Every ELARA piece is designed and cut in Portugal, crafted in premium fabrics including linen, poplin, and other carefully selected materials that define each collection. Each garment is patterned to sit true to the body, close enough to feel considered, easy enough to live in across a long afternoon.
This guide explains how our sizing works, how it translates across different systems, and how to find your size with confidence, no matter the fabric.
How ELARA sizes work
We size in letters — PP, P, M, G, GG — the Portuguese standard. It's a simpler language than a wall of numbers, and it reflects how the pieces are built: cut for ease through the body, true to fit at the bust and waist.
Many pieces are woven in linen, a natural fibre with a little give that softens with wear and breathes. Others are cut in poplin and other considered materials, each with a character of its own. Every pattern is drawn with its fabric in mind, so the size you choose on day one is the size that stays right as the piece settles into you.
Size conversions
If you usually shop in EU, French, Italian, UK or US sizing, here's how ELARA letters translate:
| ELARA | EU | France | Italy | UK | US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PP | 34 | 34 | 38 | 6 | 2 |
| P | 36 | 36 | 40 | 8 | 4 |
| M | 38–40 | 38–40 | 42–44 | 10–12 | 6–8 |
| G | 42 | 42 | 46 | 14 | 10 |
| GG | 44 | 44 | 48 | 16 | 12 |
Conversions are a guide. Sizing varies between brands and between cuts, so the most reliable way to choose is to measure yourself and read the size chart on each product page — every piece carries its own measurements in centimetres.
How to measure yourself
You'll need a soft tape measure and, ideally, the underwear you'd wear with the piece. Measure over bare skin or a thin layer, keep the tape level, and don't pull it tight.
- Bust — around the fullest part of the chest, tape level across the back.
- Waist — around the narrowest point, usually just above the navel.
- Hip — around the fullest part, roughly 20 cm below the waist.
Match your measurements to the chart on the product page. Each garment lists the bands it's built to — so a dress and a tailored set may place you in different letters, and that's by design.
If you're between sizes
It happens often, and the right call depends on the piece:
- Structured cuts — strapless sets, anything tailored through the bust or waist — size up if you want room to move, or stay true if you prefer a closer line.
- Flowing cuts — long dresses, relaxed silhouettes — take the smaller size. They're drawn with ease built in, and linen relaxes a touch with wear.
When in doubt, size to your bust for tops and dresses, and to your waist or hip for trousers and skirts — whichever is fuller.
Still unsure?
We'd rather you got it right the first time. Tell us the piece you're considering and your measurements, and we'll point you to the size that fits — write to us any time. Each piece is made in a limited run, so it's worth a quick message before it sells through.