How to Buy Lingerie as a Gift Without Getting the Size Wrong

To buy lingerie as a gift, check the size on a piece she already owns, and choose loungewear or an underwear set rather than a fitted bra. Bras are the single hardest garment to buy for someone else. Loungewear, nightwear and underwear sets are far more forgiving, and far more likely to be worn.

This guide is for anyone buying for a wife, girlfriend, sister or friend in Pakistan, and who would rather not get it wrong.

How do you find out her size without asking?

Read the label on a piece she already owns. This is the most reliable method by some distance, and takes thirty seconds.

For underwear, the label will say S, M, L or XL. For a bra, it will show a number and a letter, such as 34B. Photograph the label rather than trying to remember it.

If you cannot access a label, buy loungewear or nightwear instead. These are sized S to L or S to XL with a relaxed fit, which means a size either way still works.

What is the safest lingerie gift to buy?

A loungewear or nightwear set is the safest gift, because the fit is forgiving. Ranked from safest to riskiest:

• Loungewear set - relaxed fit, always worn, hard to get wrong
• Nightwear set - same, and feels more considered
• Underwear multipack - four sizes, forgiving, genuinely useful
• Wireless or soft bra - some tolerance in the fit
• Fitted or push-up bra - hardest to get right, buy only if you know the exact size

A three-piece set like Chic Serenity or Plush Reverie is a strong gift because it arrives as a complete, considered thing rather than a single item. The Satin Symphony pyjama set works well when you want something that feels like an occasion.

Should you buy a bra as a gift?

Only if you have seen the exact size on her current bra. Bra sizing is unforgiving: a 34B and a 34C fit differently, and so do a 34B and a 36B.

If you are set on a bra, choose a wireless or soft-cup style, which has more tolerance than a moulded push-up. Our Blossom Beauty wireless bra is more forgiving than most. Even so, buy from somewhere that allows exchanges.

Our bra size conversion chart is useful if the label shows a size in a different system.

What colour and style should you choose?

Choose black, skin tone or a colour you have actually seen her wear. A red lace set is a gift for the giver. A black loungewear set is a gift for her.

Look in her wardrobe. If everything is neutral, do not buy bright pink. If she wears cotton every day, do not buy satin. The best gift is the thing she would have chosen, bought before she got round to it.

How do you handle the sizing risk?

Buy from a seller who allows exchanges, and keep the receipt. Even with a label photographed, sizing varies between brands.

Sending her a link to swap the size herself is not a failure. It is a great deal better than a drawer with an unworn gift in it.

How do you give lingerie discreetly?

Order in plain packaging and give it privately. Erblis parcels arrive in a plain outer with no branding on the outside indicating what is inside.

Inside, the pieces sit in a button-closed Erblis tote bag, which is itself part of the gift, so it arrives already presented and needs no wrapping.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good lingerie gift for a wife or girlfriend in Pakistan?

A loungewear or nightwear set. It gets worn constantly, the fit is forgiving, and it feels considered without putting her on the spot.

How do I know her bra size without asking?

Check the label of a bra she already owns and photograph it. There is no reliable way to guess a bra size from appearance.

Is it strange to buy lingerie as a gift?

Not if you buy something she will actually wear. Comfortable loungewear and good underwear are gifts. Anything bought purely for your own benefit generally is not.

Can I return or exchange if the size is wrong?

Buy from a seller with a clear exchange process. It is the single most important factor when buying for someone else.

Does Erblis deliver gifts in Karachi?

Yes, with free delivery across Karachi, Cash on Delivery available, and every order arriving with a free Erblis tote bag. Use WELCOME10 for 10% off your first order. See our full lingerie and loungewear gift guide for ideas by budget.

The short version

Photograph the label of something she owns. Buy loungewear, nightwear or an underwear multipack rather than a fitted bra. Choose a colour you have seen her wear. Buy where you can exchange.