Rachel Gilbert Size Guide: RG 00 to 6 in UK, AU, US and EU

Rachel Gilbert sizes her collections on her own scale, RG 00 through RG 6, which is the first thing that trips people up. It is not a vanity scale and it is not arbitrary. RG 00 is an Australian and UK 4, and every step up the ladder is one standard dress size. Here is the full conversion, what the numbers are measuring, and how the corsetry changes the answer.

Rachel Gilbert size conversion

Australian and UK sizing are the same on this scale, so one column covers both. The body measurements are Rachel Gilbert’s own published figures.

The US column follows Rachel Gilbert’s own reference point, an RG 1 being a US 4. The EU column is the standard equivalent of the UK size. On Coveti every Rachel Gilbert piece is listed on the UK ladder, so a UK 8 on our size selector is an RG 1.

These are body measurements, not garment measurements

This matters more than the conversion. Rachel Gilbert’s chart describes the body the size is cut for, not the finished dimensions of the dress. Her own guidance is to take your bust, waist and hip measurements and pick the size closest to the chart, rather than defaulting to the size you buy elsewhere.

So measure. A tape around the fullest part of the bust, around the natural waist, and around the fullest part of the hips, standing relaxed. If two of your three measurements land in one size and one lands in the next, the size that covers your bust is usually the one to buy on a fitted evening piece, because the bodice is the part that cannot be let out.

Does Rachel Gilbert run true to size?

Yes, on almost everything. The house writes “this style is true to size” on the great majority of its product pages, and our own product data agrees. Across the pieces we have onboarded, one style carried a genuine sizing correction: the Leeta Coat, where Rachel Gilbert states it runs small and recommends sizing up. Treat that as the exception that proves the rule, and read the fit note on the individual product page before you buy.

What the internal corsetry does to your size

Most Rachel Gilbert eveningwear is built on an internal corset with a waist tape, and a good number of the gowns are fully boned. Two practical consequences.

First, you do not need shapewear underneath. The dress is doing that job, and adding a layer under a boned bodice usually makes the line worse. Second, a boned bodice has very little give, so a fitted gown is less forgiving of a between-sizes guess than a draped jersey piece is. On the draped and stretch styles you have room to go either way. On a fully boned column, buy the measurement.

Reading the model reference

Rachel Gilbert photographs most styles on a model who is 5 ft 9 in an RG 1, which is a UK 8. A few are shot at 5 ft 8. That tells you two useful things: the length you see on the model is a UK 8 length on a tall frame, so a midi will sit lower on most people, and the fit you are looking at is a straight size with no styling clips.

Every Rachel Gilbert product page on Coveti carries the model height and the size worn in its size guide, alongside the conversion above.

Length, and when to plan for alterations

The gowns are cut for a heel. A floor-length Rachel Gilbert column on a 5 ft 9 model is a floor-length column on a 5 ft 9 woman in heels, so if you are shorter and want to wear a flat, budget for a hem. The house publishes a sample length on some styles, taken from an RG 1, which is a useful starting point.

Hemming a plain crepe gown is straightforward. Hemming a hand-embellished tulle gown is not, because the embellishment runs into the hem and has to be lifted and re-laid by hand. Factor that into the decision before you order a length you will need to change.

Where to go next

Browse the full Rachel Gilbert collection at Coveti, and narrow to evening gowns and designer dresses. For styling, read how to wear Rachel Gilbert. For the house itself, read who is Rachel Gilbert, and see whether the dresses are worth it.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Rachel Gilbert size 1 in UK sizing?

An RG 1 is a UK 8 and an Australian 8. It is also a US 4 and an EU 36, and it fits a body measuring 87cm bust, 68cm waist and 96cm hips.

Does Rachel Gilbert run true to size?

Yes. Rachel Gilbert states that almost every style is true to size, and recommends choosing by your bust, waist and hip measurements rather than by the size you usually buy. The Leeta Coat is the one style we have found that carries a sizing correction, where the house recommends sizing up.

Should I size up in a Rachel Gilbert gown, and when should I size down?

Neither, as a rule. Take the size that matches your measurements. If you fall between sizes on a fully boned gown, take the size that fits your bust, because a boned bodice has almost no give. On a draped stretch style you have more freedom.

Do you need shapewear under a Rachel Gilbert dress?

No. The eveningwear is built with an internal corset and a waist tape that shape the bust and waist, so an extra layer underneath usually spoils the line rather than improving it.

What size is the Rachel Gilbert model wearing?

Most styles are photographed on a model who is 5 ft 9 wearing an RG 1, which is a UK 8 and a US 4. A few styles are shot at 5 ft 8.