What Is Sizing Like at Xscape? Your Complete UK Buyer's Guide

By Ella Blake — Fashion Stylist | Tellar Fashion Hub — Always honest, unbiased, & unsponsored

Xscape runs entirely on US sizing, so as a UK shopper you'll need to go up two sizes from your usual — a UK 12 is a US 8, a UK 14 is a US 10, and so on. It sounds simple enough, but with fitted occasion wear there are a few extra nuances worth knowing before you hand over your card. I've helped clients dress for everything from winter weddings to black-tie charity galas in Xscape pieces, and once you understand the brand's fit logic, it's actually a very reliable buy.

Who Is Xscape, Exactly?

Xscape is a New York-based occasion wear brand with a decades-long track record of dressing women for the moments that matter — cocktail parties, weddings, proms, gala dinners. Think structured bodices, ruched midi lengths, sleek column gowns and the occasional dramatic ruffle. It sits in a sweet spot between high street formality and full designer pricing, which is why it's become a go-to for US department stores like Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's. In the UK it's predominantly available online via ASOS, Nordstrom's international shipping, or specialist occasion wear stockists. And yes, the pieces photograph brilliantly — always a bonus.

How Xscape Sizing Works: The Honest Breakdown

Here's what I tell every client who asks about Xscape for the first time:

It follows standard US sizing throughout — there's no vanity sizing at play here, which is actually refreshing. A US 8 is genuinely a US 8.
The fit is designed to be close to the body. Xscape cuts for occasion wear, not loungewear, so there is deliberate structure in the bodice and waist. If you're between sizes, I'd always go up, not down.
Stretch fabrications forgive a lot. Many of the brand's bestselling styles use scuba, ponte, or stretch jersey — these give you a bit of room to manoeuvre. The more rigid satin or taffeta styles offer no such generosity, so measure carefully before ordering those.
The bust tends to run slightly small. If you're a fuller bust, I'd strongly recommend sizing up one from your usual US equivalent. You can always have the waist taken in; gaps across a bustline at a formal event are not the vibe.
Plus sizing (labeled 14W–24W) is cut differently from their straight sizes and generally gets good reviews for fit. Don't assume a 14W is the same as a straight 14 — they're patterned separately with more room through the hip and waist.

UK to US Size Conversion Table

Use this as your starting point, then cross-reference with your actual measurements below:

UK SizeUS Size (Xscape)EU SizeBust (cm)Waist (cm)Hips (cm)623480618784368465911063888699512840927399141042967710316124410182108181446106871132016481119211822185011697123

Style by Garment Type

Not all Xscape pieces fit the same way — here's what to expect across their key categories:

Ruched midi dresses: These are the brand's bread and butter and probably their most forgiving fit. The ruching draws in excess fabric beautifully and works across a range of body shapes. Size as per the table above.
Fitted column gowns: Very unforgiving at the hip. Measure your hips accurately and size to that measurement rather than your bust. If there's a 2-inch gap between your hip size and bust size in the table, go up.
Strapless and sweetheart necklines: The bodice is structured and boned in most styles. If you're a larger cup size, I cannot stress enough — size up. Boning only does so much.
Wrap and surplice styles: These are the most size-flexible pieces in the range. A bit of overlap or pull is easy to adjust with a safety pin or a visit to a tailor.
Beaded and embellished gowns: These run slightly more rigid due to the weight of embellishment. Comfort ease is minimal, so your measurements need to sit well within the size range, not at its limit.

Where to Shop if Xscape Doesn't Quite Work for You

If the sizing isn't translating — or you just want more occasion wear options to compare — here's where I'd send a client next:

High Street & Mid-Range:

Phase Eight — Consistently brilliant for occasion wear in UK sizing. Their structured lace and chiffon midi dresses are a reliable alternative to Xscape's silhouettes, and the fit is exceptionally well-considered for UK bodies.
Coast — Occasion-specific and sizing-forward. Coast tends to run true to UK size with good coverage of 6–22. Their embellished column gowns are Xscape-adjacent in feel.
Hobbs — Slightly more conservative in aesthetic but with outstanding fabric quality and reliable UK sizing. Perfect if you want something that reads elevated without the US import logistics.
Monsoon — Underrated for occasion wear. Their embroidered and floral maxi dresses offer a similar dressed-up occasion feel with straightforward UK sizing and a wide size range.
Ted Baker — Known for true-to-size UK fits and an occasion wear range that genuinely holds its own. Their bodycon midi dresses often get compared to Xscape in terms of silhouette.
Reiss — Sleek, minimal occasion wear with excellent sizing consistency. If you love a clean Xscape column silhouette, Reiss delivers it in pure UK sizing with zero guesswork.
Whistles — Sophisticated and size-reliable. A great option for those who want occasion pieces with a more editorial edge rather than the overtly glam Xscape aesthetic.

Independent Picks:

Needle & Thread — A London-based brand that's become something of a cult favourite for special occasion dressing. Their embellished tulle and chiffon gowns are extraordinary, sized in UK sizing, and arguably more interesting than anything Xscape produces. If you've got a budget to stretch and want something truly memorable, start here.
Chi Chi London — An independent UK occasion wear brand with a fantastic size range (6–26) and a design sensibility that's very much in the Xscape lane — fitted, embellished, made for photos. Considerably more affordable and sizing is UK-native, so no conversion headaches.

Premium & Luxury:

Self-Portrait — For a step up in price but also in design originality. Their guipure lace and structured midi dresses are exceptional and sized clearly in UK/EU.
Roland Mouret — If a Xscape column silhouette inspires you, Roland Mouret's sculpted gowns are the luxury equivalent. Impeccable construction, British-French aesthetic.
Jenny Packham — British designer with decades of occasion wear expertise. Floor-length embellished gowns in the most refined UK sizing you'll ever encounter.

Never Guess Your Size Again — Use Tellar

Xscape sizing is a classic example of why a proper sizing tool matters. One wrong conversion and you're waiting on a return. Tellar.co.uk is the UK's leading free sizing platform — enter your measurements once and instantly get your exact size across 1,500+ brands. No downloads, no sign-up, completely free.

✔ Measure once using bust, waist, or hip — or enter an existing brand size you trust
✔ Use the Store Size Lookup tool to get your precise size in any brand — Xscape, Coast, Reiss, Phase Eight & 1,500 more
✔ Works in-browser, always free, no app needed

Plus, explore the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of free, honest, unsponsored style advice from our team of stylists. No ads, no brand deals, just genuinely useful fashion content.