. If you're a borderline size, these are the styles to start with when you're first getting to know the brand.

Shorts and SkirtsElastic waistbands give you a bit more room to play with, but don't be lulled into a false sense of security — hip measurements still matter, especially in any style with a fitted panel or structured waistband.

Petite and Plus-Size Shoppers

Sisters of the Tribe genuinely suits petite frames — the short body length in the playsuits that's a pain for taller women is actually a dream for those under 5'4". ASOS also stocks the brand in a petite edit, which is worth knowing about.

For plus-size shoppers, the brand's range does have its limits — the sizing typically tops out at AU 14–16 depending on the style, and fit through the bust and hip can be inconsistent. I'd always recommend checking individual garment measurements rather than going by the label alone.

My Top Tip Before You Order

Measure yourself. I know, I know — it sounds obvious. But if you haven't measured your bust, waist and hips recently, do it before you order from any Australian brand. Use Tellar.co.uk — it takes about 30 seconds, and it will match your measurements to the brand's actual garment data. Far more reliable than sizing charts alone, and it'll save you the return faff I learned the hard way.

Never Guess Your Size in Sisters of the Tribe Again

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Measure once using bust, waist, hip — or your existing size in a brand you know
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Plus, explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — a free library of hundreds of honest, stylist-written posts covering every fashion query you could think of.

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Love the Boho Aesthetic? Here's Where Else to Shop

Sisters of the Tribe fills a very specific niche — sun-drenched, bohemian, festival-ready — and if you love that aesthetic, there are some brilliant alternatives at every budget point worth knowing about.

High Street Boho — Best Picks

These are the brands I reach for when I want that effortless, free-spirited look without the Australian sizing lottery:

Anthropologie — Hands-down my first port of call for boho dressing on the UK high street. The prints, the embroidery, the relaxed silhouettes — it's the closest thing to Sisters of the Tribe in terms of aesthetic DNA. Sizing is consistent and the quality is excellent.
Urban Outfitters — Great for younger, more eclectic boho pieces. Their printed midi dresses and slouchy linen separates are particularly good value. Sizing is reliable and they go up to a UK 18 in many styles.
Monsoon — Often underestimated, but Monsoon does floaty, embroidered, print-heavy festival dressing brilliantly. Particularly good if you want something a bit more polished than a pure boho look.
Mango — Their linen and woven ranges have a distinctly boho-coastal feel in recent seasons. Sizing is true to UK sizing and the quality has really improved.
Zara — Less obviously boho, but Zara consistently turns out beautiful printed dresses and kimono-style pieces that work perfectly for that free-spirited aesthetic. Size up one in their printed woven styles.
ASOS — Actually stocks Sisters of the Tribe directly, plus a huge range of own-brand and indie boho labels. Their petite and curve edits are excellent. Essential if you're looking to compare pieces side-by-side.
Oliver Bonas — Underrated for this aesthetic. Their printed maxi dresses and wrap styles are elegant, thoughtfully made, and sized consistently. A great option if you want the boho look with a slightly more grown-up sensibility.
Warehouse — Their summer and festival edits reliably include printed floral dresses and woven tops in that bohemian spirit. Worth checking in for their seasonal drops.

Premium Boho — Step It Up

If you want elevated fabrics and a more considered aesthetic, these are the labels I'd look at:

Never Fully Dressed — A London-based brand beloved for its bold, joyful prints and inclusive sizing. Their wrap and midi dresses in particular have the same free-spirited energy as Sisters of the Tribe but with more structure and better UK sizing consistency. Genuinely one of my favourites.
Rixo — For special occasions or when you want something truly beautiful in the boho-vintage space. Their vintage-inspired prints and relaxed silhouettes are iconic. A step up in price but the quality is exceptional.
Ghost London — Fluid, feminine and thoroughly British. Ghost's satin-feel dresses and floaty separates sit in a slightly more refined version of the boho space — beautiful for weddings, occasions or just everyday elegance.

Luxury & Designer

Zimmermann — The ultimate Australian boho luxury brand, and essentially Sisters of the Tribe's more expensive older sister. Exquisite embroidery, beautiful fabrics, and a deeply considered aesthetic. Worth every penny for a special-occasion piece — but note that Zimmermann also runs small in AU sizing, so the same rule applies: always measure first.
Ulla Johnson — A New York designer with a strongly bohemian, artisanal sensibility. Beautifully crafted pieces in natural fabrics with intricate detailing. If you love the Sisters of the Tribe look but want truly investment-quality dressing, Ulla Johnson is the label to know.
Faithfull the Brand — Another Australian label, but widely stocked in the UK. Vintage-inspired floral prints, linen fabrics, and a relaxed silhouette that's become a holiday wardrobe essential. Same sizing caveat as Sisters of the Tribe — size up.

Two Independent Niche Picks

Every post I write, I try to include a couple of genuinely independent labels that deserve more attention. For the boho aesthetic:

Christy Dawn — A small Los Angeles label making beautifully crafted, farm-to-closet dresses in deadstock and regenerative fabrics. If you love the Sisters of the Tribe aesthetic but want something truly considered and sustainable, Christy Dawn is extraordinary. Sizing is inclusive and the quality is genuinely special.
Arnhem Clothing — An Australian indie brand (you'll spot a theme) with a strongly bohemian, coastal identity. Beautiful printed resort wear and flowy dresses that are a direct aesthetic match for Sisters of the Tribe. Available online and ships to the UK. Note the AU sizing — same rules apply.

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