What Size Am I in We Wore What? The Honest UK Sizing Guide

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

We Wore What runs small — particularly in its denim, structured tops, and swimwear — and as a UK shopper you should size up by at least one from your usual size when ordering, and sometimes two if you're buying anything with a close, body-contouring fit. It's an American brand using US sizing, which already puts UK shoppers at a disadvantage when guessing, but there's a bit more nuance to it than that simple rule, so let me walk you through it properly.

So, Who Is We Wore What?

If you haven't come across We Wore What yet, here's the background: it's a New York-born label founded by Danielle Bernstein, who started the brand as a street style blog back in 2011 and gradually turned it into a full clothing label. By 2020, the brand had expanded into denim, swimwear, activewear, ready-to-wear, and intimates — essentially a one-stop shop for that very specific New York City cool-girl aesthetic that looks effortless but is very much considered.

Bernstein's personal style is the DNA of the whole brand: high-waisted vintage-inspired denim, sleek swimwear with good coverage that still looks polished, and feminine separates that photograph brilliantly. The brand has a seriously devoted following and pieces have a habit of selling out on launch day. I can see the appeal — there's a polish to the We Wore What aesthetic that a lot of brands at this price point just don't quite achieve. The question is always: will it fit?

The Size Chart — US to UK Conversion

We Wore What uses US sizing with XS through to XXL labelling. Here's how that maps to UK and EU sizes, along with the body measurements the brand's own guide is based on:

WWW SizeUS NumericUK SizeEU SizeBust (inches)Waist (inches)Hip (inches)XS00–04–632–3432–3324–2534–35S2–48–1036–3834–3526–2736–37M6–810–1238–4036–3728–2938–39L10–1214–1642–4438–4030–3240–42XL14–1618–2046–4841–4333–3543–45XXL18225044–4636–3846–48

That table is your baseline. Now here's the important bit — the fit behaviour varies quite significantly depending on what you're buying.

How We Wore What Fits by Category

This brand is not consistent across categories, which is very typical of American labels that prioritise silhouette over standardised fit. Know what you're buying before you commit:

Denim: This is where the "size up" rule is most critical. The jeans are cut slim through the thigh with a high rise that sits firmly at the natural waist — brilliant in principle, but they run small in the seat and hip. If you're a UK 12 with curvier hips, don't even think about ordering a Medium; go straight to a Large. I've seen enough customer feedback on We Wore What denim to say confidently: if you're between sizes, always go up.
Swimwear: The swimwear is probably the brand's most loved category — and rightly so, the cuts are genuinely flattering. But the bikini bottoms in particular run small and the tops can be tricky if you have a larger bust. I'd size up on bottoms as standard, and for one-pieces or bandeau styles, think carefully about your cup size as well as your body measurement. The brand does indicate cup size ranges in its size guide, so use them.
Tops and crop styles: These run small in the chest and short in the body length. If you have a longer torso or a fuller bust, go up a size. The cropped silhouettes are very much designed for a snug, second-skin fit, which is intentional — but you don't want to be fighting it.
Jumpsuits and playsuits: These are the trickiest category to size in any brand, and We Wore What is no exception. The torso length can be short on taller frames, and the fit through the seat is slim. I'd size up and consider the individual garment measurements closely before ordering.
Activewear and loungewear: More forgiving than the structured categories. Leggings and bike shorts tend to have good stretch and are closer to true size. I'd still go up if you're on the border, but this is the category where the sizing surprises you less.
Dresses and occasion pieces: The more occasion-focused pieces — anything with boning, corseting, or structured bodices — will run small through the chest. Size up. The looser, more relaxed silhouettes (slip dresses, shirt-style dresses) are far more forgiving and behave closer to true to size.

My Honest Take

If I'm being straight with you, We Wore What is a brand that rewards people who know their measurements rather than their label size. The aesthetic is genuinely great — particularly the swimwear and the denim — but the US sizing combined with the close, body-contouring cuts means that UK shoppers who guess based on their usual high street size often end up disappointed. My advice is always the same: measure yourself properly (bust, waist, and hip), compare those numbers directly to the garment measurements in the product listing, and when in doubt, go up. You can always belt a slightly looser waist. You cannot politely squeeze yourself into a swimsuit that's a size too small on a beach holiday — I speak from experience, and it was not my finest moment.

The brand ships internationally, so UK orders are absolutely possible — just factor in the potential for returns if you get the size wrong, as shipping costs back to the US aren't cheap.

Where to Shop If We Wore What Isn't Quite Right for You

The New York cool-girl aesthetic We Wore What does so well — high-waisted denim, polished swimwear, feminine separates that look great on a body — is actually very well covered at a range of price points here in the UK. Here are my picks:

High street options genuinely worth your time:

ASOS — consistently the best high street option for We Wore What-adjacent swimwear and denim. The own-brand swim range in particular has some genuinely lovely high-waisted cuts at a fraction of the price, and the range goes up to a size 30.
River Island — brilliant for high-waisted denim and body-con occasion pieces. The quality has improved significantly in recent years and the silhouettes are very much in the same territory as We Wore What.
Topshop — back online and still very strong on the kind of high-waisted, vintage-inspired denim that Bernstein built her brand around. Reliable sizing and great value.
New Look — genuinely underrated for swimwear. The high-waisted bikini bottoms and structured swimsuits are very comparable to We Wore What's aesthetic at a much lower price point, and they offer a wider size range too.
H&M — always worth checking for seasonal swimwear drops and minimalist separates. The Move activewear line is also a good match for WWW's activewear aesthetic.
Mango — great for the polished, feminine ready-to-wear pieces We Wore What does well. Their denim range has improved considerably and the quality is solid for the price.
Anthropologie — slightly higher price point on the high street but the aesthetic overlap with We Wore What is very strong, particularly in dresses and occasion pieces. The Free People and Maeve sub-brands are excellent.
Warehouse — solid for trend-led occasion pieces and feminine silhouettes without the We Wore What price tag. Their bodycon dresses and structured tops are good quality for the cost.

Premium alternatives:

Hunza G — the undisputed queen of polished, figure-flattering swimwear at the premium end. One-size crinkle fabric, utterly timeless, and endlessly photographable. If you love WWW swim, you need to know Hunza G.
Citizens of Humanity — for the high-rise, vintage-inspired denim silhouette that made We Wore What famous, but in premium quality. The sizing is more considered for a wider range of body shapes and the denim is genuinely exceptional.
Paige — another premium denim brand with a similar aesthetic and a strong focus on fit. Available widely in the UK and the customer service around sizing is much easier to navigate than ordering from a US-based brand.

Two independent labels I'd genuinely push you towards:

Frankie's Bikinis — a California-based independent label with a very similar aesthetic to We Wore What swim: high-waisted, polished, and built for people who actually want to look good on holiday rather than just look good on Instagram. The quality is exceptional and the sizing is more reliable for curvier frames.
With Jean — an Australian independent label that nails the feminine, considered aesthetic We Wore What aspires to, with beautiful textured fabrics, thoughtful detailing, and sizing that is more generous through the hip and bust. Harder to find in the UK but absolutely worth seeking out online.

Stop Guessing — Find Your We Wore What Size in Seconds

US sizing, close-cut silhouettes, and a brand that runs small across most categories. We Wore What is exactly the kind of label where getting the size wrong costs you time, money, and postage back across the Atlantic. Tellar.co.uk solves this for you — for free.

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