Lingerie Size Guide for India: Measure Once, Order Right

Most lingerie that disappoints does not disappoint because of the design. It disappoints because it pinches at the ribs, gapes at the cups or slides off the shoulder by the end of the evening. In India the problem is made worse by three things: our bra sizes follow one system, most imported lingerie follows another, and very few of us have ever been measured properly. This guide fixes that with a soft tape, ten minutes and a couple of tables.

It matters more than it does with clothes, because for hygiene reasons lingerie cannot be returned once the packet is opened (our returns and hygiene policy explains why). Measuring first is the whole trick.

What you need before you start

• A soft tailor’s tape (the cloth kind every darzi uses). A steel measuring tape will give you wrong numbers.
• A thin, unpadded bra, or none. A padded or push-up bra adds up to an inch to the bust measurement.
• A mirror, so you can check the tape is level across your back.
• A pen and paper, and five minutes when the room is yours.

How to measure yourself at home, step by step

1. Underbust (band). Wrap the tape snugly around your ribcage, just under the breasts, keeping it level all the way round. Breathe out normally and read the number in inches. This is your band size. Round to the nearest even number: 31 becomes 32, 33 becomes 34.
2. Bust. Wrap the tape loosely around the fullest part of the bust, again level at the back. Do not pull it tight. Note the number in inches.
3. Cup. Subtract the underbust from the bust. Each inch of difference is one cup letter: 1 inch is A, 2 is B, 3 is C, 4 is D, 5 is DD (sometimes written E).
4. Waist. Measure the narrowest part of your torso, usually just above the navel.
5. Hips. Stand with feet together and measure the widest part of the hips and seat.
6. Write it all down in centimetres too. Multiply inches by 2.54. European brands give their charts in centimetres, and converting in your head at checkout is where mistakes happen.

A quick example: underbust 33.5 inches (rounds to 34), bust 37 inches. The difference is 3 inches, so a C cup: 34C. Older advice said to add 4 or 5 inches to the underbust to get the band. Most bra makers stopped doing that years ago; it is why so many Indian women wear bands that ride up the back.

Converting Indian bra sizes to European sizes

Bras sold in India mostly use the same system as the UK: the band in inches (30, 32, 34 and so on) and a cup letter. Lingerie made in Spain, Italy and the rest of Europe uses the band in centimetres, rounded to steps of five. Cup letters also drift apart after D.

Indian / UK band	European band		Indian / UK cup	European cup
30	65		A	A
32	70		B	B
34	75		C	C
36	80		D	D
38	85		DD	E
40	90		E	F
42	95		F	G

So a 34C in India is roughly a 75C in Europe, and a 36DD is roughly an 80E. Use this as a starting point, not a promise: individual brands cut slightly differently.

What S/M, L/XL and “one size” really mean

Most sets, teddies and chemises are not sold by bra size at all. They come in letter sizes, often paired: S/M, L/XL, and on some lines XXL/XXXL. Paired sizes work because the fabric stretches. A typical lingerie fabric is around 90% polyamide and 10% elastane, which gives several centimetres of comfortable stretch and then recovers its shape.

The table below is a common European guide. Use your centimetre measurements, and always check the size chart on the product page itself if it gives one.

Size	Bust (cm)	Waist (cm)	Hips (cm)	Rough Indian bra size
S	82 to 88	62 to 68	88 to 94	32A to 32C
M	88 to 94	68 to 74	94 to 100	34B to 34D
L	94 to 100	74 to 80	100 to 106	36B to 36D
XL	100 to 106	80 to 86	106 to 112	38C to 38DD
XXL / XXXL	106 to 118	86 to 98	112 to 124	40 and above

If you sit between two sizes, decide by the piece. For a bodysuit or teddy, the body length and the bust matter most, so go up. For a chemise or babydoll, which floats away from the body, the bust is the only fit point, so choose by bust. For anything with a fixed underwire, choose by band.

Why your kurta size is not your lingerie size

It is tempting to think “I wear M in kurtas, so I’ll order M”. Kurta and top sizes in India are built with ease, extra room so the fabric hangs well and lets you move. Lingerie is cut close to the body with almost no ease, relying on stretch instead. Someone who wears an M kurta can easily be an S/M or an L/XL in lingerie depending on bust and hips. Your tape measure, not your wardrobe, is the reliable guide.

Fit checks once it arrives

• The band sits level. If it rides up at the back, it is too loose.
• Cups lie flat. Wrinkling means the cup is too big; spilling over the edge means too small.
• Straps are adjustable for a reason. Most of our sets, such as the Lovlea 2 Pieces Set (₹3,999), have adjustable straps; set them before deciding the fit is wrong.
• You can breathe and sit. Try sitting cross-legged on the bed. If something digs in, it will dig in more later.

Sizes in our range, with real prices

Our lingerie collection lists the sizes on every product page. A few examples:

• Leslie Chemise and Thong (₹3,799), Milagros Chemise and Thong (₹3,399) and the Adelina Corset (₹3,099) come in S/M, L/XL and XXL/XXXL, the widest range we carry.
• The Penthouse Perfect Lover Teddy (₹1,499) and Flawless Love Chemise (₹1,399) are offered in S/M, M/L and L/XL, useful if you fall between the usual paired sizes.
• The Daisy Babydoll (₹1,599) and Giftella Teddy (₹2,699) come in S/M and L/XL.

Prices are from our catalogue on the day of writing and can change.

Buying lingerie as a gift

Guessing someone’s size is risky, and asking directly spoils the surprise. Two discreet ways round it: check the label on a bra already in the cupboard (Indian labels show the band and cup, such as 34B), or choose a forgiving shape, a chemise or babydoll, in the paired size that covers their usual one. Our gift ideas for your wife include pieces that are hard to get wrong.

Caring for lingerie in Indian weather

Heat, humidity and strong sun are hard on lace and elastane. Hand-wash in cold water with a mild detergent, press the water out in a towel instead of wringing, and dry in the shade, never on a hot balcony railing. Keep pieces flat in a cloth pouch; plastic traps moisture during the monsoon.

Every order arrives in a plain box with no product names on the outside, and cash on delivery is available. Our guide to buying intimate products online covers receiving parcels in a shared home, and the overview of sex toys in India shows the full range.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert my Indian bra size to European sizes?

Keep the cup letter up to D and change the band from inches to centimetres: 32 is 70, 34 is 75, 36 is 80, 38 is 85. After D, Indian and UK DD equals European E, and E equals F.

What does S/M mean in lingerie?

It is one size that covers both small and medium, made possible by stretchy fabric. As a rough guide it suits a bust of about 82 to 94 cm. Check the size chart on the product page if it has one.

Can I return lingerie that does not fit?

Unopened lingerie in its sealed packaging can be returned within 7 days. For hygiene reasons, lingerie cannot be returned once opened unless it is faulty, so measure before you order.

I am between two sizes. Which should I choose?

For bodysuits and teddies, go up a size. For chemises and babydolls, choose by your bust. For anything with an underwire, choose by your band measurement.