Size Guide
Our dresses and clothing are made in UK sizes 8–14. The chart below shows body measurements — measure yourself and choose the size closest to your own. Then read the fit notes for your collection below, because our pieces are deliberately cut differently: some are designed to fall loose, others sit close to the body. Still unsure? Email us at info@silkandbears.com and we will happily advise before you order.
Size conversions
| UK | US | EU / FR | DE | IT | AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK 8 | 4 | 36 | 34 | 40 | 8 |
| UK 10 | 6 | 38 | 36 | 42 | 10 |
| UK 12 | 8 | 40 | 38 | 44 | 12 |
| UK 14 | 10 | 42 | 40 | 46 | 14 |
German sizes run two numbers below French/EU sizes, and Italian sizes two above — so a UK 10 is a DE 36, an EU 38 and an IT 42. If in doubt, always go by the body measurements below rather than the number.
UK size chart (body measurements)
| UK Size | Bust | Waist | Hips |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK 8 | 83cm / 32.5" | 66cm / 26" | 93cm / 36.5" |
| UK 10 | 88cm / 34.5" | 71cm / 28" | 98cm / 38.5" |
| UK 12 | 93cm / 36.5" | 76cm / 30" | 103cm / 40.5" |
| UK 14 | 98cm / 38.5" | 81cm / 32" | 108cm / 42.5" |
How each collection fits
This is the most important part of this page. Our collections are cut to different intentions, so the right size for you changes depending on the piece.
| Collection | How it is cut | Which size to order |
|---|---|---|
|
Aurora, Celeste & Valentina Hand-dyed silk & silk jacquard maxi dresses |
Loose and fluid by design. These dresses are meant to skim the body rather than follow it, falling in one uninterrupted line. They will feel roomier than a fitted dress — that is the silhouette, not a sizing error. | Take your usual UK size. There is no need to size up. If you prefer a closer line through the body, size down. |
|
Seraphine Kaftan & cocoon silhouettes |
Oversized and generously cut — the roomiest shape we make, designed to drape away from the body. | Take your usual UK size, or size down if you would prefer less volume. |
|
Velvet Atelier Hand-embroidered silk velvet dresses |
Our most fitted silhouette. Silk velvet is cut close to the body to hold its shape and show the hand embroidery to its best. It runs smaller than our silk dresses. The one exception is the Black & Gold Sleeve Dress, whose kimono sleeve gives it a softer, more relaxed line — take your usual size in that style. | Size up if you are between sizes, or if you prefer any ease through the bust and waist. |
|
Ophelia trousers Wide-leg palazzo trousers |
Wide through the leg but cut small through the waist and hip. | We recommend ordering one size larger than you usually wear. |
|
Ophelia tops & blouses Draped silk shell tops & tunic blouses |
Cut small through the bust and shoulder. Silk should never be worn tight — it needs room to drape and move. Worn close, it pulls at the seams and loses the line it was cut for. | We recommend ordering one size larger than you usually wear. |
Fit notes
- Our sizing follows standard UK high-street sizing — it is cut to the same measurements as Phase Eight, so if you wear a UK 12 there, you will wear a UK 12 with us.
- Our maxi dresses fall to approximately 135cm in length.
- Our model is 168cm (5'6") and wears a UK 8–10.
- Every piece is made to order and cut by hand, so allow up to 1cm of natural variation.
- Because each piece is hand-dyed in small batches, colour carries subtle natural variation from piece to piece.
How to measure
Bust: measure around the fullest part of your bust, keeping the tape level. Waist: measure around the narrowest part of your natural waist. Hips: measure around the fullest part of your hips.
Between two sizes, or want a specific measurement checked? Because each piece is made to order, we can measure a garment for you before it is cut. Email info@silkandbears.com and we will come back to you personally — it takes us a moment and saves you a return.