Size Guide.
Valerive dresses are designed to sculpt and flatter real bodies, and choosing the right size should never feel like guesswork. This page explains exactly how we measure, how our UK sizing lines up with body measurements, how each dress style fits, and what your legal rights are if a garment doesn't turn out the way you expected.
How to take your own measurements
All Valerive sizing is built around three body measurements: bust, waist and hips. Taking two minutes to measure yourself properly, in underwear or close-fitting clothing, using a soft fabric tape measure, is the single most reliable way to pick the right size — far more reliable than guessing from a size you wear in another brand.
Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your bust, keeping it level and parallel to the floor at the back. Keep the tape snug but not tight, and breathe normally while you read the measurement.
Measure around your natural waistline — the narrowest part of your torso, usually just above your belly button. Stand naturally; don't suck in or hold your breath, as this will give a false, tighter reading.
Stand with your feet together and wrap the tape around the fullest part of your hips and bottom, roughly 20cm below your natural waist. Keep the tape level all the way round.
Match your three measurements against the conversion table in Section 3 below. If you fall between two sizes, read Section 6 for guidance on which way to round, based on the specific dress you're buying.
Get an instant size suggestion
Pick the bust measurement closest to your own in the box alongside, and we'll suggest the Valerive size most likely to fit. This is a general starting point based on our standard grading — always cross-check against the full conversion table in Section 3, and the specific fit notes for the dress you're buying in Section 4, before you order.
Not sure which number is yours? Email support@valerive.com and a real member of our team will help you choose.
Find your size
Select your bust measurement to see a suggested starting size.
Valerive size chart, UK measurements
All measurements below are body measurements, not garment measurements, taken flat on the body as described in Section 1. Because our dresses span woven lace, chiffon, velvet and jersey-blend fabrics, actual garment dimensions vary slightly by style — this table is your reliable starting point, and Section 4 explains how each style adjusts around it.
Figures are given as ranges to reflect natural body variation and a small manufacturing tolerance of approximately ±1.5cm, which is standard across the apparel industry and does not indicate a fault with your garment.
| Valerive size | UK size equivalent | Bust | Waist | Hips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | UK 6–8 | 81–86 cm (32–34 in) | 63–68 cm (25–27 in) | 89–94 cm (35–37 in) |
| S | UK 8–10 | 86–91 cm (34–36 in) | 68–73 cm (27–29 in) | 94–99 cm (37–39 in) |
| M | UK 10–12 | 91–97 cm (36–38 in) | 73–79 cm (29–31 in) | 99–105 cm (39–41 in) |
| L | UK 12–14 | 97–104 cm (38–41 in) | 79–86 cm (31–34 in) | 105–112 cm (41–44 in) |
| XL | UK 14–16 | 104–111 cm (41–44 in) | 86–93 cm (34–37 in) | 112–119 cm (44–47 in) |
How fit differs across our dress styles
The same size letter can feel different depending on the cut. Here is how our main dress styles are designed to sit on the body, based on the construction of each garment currently listed in our collections at valerive.com/collections/all.
Our largest category, including the Fairy, Fransesca, Isabella, Carisia and Serelina Maxi Dresses. Cut with a relaxed, flowing silhouette through the body and skirt, designed to skim rather than cling. True to the chart above; if between sizes, size up for a more relaxed drape.
Regular fitThe Ariana Mini Dress and Cielle Midi Dress are cut closer to the body through the waist and hip for a more defined shape. If you're between sizes and prefer a sculpted rather than loose fit, size down; if you'd rather have more ease of movement, size up.
Slim / fittedThe Bella Maxi Dress is built with structured, close-fitting support through the bodice. These styles rely on a small amount of stretch to hold their shape, so it's especially important to check the fabric stretch level in Section 5 before ordering.
Fitted / structuredThe Acia Lace Dress uses a relaxed, comfortable silhouette with long sleeves for extra coverage. Woven lace has little natural stretch, so this style runs true to the chart above rather than sculpting closely to the body.
Relaxed fitThe Fiona Velvet Dress uses a soft, brushed velvet with a light mechanical stretch, giving a fitted, figure-following shape without restricting movement. Runs slightly closer to the body than our maxi styles — see Section 5 for the stretch level.
Fitted with stretchThe Zirella Summer Dress and other lightweight printed styles are cut with a relaxed silhouette in breathable fabric for warm-weather ease. True to the chart above, with a little natural give in the fabric weave.
Regular / relaxed fitHow much give each fabric has
Stretch level affects how forgiving a size is. A woven fabric with no stretch needs to match your measurements closely, while a fabric with moderate or high stretch gives more room either side of the chart in Section 3.
| Stretch level | Fabric type | Found in | Sizing advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| No / minimal stretch | Woven lace, structured chiffon | Acia Lace Dress and other woven lace styles | Measure precisely and match your exact size in the chart; sizing up gives a looser, more relaxed drape. |
| Low stretch | Lightweight printed cotton-blend and chiffon-style wovens | Zirella Summer Dress and similar printed maxi styles | Runs true to the chart, with a small amount of natural give in the weave for everyday comfort. |
| Moderate stretch | Brushed velvet and velvet-blend knits | Fiona Velvet Dress | Follows the body closely; if between sizes, size up for more ease across the hips. |
| Higher stretch | Structured jersey and bodice-lined stretch fabrics | Bella Maxi Dress and other strapless/structured styles | Designed to hold its shape with light compression; if between sizes, sizing down usually gives a more sculpted result, as noted on the relevant product page. |
The exact fibre composition and stretch behaviour of each dress is confirmed on its own product page and on the garment's sewn-in care label, in line with UK and EU textile labelling rules explained in Section 8.
Being upfront about our product photography
We want to be transparent rather than let a photo do the guessing for you. Our product photography and lifestyle imagery is intended to show colour, print, fabric drape and styling — it is not a substitute for the measurements in Section 3. We do not currently publish a fixed model height or exact sample size worn on every product page across our full catalogue, and we would rather tell you that plainly than let you assume a precise figure we haven't confirmed.
Where a specific product page does state the model's height or the sample size shown, that detail is accurate for that photograph and can be relied on for that listing. For any dress where this isn't yet stated, please use the measurements in Section 3 and Section 4, or email support@valerive.com and we will tell you, honestly, what we know about the fit of that specific style.
Which way to round when you're in between
It's common to measure between two sizes, especially if your bust, waist and hip measurements don't all point to the exact same letter. Here's our honest guidance, consistent with what's on each product page:
Lace, structured chiffon and other woven fabrics (see Section 5) don't give much once you're wearing them. If in doubt, size up for a comfortable fit — a slightly looser woven dress looks intentional, while a too-tight one can strain seams.
Velvet-blend and structured stretch fabrics move with your body. If you'd like a more sculpted, close silhouette and your measurements sit right on the line between two sizes, sizing down usually gives that result without sacrificing comfort.
Still unsure? Our customer service team can compare your measurements against the specific dress you're considering — email support@valerive.com or visit our FAQ page for more sizing questions.
What UK and Dutch/EU consumer law guarantees you
S Commerce, trading as Valerive, is established in Nieuwegein, the Netherlands, and currently sells exclusively to customers in the United Kingdom. This means both UK consumer law and Dutch/EU consumer law are relevant to how we sell dresses and how you can return one that doesn't fit.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods you buy must be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose — which is why we describe fit, fabric and stretch honestly on this page and on each product listing. Separately, the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 give you a statutory right to cancel most online orders within 14 days of delivery for any reason, including size. Valerive's own Return & Refund Policy voluntarily extends this to a 30-day window, which is more generous than the law requires.
Under the EU Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU, transposed into Dutch law in Book 6 and Book 7 of the Burgerlijk Wetboek (Dutch Civil Code), you have a statutory "herroepingsrecht" (right of withdrawal) allowing you to cancel a distance purchase within 14 days of delivery without giving a reason, including because the size or fit isn't right. As above, our own return policy gives UK customers 30 days rather than the 14-day statutory minimum. The Autoriteit Consument & Markt (ACM) supervises fair-trading and consumer-information obligations for e-commerce businesses established in the Netherlands.
Neither of these rights depends on the item being faulty — if a dress simply doesn't fit the way you expected, you're entitled to return it within the applicable window. Full terms, exclusions and the returns process are set out in our Return & Refund Policy and Terms of Service.
Where fabric and care information comes from
Every dress we sell is required to carry accurate fibre-content information, both on its physical care label and in the product description you read before you buy. In Great Britain, this is governed by the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012, which retained the substance of EU textile labelling law after Brexit. Within the EU, the equivalent obligation comes from Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on textile fibre names and labelling, which applies to S Commerce as a business established in the Netherlands.
Together, these rules mean the fabric composition and stretch behaviour described in Section 5 and on individual product pages must reflect the garment's true fibre content — not marketing language. If you ever spot a description that seems inconsistent with your garment's care label, please tell us using the contact details in Section 10 so we can check and correct it.
How we check our sizing before it reaches you
We treat sizing accuracy as seriously as any other product claim we make, because getting it wrong wastes your time and money.
Before a new style is listed, a physical sample garment is measured flat, unstretched, and compared against the standard chart in Section 3 so any style-specific adjustment can be flagged on the product page.
We work with our manufacturing partners to keep grading — the way a pattern scales from XS to XL — consistent across fabric types, so a size doesn't mean something different from one dress to the next.
Return and exchange reasons are reviewed regularly. If a style is running noticeably small or large based on real customer feedback, we update that product's fit notes and, where needed, this guide.
Reporting a sizing or measurement issue
If a dress arrives and its measurements don't match this page, or a size chart on a product page looks wrong, we want to know straight away, not just at the point of a return.
Email support@valerive.com with "Sizing" in the subject line, or call +31 6 26269395 during our support hours (Monday–Friday, 09:00–18:00 CET/CEST). You can also use the form on our Contact page.
Our customer service team is monitored 24/7 by email, and we aim to acknowledge every sizing report within 5 hours, in line with our standard support commitment.
Replacement or refund arranged as a priority, typically within 5 business days of confirmation.
Verified against a physical sample within 15 business days; this page updated if confirmed.
Logged and reviewed at the next scheduled fit-notes update for that product.
Answered directly by our team, usually within the same 5-hour reply window.
Reviewing and updating this Size Guide
We review this Size Guide at least every 12 months, and sooner whenever we introduce a new dress style or fabric, confirm a correction reported under Section 11, or when UK or Dutch/EU consumer or textile law is updated. The version in force is always the one published here, dated at the top of this page.