What Is Sizing Like at Lido?

Lido swimwear fits true to size for most people — order your normal size and you'll be right — but because these are Venetian one-pieces cut for a neat, sculpted silhouette, anyone with a longer torso should size up. That single decision matters more than your dress size, and getting it wrong is the difference between a suit that skims you beautifully and one that grips your shoulders all day.

I've styled a lot of women into swimwear over the years, and Lido is one of those brands I genuinely reach for when someone wants to look polished by a pool rather than wrestled into something. It's a small, independent label founded in Venice back in 2017, named after the island where everyone there goes to swim. The suits are made in Northern Italy from a dense, matte Italian Lycra, and you can feel the difference the moment you put one on. But the fit has a couple of quirks worth knowing before you commit, so let me walk you through it properly.

The short answer on Lido sizing

True to size on bust, waist and hip — take your usual size, which runs XS to XL.
Torso length is the deciding factor. Lido themselves recommend sizing up for a longer body, and they're right. A one-piece has to travel from your shoulder, down and back up again, so height and torso length matter far more than width.
The fabric does a lot of the work. That four-way-stretch Lycra hugs and holds rather than sagging, so it's forgiving if you fall between two sizes.
It stays opaque. The matte finish means it doesn't go sheer when wet — a small thing that quietly separates good swimwear from cheap swimwear.

Why torso length trips people up

I'll be honest about a fashion fail of my own here, because it's exactly the mistake I now warn clients off. Years ago I bought a beautiful Italian one-piece in my "correct" size, felt smug, and spent an entire holiday in Puglia hoiking the straps back onto my shoulders every twenty minutes. The width was perfect. The length wasn't. I have a slightly longer torso and the suit was simply too short to sit comfortably — so it pulled down at the shoulders and dug in at the leg.

That's the Lido lesson in a nutshell. If a one-piece feels like it's tugging you forward or riding up at the hip, that's almost never a width problem you can fix by losing weight — it's torso length, and the answer is to go up a size. If you're tall, or long in the body, do it without hesitation.

Where the sizes jump

One thing I always flag with Lido: the waist measurements climb in fairly generous steps between sizes, more so than the bust. So if you're caught between two, don't fixate on your waist. Go by the measurement that's hardest for stretch fabric to accommodate — usually your hips and your torso. The waist will follow.

Fuller bust? The signature styles have a scooped or straight neckline with no underwiring, so if you want more security and lift, size up rather than relying on the strap detail to hold you.
Smaller bust? You can comfortably stay in your true size — the clean lines are designed to flatter a neat chest without gaping.
In between everywhere? Size up. With swimwear you can always tighten the impression with styling; you can't add length back.

The signature styles and how each one fits

Tre — the bestseller, and the one I recommend most. A square neckline with elasticated straps that cross geometrically across the back, medium leg rise and moderate coverage. It genuinely suits a huge range of ages and body shapes. Fits true to size; size up if you're long in the body.
Uno — a softly rounded neckline with slender crossing straps and a scooped back. A touch more forgiving across the bust, so it flatters both smaller and fuller chests. Mid-coverage and very elegant.
Trentasei — ultra-thin spaghetti straps and a scooped neckline. Gorgeous, but the delicate straps offer less bust support, so choose your size carefully and don't size down hoping for a snugger hold.

My honest styling verdict

Lido is a buy-once, wear-for-years label. The colours are beautifully considered — proper grown-up shades rather than gaudy holiday brights — and the matte fabric photographs as expensively as it feels. If you want a one-piece that works as a bodysuit under linen trousers for an evening aperitivo, this is it. Just respect the torso rule and you'll love it. It is an investment price, so if it's a stretch this season, here's where I'd send you instead.

If Lido is out of budget: where else to shop

High street

Marks & Spencer (M&S) — the strongest high-street swimwear range in the UK, with proper tummy-control panelling and an enormous spread of cup-sized options.
COS — the closest thing on the high street to Lido's pared-back, architectural aesthetic; minimal, matte and beautifully cut.
Seasalt Cornwall — coastal-born and built for actual swimming, with flattering shapes and a sustainability lean.
Boden — for anyone who wants playful prints with genuine support and a generous, reassuring fit.
Sweaty Betty — sporty, sculpting one-pieces that hold you in and stay put when you move.
Hush — understated, easy-to-wear swim that styles straight off the beach into a bar.
Whistles — clean lines and modern shapes for a more fashion-led, minimal look.

Premium

Me&Em — elevated, clever swimwear with the kind of considered tailoring that flatters real bodies.
Sézane — French-girl chic with quietly luxe fabrics and effortlessly cool colourways.

Luxury / designer

Max Mara — sleek, sophisticated beachwear that sits comfortably alongside the rest of a luxury wardrobe.
Ralph Lauren — timeless, polished one-pieces with that unmistakable resort-glamour finish.

Two independents worth knowing

Form & Fold — an Australian label built around proper bust support and true cup sizing, which is rare and brilliant in luxury swim. My left-field pick for anyone a fuller chest usually fails.
Davy J — a UK independent making seriously durable swimwear from regenerated fishing nets. Honest, sustainable and built to last — exactly my kind of brand.

How Tellar takes the guesswork out

Here's the bit that should make all of this much easier. Tellar is the UK's leading sizing tool: you measure once — using bust, waist, hip, or simply a brand size you already own and trust — and your body is matched instantly to over 1,500 brands. No more squinting at a size guide and guessing, no downloads, it all works straight in your browser, and it's always free.

Use the Store Size Lookup to get your precise size in any brand — COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.
Measure once, then let Tellar do the conversion work across every brand you shop.

There's also the Tellar Fashion Hub, a library stacked with free posts from our top stylists. Honest, unbiased, independent and always free — style advice, top picks and the best brands for every wardrobe question. A few you might find useful next:

Never look at a size guide again

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— Ella Blake, Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder, Tellar