Why Finding Your Swimsuit Size Is So Bloody Hard (and how to fix it)

Nothing Beats the Feeling of Swimwear that Fits 

Swimwear Sizing makes No Sense

A size 12 fits in one brand, but you’re a 14 in another and maybe a 10 if it’s stretchy. Sound familiar? At Face the Water, we hear it every day: “What size will I be in this one?” You’re right to ask because swimwear sizing isn’t built for consistency.

Let’s Start with Marilyn Monroe

You’ve probably heard she was a size 12, but here’s the truth. Her measurements (bust 88–94 cm, waist 56–58 cm, hips 89–91 cm) would make her a modern AU size 6 to 10. So, where did “size 12” come from?

Vanity Sizing

In the 1960s, a size 12 was significantly smaller than it is today. Retailers have inflated sizes over time to make women feel better. A 1960s size 14 might be a size 8 today. The numbers shifted. Our bodies didn’t. So if you’re confused about sizing, it’s not just you. It’s the whole system.

Why Swimwear Is Even Harder

Swimsuits aren’t like jeans or dresses. They need to

• Stay on when wet
• Support your bust
• Stretch with movement

• Flatter your shape

Most brands still rely on flat size charts that don’t reflect real bodies. They don’t account for cup size, torso length, coverage preferences, or how you like a suit to feel. That’s where True Fit comes in.

Meet Your Match: True Fit for Swimwear

At Face the Water, we use a smarter sizing system designed for women who swim. True Fit is our personalised sizing tool that recommends the right size based on your body, not some outdated chart.  How it works: it is super easy. The True Fit app is on each product page.

1. You answer a few quick questions like your bra size and how you like your swimsuit to feel (firm, secure, or easy-going)

2. Our system matches your shape to the actual swimwear fit style by style

3. You get a size recommendation you can trust

No guesswork. No size roulette. Just your True Fit.

Why Women Love It:

- It reflects your shape, not a model’s
- It works with how you like to wear your swimwear
- It reduces returns
- It helps you feel confident in and out of the water

The Bottom Line

Sizing is broken. Swimwear shouldn't be. It’s time to stop blaming your body and start blaming the system. At Face the Water, we’re making swimwear fit you, not the other way around.

👉 Ready to find your style? Take the Swim Fit Quiz to find your match, and then use True Fit to find the best size for you.

Nothing beats the feeling of swimwear that fits. Shop our collections