Buying Guide

Buying swimwear online comes down to three decisions: the silhouette you feel best in, the coverage you want, and the size that actually fits you. This guide walks through all three, so the piece that arrives is the one you keep.

1. Start with the silhouette

Silhouette changes how a piece sits and how much support it gives. It is the decision that matters most.

  • Triangle — adjustable at the neck and back, so you set the fit yourself. The easiest shape to size and the one that tans most evenly. Best for smaller to medium busts.
  • Balconette — structured cups, often with underwire and removable padding. Lifts and holds shape. The one to choose if you want real support without a sports look.
  • Bandeau — a clean horizontal line and no straps to show under summer clothes. Choose your true size here: bandeau tops rely on the band to stay put.
  • High-waist bottoms — sit at or above the natural waist, hold you in and lengthen the leg line. The most comfortable option for a long day at the water.
  • One-piece swimsuits — the most versatile piece you can own. Under a linen skirt or open shirt it works as a top, so it goes from the sea to lunch without changing.

2. Decide how much coverage you want

Coverage is about how you plan to wear the piece, not about how it looks on a hanger.

  • Full coverage — bottoms that sit over the hip and cover the back completely. The right call for swimming, paddling, boats and anywhere you will be moving.
  • Medium coverage — the middle ground: secure, but with a higher leg line. Works for most days.
  • Low coverage — a cut-out back or a narrower rear panel. Made for sunbathing and for the photographs, less so for the waves.

3. Get the size right the first time

All our measurements are in centimetres and taken from the body, not from the garment. Measure your bust at the fullest point, your waist at the narrowest, and your hips at the widest, keeping the tape parallel to the floor.

If you fall between two sizes, take the larger one for structured tops and bottoms, and the smaller one for triangle tops, which you adjust with the ties. The complete grid and the step-by-step instructions are on our size guide.

4. Look at the fabric

The pieces we carry are made in Portugal from Italian fabrics, with a high elastane content so they hold their shape after a full season rather than a single holiday. A good swimwear fabric recovers when you stretch it: let go and it snaps back without leaving a mark.

5. Make it last

Rinse in cold water after every use, without soap. Do not wring it, do not tumble dry it, do not iron it. Dry it flat in the shade and keep sun cream and oils away from the fabric where you can. Stored dry and flat, a good piece stays a good piece for several summers. There is more on this in how to care for your swimwear.

6. Finish the look

Gold-plated pieces on a silk cord are made for saltwater days: light, adjustable and easy to wear in and out of the water. Start with our jewellery, or with the pearl pieces if you want something a little quieter.

Still not sure?

Tell us your usual bra size, your height and how you plan to wear the piece, and we will tell you which size and which silhouette to order. Write to us through our contact page, or come and try pieces on at our showroom in Guimarães.