Boden swimwear sizing - YouLookFab Forum

I need to purchase a bikini, and the last time I did so was 15ish years ago - I generally avoid being at the beach/pool for multiple reasons. This is since I will be visiting friend out of state for a long weekend who has a house with pool, two young children and wants us all to spend a lot of time "hanging by the pool". Thus I want something relatively timeless, with decent coverage, that will serve me for several years, for rare occasions when I need to wear a swimsuit

I am seriously considering the swimsuit below as I love the retro design and heard a lot of good stuff here about the quality. If at all possible, I would like to avoid buying multiple sizes and sending some back. Last time I bought a swimsuit, I remember that swimwear ran small and one generally needed to purchase bigger size than for regular clothing. So, is that true these days for Boden? For example, I am currently smack in the middle between sizes 2 and 4 on the bottom (jeans 26/27), and wondering if 4 should work or I should get a 6. I like the fact the the tops have bra sizing and wondering if they are TTS or the band and/or the cups run big or small? I read the reviews on the site but would still appreciate some real life, recent experience.

Boden

Kythira Cupsize Bikini Top

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Boden

Kythira Belted Bikini Bottoms

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2 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I can’t help you with Boden, and my swimsuit goals were a little different from yours, but I got lots and lots of helpful comments and advice when I was looking for a suit in early March. You might want to pull up that post. I wound up going with Esprit, which was Anchie’s suggestion. I got 2 tops & 2 bottoms that I can mix & match, for €10 each piece and was very happy with them on our trip.
Also, when we lived in Florida, it seemed to me that moms hanging out by the pool did not necessarily mean moms getting in in the water. Make sure to take some cover-ups, short sundresses or T-shirt dresses or that sort of thing.

carambola

I have the navy and white polka dot bikini that Angie recommended from a few years go. The bottoms are called bikini shorts and I found them to be true to the Boden size chart. I ordered 2 sizes, one a size up since I, like you, remembered that swimwear often runs small, but the smaller size was better. If memory serves, there was actually very little difference in terms of how the 2 sizes looked, but the smaller felt more secure in the elastic.

As for the top, I am very small-chested. My best-fitting bras are a 30C and the 32B works fine, but the cups are just a tad large if I'm being picky. I've been really happy with the quality though. No fading or stretching after 3 years of use.

Love the print you picked out and hope it works for you!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Tanya, I tried this EXACT bikini - LOVED IT!! - but it was a size or two too big in the US2 and 32. So in my opinion this season, Boden swimwear runs TTS. (I almost kept it to alter though...)

My old Boden bikini however, fits PERFECTLY in the same sizes that I ordered the new bikini in......so they have changed their size specifications. They used to run smaller.

Alacati Cup-Size Bikini Top

Mix & Match Bikini Shorts

Runcarla

No experience with Boden swimwear, but wanted to volunteer that the suit you are considering is super cute!

Tanya

Thank you for the input, and Runcarla, for the endorsement!

FashIntern, I read your thread. I will certainly get some cover-up(s), but I won't worry about them until I get the actual swimsuit first.

Carambola, thank you for sharing your experience and for confirming that the quality is indeed great.

Angie, that is super helpful! Good to know that sizing changed. It sounds that for the top I should go for my normal bra size and for the bottoms 6 would be too big. No I need to figure out if 2 or 4 would make more sense.

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