What is sizing like at Warehouse?

By Ella Blake – Senior fashion stylist & Founder | Tellar - Always honest, unbiased, & unsponsored post

Warehouse sizing runs broadly true to size for tops, knitwear and casual dresses, but their tailoring, fitted occasion dresses and leather pieces lean noticeably snug — so if you're between sizes, have a fuller bust, or wider hips, I'd nearly always recommend sizing up by one. It's a brand I've been styling clients in for years, and once you understand how their cut behaves, you'll know exactly when to stick and when to twist.

My honest take on Warehouse as a brand

Warehouse sits in that sweet spot on the high street: more grown-up than Zara, more design-led than M&S, and a fraction of the price of Reiss. Their bestsellers — the printed midi dresses, leather mini skirts, structured blazers and silky shirts — have a slightly French, slightly editorial feel. Think Parisian commute meets Sunday wedding.

I once styled a client for a string of summer weddings purely from Warehouse, and three of those dresses are still in heavy rotation four years on. That's the brand's quiet secret — they design pieces with longer-than-trend shelf lives, which is unusual on the high street.

How Warehouse actually fits — body part by body part

This is where I get specific, because the difference between a Warehouse piece you love and one that lives at the back of your wardrobe is almost always about one inch in the wrong place. I've fitted enough of their pieces over the years to spot patterns.

Bust: Cut for a B/small C cup. Fuller-busted clients consistently need to size up in shirts, fitted dresses and blazers.
Waist: Defined and nipped, especially in dresses and tailoring. If your waist-to-hip ratio is more straight than hourglass, expect a fitted look.
Hips: Generous in skirts and trousers — pleasingly so. Pencil skirts in particular fit beautifully.
Shoulders: Narrow on blazers. Broader frames should size up rather than rely on an alterations tailor.
Length: Drafted for around 5'6". Petite range available, and worth using if you're 5'3" or under. Taller women may find midi dresses sit shorter than the model shots suggest.
Leather and PU: Always size up. Always. Their leather is cut sharp and unforgiving — I learned this the hard way with a leather mini I couldn't sit down in.

The Warehouse pieces genuinely worth your money

If I had to pick the heroes from the rail, it would be these:

The tailored single-breasted blazer (size up one)
Printed midi dresses (true to size for most, up one if fuller bust)
The leather mini skirt (size up)
Silky shirts and blouses (true to size, sometimes generous)
Wool-blend coats (true to size, with room for layering)

Skip the very low-rise jeans unless you're built for them — they cut wide at the waistband and pull awkwardly across the hip on most body shapes. The slim straight and wide-leg styles are a much safer bet.

Where else to shop if you love the Warehouse vibe

If Warehouse is your kind of brand, these alternatives sit in the same stylistic world — but each has its own fit personality worth knowing before you click buy.

High street picks

Whistles — elevated daywear with a similar editorial sensibility. Cut slightly more generously through the bust than Warehouse, and lovely for printed dresses and softly tailored trousers.
Mint Velvet — relaxed-luxe knits, soft tailoring and forgiving cuts. A brilliant pick if you find Warehouse's tailoring too sharp through the shoulder.
Phase Eight — occasion dresses done properly. Fit runs true and they cater for fuller busts beautifully. My go-to for wedding-guest dresses that won't show up on three other people.
Hobbs — the grown-up workwear answer. Structured, dependable tailoring with classic British cuts and a slightly longer, more covering hemline.
Coast — occasion-led, particularly strong for bridesmaid and black-tie. Fit is similar to Warehouse but cut a touch more generously through the hip.
Oasis — Warehouse's high street sister brand. Almost identical fit philosophy, with even more print-heavy summer dresses to choose from.
Jigsaw — for elevated wardrobe staples with a slightly looser, more grown-up cut. Their knitwear is genuinely investment level.
All Saints — the edgier alternative. Brilliant for leather, biker jackets and slip dresses, but cut very lean — size up one across the board.

Premium picks

Reiss — the natural step-up from Warehouse. Sharper tailoring, more refined fabrics and a similar customer. Cut on the slim side, so size up in anything fitted.
LK Bennett — for polished occasion wear, particularly dresses and heels. Sizes run small through the waist; their tea dresses are a wardrobe classic.

Luxury & designer picks

Max Mara — the gold standard for tailored coats and trousers. Yes, you're paying for it, but the cut is unrivalled and the pieces last decades.
Me&Em — elevated British design with thoughtful proportions and considered fits. A favourite of my clients in their thirties and forties who want grown-up but not boring.

Two independents you should know about

I always slip in a couple of left-field independents in every post, because the high street isn't the whole story — and these two genuinely fill the Warehouse-shaped gap.

Kitri — a small London brand with a near-identical aesthetic to Warehouse but a more modern, playful spin. Strong on prints, puff sleeves and dresses with real personality. Their fit runs true.
Never Fully Dressed — bold prints, statement occasion dresses and a fit that's genuinely inclusive. Their wrap dresses photograph beautifully and they cater across a wider size range than most.

My quick styling tip

If you're buying Warehouse online for the first time, order your usual size and the size up in any fitted piece. The returns process is straightforward, and you'll learn your personal Warehouse number in one shop. I made that mistake years ago — bought four blazers in my "normal" size, kept exactly one, and have been a size-up convert ever since.

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