Sizes here run UK 6 to UK 18, with the bias slip and evening shapes stopping at UK 16. Measure yourself first, then compare with the flat measurements on the product page — that is a more reliable route than the size you usually reach for.
Measure before you choose
Our dresses are graded from a UK size 10 fit block developed on a frame of roughly 168cm with a soft shoulder line and a natural waist. Every dress on the site carries its own flat measurement table, because a bias slip and a pleated midi in the same nominal size behave nothing alike on the body. Take three body measurements with a soft tape, standing relaxed in your usual underwear, and keep the tape level all the way round without pulling it tight.
Where to put the tape
- Bust — around the fullest part, tape level under the arms and across the shoulder blades at the back.
- Waist — at your natural waist, the narrowest point, usually just above the navel. Bend sideways and the crease that forms is your waist.
- Hip — around the fullest part of the seat, roughly 20cm below the waist, feet together.
- Back length — from the bone at the base of your neck to your natural waist. Useful for pleated and belted shapes, where the waist seam has to land in the right place.
Body measurements by size
| UK size | Bust (cm) | Waist (cm) | Hip (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 78 | 60 | 85 |
| 8 | 82 | 64 | 89 |
| 10 | 87 | 69 | 94 |
| 12 | 92 | 74 | 99 |
| 14 | 97 | 79 | 104 |
| 16 | 103 | 85 | 110 |
| 18 | 109 | 91 | 116 |
Those are body measurements, not garment measurements. Ease is added on top, and how much depends entirely on the shape.
How much ease each shape carries
- Everyday column dresses — around 10 to 12cm of ease at the bust and hip, no waist definition. Skims rather than fits. If you are between sizes, size down for a cleaner line or stay up if you prefer air around the middle.
- Shirt dresses — 12 to 14cm of ease through the body so the front placket stays flat and does not gap. Belted versions pull the waist in as much as you want. Choose by your bust measurement; the belt handles the rest.
- Bias slip maxis — 2 to 4cm of ease only, because the bias stretches and recovers as you wear it. Never size down hoping the bias will give — it drops in length rather than width. Choose by your hip measurement, which is the widest point a slip has to pass.
- Pleated midis — a fitted bodice with 6 to 8cm of ease and a skirt with no fitting constraint below the waist seam. Back length matters more than usual here. Choose by bust and waist.
- Evening gowns and body-skimming dresses — 4 to 6cm of ease, closer through the ribcage and hip than anything else on the site. Lined bodices do not stretch. Choose by the largest of your three measurements and expect a close fit.
Lengths
Measured from the highest shoulder point down the front to the hem, in a size 10: column dresses 98 to 112cm, shirt dresses 112 to 122cm, slip maxis 136 to 142cm, pleated midis 116 to 124cm, evening gowns 148 to 156cm. Add or subtract roughly 1cm per size step. On a 168cm frame a 120cm dress lands at mid-calf; if you are 158cm expect it to sit lower, closer to the ankle.
Between two sizes
Bust and hip in different columns is common. For column and shirt shapes, go with the larger figure — the excess disappears into the drape. For slip, pleated and evening shapes, go with the larger figure too, but read the flat measurements first: a 2cm difference in a woven crepe is far more noticeable than in a satin with elastane. A local alteration to take in a side seam is straightforward on our column and shirt shapes; on a bias slip it is not, so buy the size that already passes over the hip.
Still unsure
Send us your bust, waist, hip and height along with the dress you are looking at and we will tell you which size we would pick and why. Write to support@orasci.shop, or read the full returns terms at https://orasci.shop/returns. You have 28 days to send an unworn dress back with its tags attached, so ordering two sizes to compare is a perfectly reasonable way to decide.
ORASCI LIMITED
Company number 17264390, registered in England and Wales.
Registered office: 106 Warren Road, Orpington, BR6 6JA, England
Email: support@orasci.shop
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