How to find your Brazilian bikini size if you're UK-based

Brazilian swimwear sizing is not the same as UK sizing — and understanding the difference is the single most important thing you can do before buying. Get this right and your swimwear will fit beautifully. Get it wrong and even the most exquisite piece will let you down.

This is the question we get asked most often, and it deserves a proper answer. Here is everything you need to know.

Why Brazilian sizing is different

Brazilian swimwear is sized using a numeric system (36, 38, 40, 42, 44) rather than the S/M/L/XL system most UK brands use — and even where both use letters, the proportions are cut differently. Brazilian swimwear is designed with a different body proportion in mind: typically a smaller waist relative to hips and bust, and cuts that sit higher on the hip and lower on the bust.

This is not better or worse than UK sizing — it is simply different. And once you know your Brazilian size, shopping for handmade Brazilian swimwear becomes straightforward.

How to measure yourself correctly

You will need a soft measuring tape. Measure in centimetres, not inches. Do not pull the tape tight — it should sit snugly against your skin without compressing.

• Bust: Measure around the fullest part of your chest, keeping the tape parallel to the floor. Do not measure over a heavily padded bra — a light bralette or no bra is ideal.
• Waist: Measure around your natural waist — the narrowest part of your torso, usually a few centimetres above your belly button.
• Hips: Measure around the fullest part of your hips and bottom, usually about 20cm below your natural waist.

Orixah size guide — UK to Brazilian conversion

If you are between sizes, always size up. Brazilian swimwear is designed to fit closely, and a slightly larger size that sits well will always look better than a smaller size that pulls.

How to size your bikini top and bottom separately

One of the great advantages of buying a bikini set rather than a one-piece is that you can mix sizes. If your bust measurement puts you in one size and your hips in another — which is extremely common — you do not have to compromise.

• For your bikini top: use your bust measurement as the primary guide. If you have a larger bust relative to your frame, consider going up one size in the top for more coverage and support.
• For your bikini bottom: use your hip measurement as the primary guide. The fit at the hip and across the seat is what determines how comfortable and flattering the bottom will be.

At Orixah, we always recommend buying tops and bottoms in the size that fits each measurement best. We would rather you get the perfect fit than force yourself into one size across both pieces.

A note on Brazilian cut bottoms

Brazilian-cut bikini bottoms sit higher on the hip and have less coverage at the back than most European-cut swimwear. This is by design — the cut is intended to elongate the leg and work with the natural shape of the body rather than covering it. If you are new to Brazilian-cut swimwear, you may want to size up in the bottom initially until you find the coverage level you are comfortable with.

Still not sure? Get in touch.

Every Orixah piece is handmade, and that means we know the construction of each one in detail. If you are unsure about sizing for a specific piece — especially if your measurements fall between sizes or if you have particular fit preferences — contact us before you order. We would rather take five minutes to help you find the right size than have you receive something that does not fit perfectly.

Email us at the address on our contact page and we will come back to you within 24 hours.