What’s the Sizing Like at René Derhy?

René Derhy runs true to size to very slightly small, and because it’s a French label it’s cut on EU sizing — so a UK 12 usually lands at a René Derhy 40, a UK 14 at a 42, and so on up the scale. If you fall between two sizes, or you’re buying one of the more structured woven pieces, size up. The soft, romantic silhouettes the brand is famous for are forgiving through the body, but like most French houses it can run a touch mean across the shoulders and bust on the fitted styles.

I’ve styled a lot of French labels over the years, and Derhy has a very particular signature: bohemian, beautifully printed, a little romantic, with that 1970s Parisian spirit threaded through everything. That aesthetic genuinely changes how the clothes sit on the body, so let me break it down the way I’d talk you through it in a fitting room.

How René Derhy sizing actually works

Founded in 1969, René Derhy is a Parisian house built on ethnic prints, soft volume and feminine, fluid cuts. Most current pieces are labelled in EU sizes (36, 38, 40, 42…), though some newer ranges have moved to XS–XL. Here’s what matters when you’re choosing:

The EU-to-UK gap is the main thing to get right. French sizing sits roughly one number narrower than ours, so always shop the EU figure, not the number you’d pick on the British high street.
Woven, non-stretch fabrics need precision. Derhy loves cotton, linen and viscose. These have little give, so if your bust or hips fall between sizes, take the larger one — you can’t stretch what isn’t there.
Anything smocked or elasticated is very forgiving. Their tiered, smock-waist and gathered styles flex across a good size range, so you can comfortably stick to your usual.
Knitwear runs relaxed. Jumpers and cardigans are designed with a soft, easy drape, so there’s no need to size up for comfort.
Watch the shoulders and sleeves on fitted dresses. This is the one spot where the French cut shows — narrower armholes and a slimmer upper back than UK brands.

Fit by garment type

Dresses: The flowing maxi and midi styles are roomy and true to size. The more tailored, waisted dresses are where I’d size up if I were between numbers.
Tops & blouses: Generally true to size with a feminine, slightly fitted shoulder. If you’re broader across the back, go up one.
Knitwear: Relaxed and generous — take your normal size for an intended easy fit.
Skirts: Often elasticated or tie-waisted, so very accommodating; true to size is safe.

A quick word from experience

Confession: the first Derhy piece I bought was a printed linen midi in what I’d call my “usual” size, ordered in a hurry before a summer wedding. The skirt was glorious, the shoulders were not — snug enough that I spent the day doing that subtle arms-pinned-to-sides shuffle we’ve all done. Lesson learned, and now passed to you: on woven Derhy, when in doubt, go up. The fabric won’t forgive you, but a half-size of breathing room will. On the flip side, a smocked Derhy blouse I bought years ago still fits beautifully through every weight fluctuation — that’s the magic of their elasticated cuts.

Where to shop for the same look

If you love the romantic, printed, French-bohemian feel of René Derhy, here’s where I’d send you across every budget.

High street

Monsoon — the closest high-street match for embellished, printed, occasion-ready boho dresses.
Mint Velvet — relaxed-luxe separates with that effortless French-girl ease.
Hush — easy printed dresses and soft knitwear in the same understated, wearable spirit.
Boden — brilliant for bold prints and colour with a flattering, true-to-size cut.
Phase Eight — feminine, occasion-leaning dresses with a romantic edge.
White Stuff — relaxed, print-led pieces with a gentle bohemian feel.
Oliver Bonas — playful prints and floaty dresses, great for standout details.

Premium

Sézane — the quintessential Parisian label for romantic prints and timeless French-girl style.
Ba&sh — floaty, feminine French dresses with the same soft, undone elegance.
Sandro — refined Parisian tailoring and prints with a more polished finish.

Luxury & designer

By Malene Birger — Scandi-romantic with beautifully embellished, statement printed pieces.
Max Mara — investment-grade fabrics and impeccable cut for elevated, lasting wardrobe staples.

Two to seek out (my left-field picks)

Antik Batik — a Parisian independent built entirely on hand-embellished boho prints; if you adore Derhy, this is your next obsession.
Hartford — a small French house doing gorgeously relaxed linen and cotton pieces with quiet, lived-in charm.

How Tellar takes the guesswork out

Here’s the honest truth: no blog post can replace knowing your exact size in a specific brand — and that’s precisely why I built Tellar. It’s the UK’s leading sizing tool, matching your body to over 1,500 brands instantly, so you never have to squint at a size guide again.

Measure once — using your bust, waist, hip, or simply a size you already own in another brand.
Use the Store Size Lookup to get your precise size in any label — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.
Always free, no downloads, works straight in your browser.

And then there’s the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library stacked with free posts from our top stylists. Honest, unbiased, independent and always free: style advice, top picks and the best brands for every fit question you can think of.

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Written by Ella Blake, Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder of Tellar.