A mortified shopper has mocked PrettyLittleThing's "comical" response to her complaint that one of their bikinis turns transparent in water.
Emily Charlton-Smith, from Clapham, London was left red-faced after her £17 bikini became completely translucent in water.
Emily had worn the bikini to the pool while on holiday in Spain, but was left scrambling for cover when it turned see completely through in the water.
The 25-year-old took to Instagram to complain to the company, but was left perplexed when a customer service adviser asked for her to send a video of her demonstrating the garment's transparency.
Screen shots of the conversation show an adviser, Nowman, asking Emily for the proof of the incident. The message reads: "Can you send us video of this so we can see how thin it has become this item has become?"
Taken aback she responds: "As in a video of it going see-through when I wear it?"
An hour later, Nowman disappears from the conversation and a different customer adviser issues a sincere apology for the blunder, writing:
"I'm so sorry, that was advised wrong, can you send us a photo of your hand under the bikini to show how see through it is".
Emily took to Instagram to share the exchange with her followers with the caption: "I'm not sure what's worse @PrettyLittleThing's Nowman asking me for a video in my see-through bikini or the customer service team telling me bikinis are for poolside posing only".
"I'll save you the nude porno video (soz Nowman) but this is what we're working with".
Images accompanying the post show Emily's white bikini turned completely translucent after being held under water.
In response to her complaints a PrettyLittleThing customer services adviser said: "From the material it can be expected to happen, most of our bikinis we do advise for them to be worn for poolside posing based on this."
Speaking today, Emily explained how she saw the funny side of the messages.
She said: "You have to laugh that they asked for a video initially, I think that would have sent most people over the edge, but I let it play out as I've worked in retail and try to be helpful.
"The best and most mortifying part is that they said bikinis are for 'poolside posing'."
"I posted it on my Instagram story and have had so many people express their frustrations for me and some have had similar experiences."
PrettyLittleThing have previously been in hot water over the quality of their swimwear after images of another bikini designed for 'poolside posing only' went viral."
A spokesperson for PrettyLittleThing said: "PrettyLittleThing does advise customers on the styles which we do not recommend be worn for swimming. These are highlighted as ‘pool side posing’ only and are designed for day/evening wear holiday dressing/pool side posing.
"If customers are unsure, our customer service team are available to advise further on which styles cannot be worn for swimming.
"We can confirm the customer has been refunded."
