JW PEI size guide: US to UK conversion, measurements and fit

JW PEI cuts its dresses, tops, skirts and tailoring in American numeric sizes, US 2 to 10, its jeans on the inch waist and a handful of knits and tees in S to XL. Luxury Handbags lists the numeric pieces on the UK ladder, so a US 2 shows as a UK 6. The brand publishes garment measurements for most styles, which is the best sizing information you can have, and the size guide on every Luxury Handbags product page carries them. This is the conversion, the typical measurements and how the cuts behave.

Key facts

• US 2 = UK 6 = EU 34; US 4 = UK 8 = EU 36; US 6 = UK 10 = EU 38; US 8 = UK 12 = EU 40; US 10 = UK 14 = EU 42.
• Typical garment measurements across JW PEI dresses at Luxury Shoes , in centimetres: UK 6 bust 82 waist 66 hips 93; UK 8 86, 70, 97; UK 10 90, 74, 102; UK 12 95, 79, 106; UK 14 100, 84, 110.
• Jeans are sold on the inch waist, 23 to 34 depending on the style; a few tees and knits run S to XL.
• Most dresses are cut close through the bodice; the brand states the stretch of every cloth (non-stretch, slight stretch, high stretch) on the product page and Luxury Handbags carries it into the fit note.
• The brand publishes no sizing advice (no “runs small”), so every JW PEI piece at Luxury Handbags is listed as true to size; measure yourself against the garment table instead.
• Bags are one size; every bag page lists width, height and depth in centimetres, the handle and strap drops, and the largest phone the bag takes.

Dress, top and skirt sizes

JW PEI uses the American ladder, US 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10, with no US 0 and nothing above a 10 on most styles. Luxury Handbags shows each piece on the UK ladder because that is how the site is organised, so read US 2 as UK 6, US 4 as UK 8, US 6 as UK 10, US 8 as UK 12 and US 10 as UK 14. In European terms that is EU 34 to 42, in Australian terms the same numbers as the UK. If you are a UK 4 the smallest JW PEI size will be a little large through the bust; if you are a UK 16 the range stops one size short.

Garment measurements

The brand measures the garment, not the body, and lists bust, waist, hip and length per size in centimetres with inches beside them. The medians across the 466 JW PEI dresses at Luxury Handbags are in the key facts above: about 82 cm bust, 66 cm waist and 93 cm hips at UK 6, rising roughly 4 cm in the bust and waist per size to 100, 84 and 110 at UK 14. Because those are garment measurements, choose the size whose numbers are 2 to 4 cm larger than your own body measurement on a non-stretch cloth, and equal to them on a stretch cloth. The product page’s size guide has the exact table for the piece you are looking at.

How the cuts fit

Three cuts dominate. The corset dresses are boned, non-stretch and cut close; they fit at the waist first, so size on the waist. The satin and jersey dresses have stretch in the cloth (the brand lists most of them as slight stretch, a few as high stretch) and skim rather than grip; size on the bust. The applique maxis and the gowns are non-stretch satin and tulle with a fitted bodice and a full skirt; size on the bust and expect the length to be cut for a heel, about 130 cm from the top of the bodice on a maxi. The jeans are cut on the inch waist with a little stretch and a wide leg; order your usual denim waist.

Bag sizes

JW PEI names its sizes plainly: mini, medium, large and wide on the Hana tote, mini and standard on the Abacus, small and standard on the Arla hobo. The medium Hana is 43 by 25 by 13.5 cm, which takes a 12.9-inch iPad; the large takes a laptop; the mini is 28 by 15.5 by 8 cm and takes a phone. The Gabbi is 24.5 by 13 by 6 cm. Every bag page at Luxury Handbags lists the dimensions, the handle drop, the strap drop and the largest phone the bag takes, which is the brand’s own figure. Our Hana tote guide compares the four sizes side by side.

Between sizes

On a corset dress take the larger size, because boning does not forgive. On a stretch satin take the smaller. On a gown take the size that fits the bust and have the waist taken in, which is a small alteration on these cloths. Luxury Handbags accepts returns within 14 days with the security tag intact, so a second size can be tried at home; the returns protocol has the terms.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a JW PEI US 4?

A UK 8 and an EU 36. JW PEI cuts US 2 to 10, which Luxury Handbags lists as UK 6 to 14 and which is EU 34 to 42.

Does JW PEI run small?

The brand publishes no sizing advice and Luxury Handbags lists every piece as true to size. The corset dresses are cut close and non-stretch, so size on your waist measurement against the garment table; the stretch satins skim and can take the smaller size.

Does JW PEI do plus sizes?

Not at present. The numeric range stops at US 10, which is a UK 14, and the lettered pieces stop at XL.

How do I use the JW PEI size chart?

The chart lists garment measurements in centimetres per size. Measure your bust, waist and hips and choose the size whose garment numbers are 2 to 4 cm larger than yours on a non-stretch cloth, and equal on a stretch cloth. The size guide on each Luxury Handbags product page carries the brand’s table for that style.

What size are JW PEI jeans?

Inch waists, from 23 to 34 depending on the style, with a little stretch and a wide leg. Order the waist you take in other denim.

What size is the JW PEI Hana tote?

Mini 28 by 15.5 by 8 cm, medium 43 by 25 by 13.5 cm, large and wide bigger still. The medium takes a 12.9-inch iPad and the large takes a laptop.

Read next

JW PEI dresses: the guide. The Hana tote sizes compared. How to style JW PEI. JW PEI prices. Shop JW PEI at Luxury Shoes .