Plus Size Cider Review: Big Haul, Honest Sizing Breakdown
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I'd only tried one piece from Cider before this haul, a burgundy velvet dress that fit beautifully, and I loved it so much that I wanted to place a much bigger order to really test the brand out. This plus size Cider review is the result of that experiment: eight pieces, ranging from maxi dresses to a cardigan, all put through an honest fit and quality test to see if my first great experience was a fluke or the norm.
I filmed the entire try-on process on YouTube, so if you want to see how everything actually moves and looks on my body, the full video is linked in this post. If you're reading first, here's the complete breakdown by category, including what I kept, what went back, and what I learned about how Cider's sizing actually runs.
The Biggest Plus Size Cider Review Takeaway: Sizing Is Inconsistent
Before getting into individual pieces, here's the most important thing I learned. Cider's sizing is not consistent across styles. Some pieces ran significantly small compared to their own listed measurements, others ran large, and a couple were just genuinely unpredictable even after comparing my measurements directly to their size chart. If you're ordering from Cider, my honest advice is to read individual product reviews when available, and understand that sizing up or down might be necessary on a piece-by-piece basis rather than trusting the chart as a universal rule.
Dresses: The Bulk of the Haul, Mixed Results
Dresses made up most of this order, and the results varied a lot from piece to piece.
The Floral Square Neck Maxi Dress in a 3X was the piece I was most excited about going in, and unfortunately it was the biggest sizing disappointment. Cider listed the bust measurement at roughly 47.6 inches, and mine is around 46, so I expected it to fit or even be slightly loose. Instead it ran extremely tight through the bust, underbust, and waist. I loved the silhouette, the fabric, and the pattern enough that I'm tempted to reorder in a 4X. Worth noting for petite shoppers specifically: this is labeled as a maxi dress, but at 5'2" it hit me well above the floor, so if you're average height or taller, expect this to wear more like a midi. No pockets either, which is an ongoing frustration of mine with dresses in general.
The Jacquard V-neck Maxi Dress in a 4X had the opposite sizing problem. Cider listed the bust at under 41 inches, well below my 46-inch bust, yet the dress fit fine through the chest, which tells me this particular listing's measurements were simply inaccurate. The real issue was the back structure, or lack of it. The corset-style back lacing didn't hold shape no matter how I adjusted it, and the fabric kept tucking under my sides in a way I couldn't figure out how to style confidently. I loved the color and fabric enough that I'm considering trying to alter it into a regular strap style with a normal zipper closure instead.
The Lace Floral Maxi Dress in a 4X turned out to be my favorite piece of the entire haul. It's a bodycon-style silhouette, which isn't typically my go-to, but it was soft, stretchy, and comfortable enough that I'd happily wear it with shapewear underneath for extra confidence. The back sits fairly low, so plan for a strapless bra with this one. Fun styling detail: it has extra fabric you can ruche and play with at the front for a slightly different look each time you wear it.
The Velvet Bowknot Midi Dress in a 4X ran short for a midi on my frame, more of a mini on me at 5'2", so again, expect a true midi length if you're average height or taller. I wear chafing shorts under dresses regularly, so the shorter length wasn't an issue for me personally. My only real fit note was the shoulder straps running a bit long, likely because I don't have particularly broad shoulders, which felt like an easy fix rather than a dealbreaker.
The Gingham Sweetheart Midi Dress in a 4X was the one piece that clearly ran generously sized, at least a full size big based on the listed 46.1-inch bust measurement compared to how it actually fit. I'd recommend sizing down one size from what the chart suggests for this specific style. I appreciated that the built-in bust cups were sized more realistically than a lot of plus size pieces I've tried, where cup sizing tends to run small regardless of the overall garment size.
Bottoms: A Harder Category to Get Right
I tried two non-dress bottoms in this haul, and both came with real fit lessons.
The Lace Trim Cropped Bloomer in a 2X fit with plenty of room through the hips, but ended up being far too sheer and too long to style confidently. I genuinely couldn't figure out how to wear them without feeling like the length created an unflattering silhouette. If they were made in a thicker or double-layered fabric, I think this style could work beautifully, but as-is, this wasn't a piece I could figure out how to make work for me.
The Ditsy Floral Flared Trousers in a 4X were a genuine gamble that didn't pay off. I'd heard other reviewers mention Cider's size charts can run inaccurate, and these confirmed it, running tight through the hips despite being sized up, and too long in the leg with zero stretch to work with. I loved the print enough that I wish they'd worked out, but between the fit and the complete lack of stretch, these had to go back.
Outerwear: A Genuine Win
The Knit Lettuce Trim Cardigan in a 4X ended up being one of my favorite pieces of the entire order. Soft, buttery, and in a beautiful butter yellow that I didn't already have in my cardigan collection. This one runs small, so if you plan to actually button it closed, size up at least once, possibly twice, since the buttonholes themselves also felt a little flimsy and difficult to fasten. If you typically wear your cardigans open like I do, this is far less of an issue. At around $17, this was also one of the most affordable pieces in the entire haul, making it an easy keep.
Overall Plus Size Cider Review Verdict
After trying eight pieces, my honest takeaway is that Cider has real potential, especially in dresses with the right silhouette and in affordable layering pieces like the cardigan, but the sizing inconsistency across styles makes this a brand where you genuinely need to research each specific piece rather than trusting a single size across the board. Some items ran a full size small, others ran a full size big, and at least one listing had bust measurements that didn't match the actual fit at all.
If I had to summarize this plus size Cider review in one sentence: worth trying, but check reviews and expect to size differently piece by piece.
Final Thoughts
If you've been considering a Cider order and wanted an honest, detailed look at how their sizing actually plays out across multiple styles, I hope this review helped. And if you want to see all of these pieces in motion, including full try-on footage and styling attempts, check out the complete haul video on YouTube here.
If you enjoyed this kind of honest, detailed review, I have several other plus size brand try-ons and reviews on the blog covering everything from everyday basics to special occasion pieces. Feel free to browse around and see what other brands I've put to the test, sizing notes, fit quirks, and all:
Halara Plus Size Review: Is the Hype Actually Worth It?
Plus Size BloomChic Review: Pool Day Try-On, Honest Fit Notes
Where to Find Plus Size Whimsigoth Clothing
Until next time,