Find your perfect fit

Is there anything more annoying than going to all the effort of finding and choosing clothes online, waiting for the delivery, excitedly opening the parcel, trying on your clothes, and discovering that they either (a) don't fit, or (b) don't suit your body shape. We know that fit is the main reason customers return clothes to us, so we've been working hard to provide the tools you need to choose the clothes that will love you as much as you love them.

The Quizzes

Choosing the right clothes for your unique combination of skintone, personal style and body shape is the first step to style success. Are you a pixie or a princess, a minimalist or a movie star? Or do you carve your own path as an Adventurer? Whichever you are, our quizzes will help you work out whether you need more fitted styles, more flowing shapes, or those which show off your curves.

If you haven't already, begin with the colour quiz,  which is a good place to start your colour journey but then we highly recommend having a full in-depth colour analysis with one of our recommended stylists. Then combine the results of your personal style and body shape quiz results to discover the very best styles for you.

We find that the following works for each of our style personalities:

Pixie - Neat, fitted styles are almost always best on you, although a tunic and leggings can really emphasise your elfin side!

Adventurer - semi-fitted and relaxed fits, longer lengths, layers (if you love the more fitted styles too, layering with a looser wrap can be a great way to wear them), and texture.

Princess - Keep it feminine and pretty. Fitted tops which show your waist, and less structured skirts and trousers which flow over your bottom half often work well for you.

Minimalist - Semi-fitted styles generally work best, although a relaxed fit top can often work well with a classic slim pair of trousers.

Movie Star - Flirty and gorgeous! Cleavage, fitted shapes, and a bit of swish in the form of a longer wrap over a fitted top or a maxi skirt, all add to your screen siren look.

Our body shape quiz is the most 'technical' and will help you once and for all identify your body shape - most of us estimate our shape incorrectly, mentally exaggerating the bits we don't like and minimising the bits we're ok with. Once you know your body shape, you can move onto the next tool we provide for finding your perfect fit...

The Filters

You've probably used the website filters to sort products by season, colour or size, but did you know we also have a fit filter, and a brand new body shape filter as well?

The fit filter allows you to view fitted, semi-fitted or relaxed styles, according to your own preference and personal style (but do read my notes on these fits below, especially if there's a style you love that shouldn't work).

As well as fit, we are particularly thrilled with our new body shape filter. If you've completed the body shape quiz you'll be familiar with our body shape expert Cristina's expertise at assessing your shape, and she is categorising most items on the website according to body shape. This means that once you know your shape, you can find the perfect items for you.

And don't forget that our basics can be adapted to any body shape. They can be incredibly useful for adding colour and style to your wardrobe. The combination of fitted top with more flowing wrap layered over, for instance, is flattering on a huge range of body shapes and personal styles. And don't forget that you can 'compensate' for the fit if your style doesn't perfectly match with the fit of the item in question. Our three simple rules:

1. If an item is relaxed fit - take your normal size if you like things breezy, but size down if you're between sizes or want something a little neater.
2. If an item is semi-fitted - take your usual size, or go up or down for a more relaxed or more fitted/formal look, depending on your needs and personal style.
3. If an item is fitted - take your normal size if you like a really neat, structured fit, or size up for a more classic fit.

Product Details

You've found the item you love, but before you order it, don't forget the product details! It might just feel like sales bumpf, but the product listing page can give you a huge amount of information about the item you're looking at.

Don't forget to check out the product images - one of the reasons we use professional models is because they are experts at showing off everything you need to know about an item of clothing - browse through the full range of photos for an idea of how a top hangs, its fit, and any detailing. The product listing will also contain information about the length of the garment, and any specific colours used in prints, so you can be sure if it will co-ordinate with your wardrobe.

And don't forget that as well as the product images, every garment also has a product video. Our videos feature one of the Kettlewell HQ team modelling the item and talking about the fit and fabric (and yes, we know we have a Winter, a Spring and an Autumn, but no Summer! Turns out that Summers, especially those prepared to stand in front of a camera, are in short supply at HQ. We promise we'll lure one into it one day!). We know that customers find these 'real life' videos the perfect complement to our model shots and they've proven invaluable in deciding whether something will work well for you.

Customer reviews

Reviews can be a real goldmine of advice about fit and style - read through the reviews to see what other customers thought. And if you want to be a part of the Kettlewell community, please do leave your own! Reviews are so helpful for other customers, as well as for our team when it comes to tweaking designs to make them even better.

Wunder-underwear

Don't forget about what's under your clothes! Smooth underwear, and a well fitting bra, will make the world of difference when it comes to how your clothes fit. We often find customers comment that they have dropped an entire size when they switch to a better fitting bra - for the more, ahem, generously busted among us, a bra which gets everything where it belongs can give you back the perfect hourglass figure, and if (like me) you fall at the other end of the spectrum, a good bra can give you curves where you don't feel like you have them. We highly recommend Sara from Brasense to help you find the perfect bra.