If you have ever ordered lingerie online and had it arrive fitting nothing like you expected, you are not alone. Sizing is the single biggest barrier to buying intimates with confidence, and it is the question we hear most often at Lune d'Or.
Here is the truth most lingerie brands will not tell you: the issue is almost never your body. It is the fact that lingerie sizing is inconsistent across brands, the labels you have been using since your teenage years are probably wrong, and most women have never actually measured themselves properly for intimates.
This guide changes that.
Why Lingerie Sizing Is Different From Clothing Sizing
When you buy a dress or a pair of jeans, you are generally choosing between small, medium, large, or a numbered size based on broad proportional ranges. Lingerie sizing is more precise because intimates are designed to conform to specific measurements rather than drape over them.
A bodysuit that fits a 34C and a 36B can be made the same cup volume, but the band size changes everything about how it sits on your body. A chemise sized as "small" at one brand might fit a completely different frame than "small" at another.
This is why measuring yourself before you buy is not optional for luxury lingerie. It is the difference between a piece that makes you feel extraordinary and one that ends up unworn.
What You Need
A soft fabric measuring tape is the only tool required. If you do not have one, a ribbon or string and a ruler work fine. Measure in your undergarments or nothing at all, not over clothing. And measure twice.
How to Measure Yourself for Lingerie
Step 1: Your Band Size (Underbust Measurement)
Wrap the measuring tape snugly around your torso directly under your bust, where a bra band would sit. Keep the tape parallel to the floor. The number you get is your underbust measurement in inches.
If that number is even, add 4 inches. If it is odd, add 5. The result is your band size.
Example: If your underbust measures 29 inches, add 5 to get a 34 band.
Step 2: Your Cup Size (Bust Measurement)
Wrap the tape loosely around the fullest part of your bust, keeping it parallel to the floor. Do not compress the tissue. Write this number down.
Subtract your band size from this number. The difference determines your cup size:
- Less than 1 inch: AA
- 1 inch: A
- 2 inches: B
- 3 inches: C
- 4 inches: D
- 5 inches: DD/E
- 6 inches: DDD/F
Step 3: Your Waist and Hip Measurements (For Bodysuits and Sets)
For bodysuits, chemises, and lingerie sets, you also need:
Waist: Measure around the narrowest part of your torso, typically an inch or two above your navel.
Hips: Measure around the widest part of your hips and seat, keeping the tape parallel to the floor.
Hold onto these numbers. Every brand uses them differently, but having your actual measurements means you can compare against any size chart with confidence.
How to Read a Lingerie Size Chart
Once you have your measurements, use the brand's size chart directly, not your general clothing size. At Lune d'Or, each product includes specific measurements for bust, waist, and hip per size, so you can always check before purchasing.
Pay attention to these common discrepancies:
XS does not mean the same thing brand to brand. Always check the actual inch measurements rather than trusting the label.
European sizing runs differently than U.S. sizing. If you are shopping brands that use EU sizing, a 75B is approximately a 34B in U.S. sizing.
Stretch fabric gives more range. A bodysuit made from high-stretch lace or mesh will fit across a wider range of measurements than one cut in woven fabric.
What to Do When You Fall Between Sizes
If your measurements land between two sizes, the general rule for lingerie is to size up, not down. Intimate apparel that is slightly generous can be adjusted with how you wear it. Intimate apparel that is too small is uncomfortable and unflattering regardless of how beautiful the piece is.
The exception is bra bands, where too large a band means the piece will not provide proper support and will ride up. For bras and bralettes, sizing down on the band and up on the cup is often the better fit.
Common Lingerie Sizing Mistakes
Trusting the size you have always been. Bodies change. Your measurements from five years ago may not be accurate today. Measure before each major purchase.
Measuring over clothing. Even thin fabric adds measurement. Always measure against your skin.
Pulling the tape too tight. The goal is an accurate measurement of your body, not a compressed one. The tape should sit snugly but not dig in.
Ignoring the hip measurement for bodysuits. A bodysuit that fits beautifully across the bust can pull uncomfortably if the hip measurement is not accounted for. Always check the full measurement range, not just the top half.
A Note on Fit From Someone Who Has Made Lingerie for 25 Years
At Lune d'Or, our size charts are built from the same standards we have applied to wholesale intimate apparel manufacturing for over two decades. We know that fit is not just about numbers on a chart. It is about how a piece moves with your body, how it holds its shape after washing, and how it makes you feel.
If you are ever uncertain about sizing, our full size guide is available on every product page. And our 30-day return policy means you can try a piece and exchange it if the fit is not right. We would rather you wear something that fits you perfectly than keep something that does not.
Ready to find a piece that fits? Shop the full collection at Lune d'Or and use the size guide on any product page to match your measurements to the right size.
