Why We Recommend a Smaller Size: A Guide to Finding the Right Swimwear Fit

When choosing swimwear, it’s natural to reach for the same size you usually wear in your everyday clothes.

But swimwear is different.

When customers ask us about sizing, we often recommend choosing a slightly smaller size than they might normally wear. There’s a good reason for that.

Swimwear Changes in Water

Swimwear fabric expands when it gets wet.

We know this from years of actually wearing and testing swimwear in the water. A size that feels comfortable and just right when dry can feel looser once you get in the water, as the fabric absorbs water and relaxes.

If you choose your size based only on how comfortable it feels when dry, you may end up with more room than you need once you’re swimming. And that can affect the fit you’re looking for.

What Happens When Swimwear Loses Its Fit?

A good fit isn’t only about how your swimsuit looks.

When there’s too much room around the bust or underarms, you may notice the fabric shifting or bunching as water moves around your body.

Water can also get between your skin and the fabric and become trapped there. This can make the swimsuit feel heavier in the water and cause the fabric to lift away from your body rather than stay close to it.

That’s why we recommend choosing a size that feels genuinely fitted—not simply comfortable—when dry.

The goal is a fit that feels right in the water.

“Smaller” Doesn’t Mean Uncomfortably Tight

We know that hearing “choose a smaller size” can sound uncomfortable.

But our smooth, highly stretchable fabrics and elastic construction help make a closer fit comfortable to wear.

In fact, we generally recommend a size that feels just slightly snug when dry. Once you get into the water, that same fit tends to feel much more balanced.

Sometimes we hear, “eit swim runs small.”

And we understand why it may feel that way when trying it on dry.

But our sizing is designed with the way the swimsuit behaves in water in mind. We hope you’ll think of it less as “small” and more as a fit that is designed to become just right once you’re in the water.

Since 2025, our size range has expanded through size L, allowing us to accommodate a wider range of bodies.

When You’re Unsure About Your Size

Choosing swimwear requires a slightly different perspective from choosing everyday clothing.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• As a general guide, consider going one size smaller than your usual clothing size.
• When dry, a fit that feels slightly snug may be the right fit.
• If you’re between sizes, we generally recommend choosing the smaller size.

Keeping these points in mind can help you avoid ending up with a swimsuit that feels too loose once you’re in the water.

What Matters to Us

When we tell you that our swimwear is made to be worn in the water, we believe that statement comes with responsibility.

Helping you choose the right size is part of that responsibility.

We want our swimwear to feel good not only in front of a mirror, but also when you’re actually swimming, moving, and enjoying the water.

That’s why we’ll continue to share what we’ve learned through years of designing, wearing, and testing swimwear in the water—so that you can feel confident and comfortable every time you dive in.