I'm trying to buy a new swimming costume, but I can't work out my size because the sizes on the costumes here seem to be inconsistent and just plain weird.
They seem to be giving different sizes for different countries and these sizes don't equate to what I know about my sizing.
I am usually a size 12, which I thought equated to a 38 here, but I see that my current costume says that size 12 is European size 40. If I look at a size 38 in a swimming costume under UK sizing, it is deemed the same as size 44 in Germany or something. When the larger numbers are given under UK sizing, they don't seem to correspond to bust size either from my experience when I have tried stuff on.
I am starting to wonder if these sizes are to do with body length? I hate trying the costumes on because I can never get them back on the hanger afterwards, so always end up leaving the shop with my head under my jacket, because I have to leave it in a heap in the changing room.
Also, there doesn't seem to be much selection at this time of year, but that's just a little whinge.
I had a similar experience! The choice outside of the summer months is pretty slim. Functional Speedo-type costumes are relatively easy to find in sports stores but it is tricky to find the more fashionable costumes that are around in the summer.
I got one in Athleticum last autumn. I was confused by the sizes too and ended up having to send my OH to get me the next size, then the next, then the next! Handily I could pass him the ones that I didn't want and he put them back for me (although they were most probably dumped in a heap as he wasn't in the best of moods by then! )
Oh well, good to know that I need to look at the German size! My experience, though, is that the sizing hasn't corresponded to chest size. I tried one according to my chest size and it felt like being in a straight jacket.
I tried one according to my Swiss clothes size (but under the heading "UK size"), which might have been OK as a fit, but again I did think it might have been marginally too small, but was too embarrassed to try on another at that stage.
Unfortunately, size 38 does not always equal size 38. It depends also on the label. It is really worth trying them on and don`t worry about not getting them back on the hanger, the shop assistants are paid for that.
You must be careful where the bathing suites are manufactured. I am normally a size 34 to 36. I bought a French bikini last year in a size 38. French clothes are made French women, which I can only assume tend to be very small.
Make sure you check the labels, sometimes there might be a table showing the differences in sizes and where it was manufactured.
I have made the mistake several times of taking things that were way to small for me because I looked at the wrong size (for the french. . .again )