What Is Sizing Like at Sara Cristina?

Sara Cristina runs largely true to size, but it fits more snugly and with far less stretch than the high-street swimwear most of us are used to — so if you're between sizes or want a more relaxed feel, sizing up is usually the smarter move. It's a luxury swim and resort-wear label, and like most boutique designers it's cut to flatter rather than to forgive. I've styled a lot of swimwear over the years, and Sara Cristina sits firmly in the "architectural, sculptural, photographs beautifully" camp — which is wonderful, as long as you choose your size with your actual body in mind rather than the number on your usual high-street label.

Here's everything I'd want a client to know before they hit "add to basket".

The quick answer on fit

True to size overall — a UK 10 generally maps to the brand's size S, a 12 to M, and so on.
Less give than mainstream swim — the ribbed and compression fabrics hold their shape, so there's none of that generous four-way stretch you get from a high-street one-piece.
Cut for a close, body-skimming silhouette — these are designed to fit, not float.
Size up if you're in between, curvier, or want more coverage — especially across the bust and hip.

How Sara Cristina actually fits, piece by piece

Tops and bikinis

The triangle and one-shoulder styles are where the brand really sings, and they're the most forgiving thing in the range thanks to adjustable ties and tie-backs. If you're a smaller bust, you'll love the sculptural necklines and asymmetric shoulders — they're made for you. Larger busts: look for the adjustable, knotted styles rather than the fixed-cup designs, and don't be afraid to go up a size for proper support.

Bottoms

Cut high on the hip with that 90s-inspired leg line and moderate-to-cheeky coverage at the back. They sit true to size but, again, with less stretch — so if you're hovering between a UK 10 and 12, or you simply prefer more coverage, take the larger size. Your future self on a sunlounger will thank you.

One-pieces and resort dresses

This is where you need to pay attention. The one-pieces are gorgeous but genuinely architectural and form-fitting, often in that signature ribbed fabric. If you're petite, the torso can read slightly long, so a wrinkle through the body is your cue. Curvier shapes will usually be more comfortable a size up. The crocheted resort dresses and cover-ups are looser and far more relaxed, so you can take your normal size with confidence there.

My styling take

The trick with a brand like this is to buy for the body you have on holiday, not the body you're promising yourself before it. I learned that one the hard way. Years ago I bought a stunning compression-fabric one-piece a size down because it "would be motivation" — it sat in a drawer with the tags on for two summers and eventually went to a friend who, naturally, looked incredible in it. Lesson learned: a swimsuit you can actually relax in beats a beautiful one you're forever hoiking up.

The win that stuck with me went the other way. I once sized a client up in a sculptural one-shoulder maillot against her instinct, styled it with crocheted wide-leg trousers and oversized sunglasses, and she wore it from beach to evening drinks without a single readjustment. That's the Sara Cristina sweet spot — pieces that double as outerwear when you treat them as tailoring, not just swimwear.

A few quick rules I'd give anyone shopping the brand:

Always check the model's height and size on each product page — most are around 5'6", so adjust for your own frame.
Prioritise the adjustable styles if you're between sizes; the ties do a lot of quiet work.
Layer the swim pieces under linen trousers or a crochet skirt to take them into the evening.

If Sara Cristina isn't quite the one — where else to look

Not everyone wants to spend designer money on swimwear, and not every shape suits a low-stretch cut. Here's where I'd send clients across every budget, all chosen specifically for swim and resort.

High street

Seasalt Cornwall — coastal-born swimwear with genuinely flattering, sensible cuts and lovely prints.
Sweaty Betty — the best high-street pick for proper bust support and a sporty, holds-everything-in fit.
Boden — reliable shaping swimsuits with tummy control and a fit that suits curves.
Marks & Spencer — brilliant value, wide size range, and surprisingly chic one-pieces.
COS — if it's the minimalist, architectural Sara Cristina look you love, this is the closest high-street match.
Hush — the place for easy crochet cover-ups and relaxed resort layers.
Mango — trend-led, on-the-money holiday pieces that look far pricier than they are.
Whistles — understated, grown-up swim and resort separates that photograph beautifully.

Premium

Sézane — Parisian polish, with resort edits that nail effortless French-holiday dressing.
The White Company — clean, elegant swim and cover-ups in a refined neutral palette.
Me+Em — clever, body-conscious cuts with the kind of detailing that elevates a poolside look.

Luxury and designer

Max Mara — for sculptural, timeless beachwear with that unmistakable Italian quality.
Ralph Lauren — classic, polished resort swimwear that never dates.

Two left-field independents worth knowing

Casa Raki — a London-founded, ocean-conscious label making beautifully cut swimwear from regenerated fabrics; brilliant if sustainability matters to you.
Form & Fold — an Australian brand sized more like lingerie, with real attention to bust support and a properly engineered fit. A revelation if mainstream swim never quite works for you.

How Tellar works

The reason fit is so unpredictable across brands is simple: a UK 10 can mean wildly different things from one label to the next, and Sara Cristina is no exception. That's exactly why we built Tellar.co.uk — the UK's leading free sizing tool, matching your body to 1,500+ brands instantly so you never have to squint at a size guide again.

Measure once, using your bust, waist, hip, or an existing brand size you already trust.
Use the Store Size Lookup to get your precise size in any brand — Sara Cristina, COS, Reiss, Everlane, Arket and more.
Always free, no downloads needed — it works straight in your browser.

More on the Tellar Fashion Hub

Beyond the tool, the Tellar Fashion Hub is a library stacked with free posts from our top stylists — honest, unbiased, independent and always free. Style advice, top picks and the best brands, with no sponsored fluff. A few of our most useful guides to get you started:

Stop guessing your size

Match your exact measurements to Sara Cristina and 1,500+ other brands in seconds — free, unbiased, and built by stylists who actually care about fit.

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Written by Ella Blake, Senior Fashion Stylist & Founder of Tellar. Always honest, always unbiased, never sponsored.