Workwear has to do more than look good; it has to perform. That means fitting well through a full day of meetings, seated work, and everything in between. For too long, plus size shoppers have had to choose between clothes that technically “fit” and clothes that actually work. Universal Standard offers every style in every size from 00–40, with no compromises on quality, fit, or design. We believe your workwear should be the last thing you’re thinking about on a busy day, so we created this guide to help you find the right size and style the first time so you can focus on the important tasks at hand.
Section 1: How to Measure Yourself
Why Workwear Requires Precise Measurements
Casual clothes forgive a lot. Stretchy fabrics, relaxed silhouettes, and forgiving cuts mean that a size up or down rarely matters. Traditional workwear skews a bit more structured and, as a result, can be more fussy and difficult to fit. Luckily, our workwear does both. Structured blazers, tailored trousers, and precise dresses come in a variety of fabrics (like our extremely popular ponte) making our workwear easy to wear while looking polished. It’s still important, however, to nail the fit, so let's start with getting accurate measurements.
What to Measure
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Bust: Measure around the fullest part of your chest, keeping the tape parallel to the floor. Do not pull it tight; it should lie flat against your body without compressing.
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Waist: Measure around your natural waist, which is the narrowest point of your torso, typically an inch or two above your belly button. This is especially important for blazers and dresses with waist shaping.
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Hips: Measure around the fullest part of your hips and seat, approximately 7–9 inches below your natural waist.
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Inseam: Measure from your crotch to the floor along the inner leg. This matters for trousers and wide-leg pants, where length dramatically affects the look.
Tips for Workwear Specifically
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Measure over a fitted underlayer, not bare skin. A thin camisole or fitted tee gives you a more realistic picture of how clothing will sit on your body.
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Account for seated comfort at the waist. Stand when you measure, but keep in mind that waistbands can feel tighter when you’re sitting. If you’re between sizes, size up for trousers and structured skirts to ensure all-day comfort.
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Posture matters. Stand naturally and breathe normally when taking measurements. Holding your breath or standing stiffly will produce numbers that don’t reflect how you actually carry yourself.
Once you have your measurements, use the Universal Standard Find My Size Guide to match them to the right size for each style.
Section 2: Fit Tips by Body Type
Not all workwear is cut the same way, and it shouldn’t be. Different body types have different fit priorities, and choosing a style that works with your proportions makes all the difference. Here’s what to look for.
Hourglass
Hourglass figures have balanced shoulders and hips with a defined, narrower waist (this usually means a 10-inch or greater waist-to-hip difference). The challenge in workwear is finding pieces that honor that natural shape without adding bulk or hiding the waistline. Structured styles with built-in waist defining elements like shaping or darting are your friend.
Recommended styles:
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Bianca Ponte Blazer — structured with waist darting that follows your natural silhouette
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Carla Ponte Skirt — a clean, tailored line through the hips with a defined waist
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Executive Ponte Dress — fitted through the bodice with a waist seam that sits at the right place
Apple
Apple shapes carry weight higher on the body, particularly at the torso, with narrower hips relative to the waist. In workwear, the goal is clean lines through the midsection without anything clingy, and pieces that skim rather than hug.
Recommended styles:
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All Day Classic Blazer — a longline silhouette that creates a clean vertical line through the torso
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All Day Palais Wide Leg Pants — a comfortable waistband with a relaxed, structured drape through the leg
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Envelope Neck Ponte Dress — a non-clingy, ponte fabric that moves with you without pulling across the midsection
Fit tip: Look for styles with a relaxed hip and structured shoulder. This balances proportions without adding volume where you don’t want it.
Pear
Pear shapes have narrower shoulders and waist with fuller hips, thighs, and seat. The workwear challenge is finding trousers that fit at the hip without gaping at the waist, and tops that add structure up top to balance the silhouette.
Recommended styles:
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Janet Tie-Neck Cotton Poplin Shirt — structured volume at the shoulder and neckline balances fuller hips
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All Day Mercer Tapered Leg Pant — a high rise with back elastic that accommodates the hip-to-waist difference without gaping
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All Day Daria Blazer — a defined shoulder with clean structure draws the eye upward
Fit tip: In trousers and skirts, size for your hips and look for styles with encased elastic at the back waistband. They accommodate the hip-to-waist ratio that frustrates so many pear-shaped shoppers.
Fit tip for all body types: Universal Standard’s sample size is an 18, which means every style is fitted and engineered from a real plus size body outward, not scaled up from a straight size pattern. The result is workwear that fits the way it’s supposed to, across the full size range.
Section 3: Customer Fit Stories
Fit guides tell you what should work. These stories are from customers who found what actually did.
Ann A., Size 16 — Bianca Ponte Blazer
“This blazer is so nice I bought it twice! It's heavy ponte in just the right fabric weight to make this drape beautifully. Excellent addition to my closet - it looks good dressed up or down. With jeans and stripes shirt or over a ponte dress.
Samantha C., Size 8 — All Day Palais Wide Leg Pants
“These pants are IT. Super comfortable yet elegant, polished yet approachable. I wore these with the ponte collarless blazer and got SO many compliments at an industry conference. Even without the external validation, I felt powerful and professional in these pants.”
Cathy S., Size 12 — Executive Ponte Dress
“Work dresses and comfort rarely go hand-in-hand in my mind but this dress is exactly that: polished sophistication, easy, comfortable, and professional. If you're bleary-eyed and trying to get out the door, throw on this dress with some pumps or loafers, a pair of earrings, and a blazer and you will look like it took you a half hour to dress and not 5 minutes.”
Audrey H., Size 20 — All Day Mercer Tapered Leg Pant
“I have had a ridiculous time finding a pair of basic black pants that were nice enough for work…Enter the US Mercer pant. These fit so well and look amazing. The v-cut at the hem is a small touch of class. With the Crepe Jersey Cowl Neck and medium strappy heels, this is a stunning combo. I don't need to dress-up for work most days, but know that when I do, I have my go-to pants. Finally!”
Section 4: The Fit Liberty Safety Net
Still unsure about your size? You have a full year to exchange — for free.
Workwear fit is uniquely hard to assess before you wear it. A blazer might feel right in front of a mirror but restrictive across the back when you’re reaching across a conference table. Trousers that fit standing can pull when you sit. That’s not a sizing failure. Rather, it’s the reality of structured clothing on a moving body.
That’s one of the reasons why Universal Standard created Fit Liberty. If your size changes within a year of purchase, you can exchange your Fit Liberty-eligible piece for a completely new one in an updated size at no cost to you. No restocking fees, no friction. All returned garments are donated to Dress for Success, supporting women reentering the workforce.
As Universal Standard co-founder and CEO Polina Veksler puts it: “The shoppers’ bodies are not our business; their clothes are.” Fit Liberty is what that commitment looks like in practice. Eligible on 750+ styles including the full workwear collection, it means the risk stays with us, not you.
Browse the full Fit Liberty collection or visit the Fit Liberty FAQ for full program details.
Section 5: Frequently Asked Questions
How does Universal Standard sizing run?
Universal Standard sizing runs true to size when you use the detailed size guide, but the most important thing to know is that our sample size is an 18. That means every style is fitted and perfected on a real plus size body before it goes to market. There’s no scaling up from a small; the fit is engineered from the inside out across the full 00–40 range.
Should I size up or down?
It depends on the style and fabric. Structured workwear generally runs more true to size and should be sized based on your largest measurement. For ponte and stretch fabrics, some styles run generously and a size down gives a more tailored result. Each product page includes style-specific sizing notes, so always check those before ordering.
What if my size changes?
Fit Liberty has you covered. If your size changes within a year of any eligible purchase, you can exchange that garment for a new one in your updated size at no cost. This applies to 750+ styles across the workwear collection and beyond. The exchange process mirrors a standard return, and your replacement arrives brand new.
Does Universal Standard have petite or tall options?
Universal Standard offers multiple inseam lengths on many trouser and pant styles, including shorter and longer options, to accommodate a range of heights. Check the individual product page for available inseam lengths on the style you’re considering. For tops and dresses, length details are included in the product measurements so you can gauge fit before ordering.
How does Fit Liberty work?
When you purchase a Fit Liberty-eligible style (marked on the product page), you have up to one year from the date of purchase to exchange it for the same piece in a different size, completely free. Simply initiate an exchange as you would a standard return and select your new size. The program is complementary: no restocking fee, no shipping charge for the exchange. All returned garments are laundered and donated to Dress for Success, which supports women reentering the workforce.
