Oh Polly sells going-out and occasion wear built around close-fitting silhouettes — bodycon dresses, corset detailing, cut-outs. Close-fitting clothing has far less tolerance for a sizing mistake than anything loose, which is the whole challenge here.
Measure, do not guess
On a bodycon or corset-style dress, the garment has to match your measurements at several points rather than just broadly fit.
Take your bust, waist and hip measurements and compare all three to the Oh Polly size chart. Ordering by your usual dress size is how the majority of returns happen.
If the three measurements point at different sizes — which is common — size to the largest and have the rest taken in. A dress that is tight at the hip cannot be let out, and on a fitted style it will not sit right.
Corset and boned styles are the least forgiving of all. The structure is designed to hold a specific shape, and a size too small does not compress gracefully, it gaps at the closure.
Stretch changes everything
Check the fabric composition, because two Oh Polly dresses in the same size can fit completely differently depending on the elastane content.
High-stretch jersey accommodates a range and recovers its shape. These are the most forgiving pieces in the range.
Woven fabrics with little or no stretch — satin, structured crepe, anything with boning — fit only the measurements on the chart. There is no give.
A satin bodycon is a much less forgiving purchase than a jersey one, and satin also shows every line underneath, which is a separate consideration.
Order early for a fixed date
Going-out wear is usually bought for a specific night, which leaves no room for a slow exchange.
Allow time for a size swap, which is a full round trip, and for alterations if you need a hem or a take-in. A tailor needs several days.
Ordering two sizes and returning one is a legitimate approach on fitted styles. It only works if you started early enough for the return to be processed.
Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable. A few days is how people end up wearing something that does not fit properly.
Returns and final sale
Check the current Oh Polly return window and whether returns are free in your market before ordering multiples.
Keep tags attached until you have decided, and try things on over underwear. Returns rejected for makeup marks or fake tan transfer are a genuine and common problem with this category, and the retailer is within its rights.
Reduced items are frequently final sale. Check before buying a discounted dress as one of two options — if it cannot go back, it is not an option, it is a purchase.
Care for the fabrics
Most Oh Polly pieces are synthetic — polyester, satin blends, high-stretch jersey. Wash cool and inside out.
Never tumble dry stretch fabric. Heat destroys elastane permanently and a bodycon dress that has lost its recovery is finished.
Steam rather than iron. A hot iron on satin leaves a permanent shine mark, and on a dark dress it is immediately obvious.
Deal with deodorant and fake tan marks before washing, not after — a hot wash sets them.
What to wear under Oh Polly dresses
Fitted Oh Polly styles show everything underneath, so plan the underwear with the dress rather than after it arrives.
Smooth, no-show, skin-toned underwear is the safe choice on satin and thin jersey. Lace and visible seams print through.
Cut-outs, open backs and plunge necklines limit bra options. Check the Oh Polly listing for built-in cups or a supportive lining, which many corset styles have, before buying a separate strapless bra.
Try the dress with the shoes you will wear. A midi or maxi Oh Polly dress is cut for heels on most models, and the hem will sit on the floor in flats.
Choosing a colour and style online
Screens change colour, and satin shifts more than matte fabrics. Look at the Oh Polly customer photos where they are shown, and the catwalk video if there is one.
For a wedding guest or formal event, check the dress code and avoid white, cream or anything close to it. Oh Polly sells plenty of pale satin that reads as bridal in photos.
Where the Oh Polly savings are
Oh Polly's live codes cluster at a modest level, many app-specific:
App-specific codes work in the app rather than on the website, which is the usual reason one of these appears to fail.
Seasonal sales go considerably deeper than the standing codes. For a dress you want rather than need on a date, waiting is worth it — the constraint is size availability, which goes first in the middle of the range.
At 10%, the saving on one Oh Polly dress is modest. It is better spent on an order you are sure about than used as a reason to add a second dress you might return.
Common questions
What size should I order?
Measure bust, waist and hip and use the chart. Size to the largest and alter the rest.
Why did my code not work?
Many Oh Polly codes are app-only. Check whether it applies on the website.
Can I tumble dry it?
No. Heat destroys the stretch, which is what makes the fit work.
Do Oh Polly dresses have built-in support?
Many corset and structured styles do. Check the Oh Polly listing for boning, cups or lining.
| Discount | Type | Get the deal |
|---|---|---|
| 10% off | Promo code | View at Oh Polly → |
| 10% off | Promo code | View at Oh Polly → |
| 10% off | Promo code | View at Oh Polly → |
| 10% off | Promo code | View at Oh Polly → |
