The quick version
- Lingerie sizing here mostly runs on a two-band system, S/M and M/L, rather than the letter-and-number bra sizing you are used to.
- Bust, waist and hip measurements matter more than your everyday bra size once the cut changes.
- If you are between two sizes, sizing up usually beats sizing down, especially through the cup.
- Hand wash separately in cold water with no bleach - that is the standard care line across most of the range, and it is there for a reason.
- Heat is the real enemy: no tumble dryer, no ironing over lace or pearls, flat dry only.
- Store pieces flat or loosely hung, away from anything with clasps, zips or rough fabric that can snag delicate mesh.
How Lingerie Sizing Works: Bust, Waist and Hip Explained
Lingerie sizing trips people up because it rarely matches the everyday bra sizing you already know. Instead of a band number and a cup letter, a lot of what is stocked here uses a two-band system - S/M and M/L - where each band covers a range of cup sizes rather than one exact combination.
Here is how it breaks down on pieces like Fantasy Lingerie's Opulence range, which is a useful reference point since a good chunk of the collection follows the same structure:
Two different brands rarely use identical numbers, so treat this as a worked example of how the system reads, not a universal chart. Always check the sizing note on the specific piece before you order, the same way you would check shoe sizing between two brands rather than assuming your usual number carries over.
What If You Are Between Two Sizes
Size up. That is the short version, and it holds especially true through the cup. A cup that runs slightly generous is comfortable and still looks the way it is meant to. A cup that is genuinely too small pulls at the seams, digs in under the arms, and does not sit right no matter how you adjust the straps.
Waist and hip measurements have more give in most styles, since mesh, lace and spandex blends stretch to some degree in those areas. The bust is usually the least forgiving part of the fit, particularly on underwire pieces, so let that measurement guide the decision if your numbers land you between two bands.
What the Different Pieces Actually Cover
A set like a bra and panty with a harness shows most of the fit points in one piece. Underwire cups give shape and support but very little stretch, which is why cup sizing matters more than the waist or hip numbers on anything with underwire built in. Adjustable straps, including pearl string harnesses, let you fine-tune the fit after the fact without changing the size you ordered.
Closures matter too. A hook-and-eye back gives you a couple of settings to move between as your body changes day to day. A pull-on, all-stretch piece has no adjustment points at all, which makes getting the band size right on the first try more important than it is on a piece with a harness or an adjustable crotch string.
How to Wash Lingerie Without Ruining It
Hand wash separately in cold water, skip the bleach, and flat dry - that is the care instruction printed on most of the pieces in this range, and it holds for lace, mesh and pearl-trimmed styles generally. The short version of why: heat and agitation are what actually damage lingerie, not gentle contact with water.
How to Store Lingerie So It Lasts
Flat in a drawer or loosely hung both work, as long as nothing else is pressing on the piece for long stretches. Sunlight fades colour faster than most people expect, so keep drawers closed and avoid a spot near a window if you are hanging anything.
Keep lingerie away from pieces with buckles, studs or rough hardware that can snag fine mesh or pull threads out of lace - a share-house wardrobe with everything jammed into one drawer is exactly how a good piece gets a hole in it within a month. If you also keep toys in the same drawer, silicone can transfer a faint tint onto light-coloured fabric over time, so give the lingerie its own section rather than letting everything touch.
Want to see what is currently in stock before you settle on anything? The lingerie collection is worth a browse first, since styles and colourways rotate as new arrivals land.
Buying Lingerie as a Gift When You Do Not Know Their Size
Lean toward adjustable styles over rigid ones. A piece with a pearl string harness, a lasso-style strap or a stretch-forward cut has room to move if you guess slightly wrong, where a fitted underwire piece in the wrong band size just does not sit properly.
If you know their usual bra size, use it as a loose cross-check rather than a direct translation - band-and-cup systems do not map cleanly between brands, let alone between everyday bras and a two-band lingerie system. And check the returns policy before you order. Intimate items are often limited for hygiene reasons once tags are removed or a piece is worn, so it is worth knowing where you stand before the gift is unwrapped, not after.
Some sets also cross over into light restraint play, with cuffs or harness-style straps built in. If that crossover interests either of you, the bondage collection covers that end of the range alongside the lingerie itself.
Before You Order: A Quick Checklist
- Bust: measure straight around the fullest part with the tape level, not pulled tight.
- Waist: measure at the narrowest point, roughly where your torso bends sideways.
- Hips: measure around the fullest part with your feet together.
- Between sizes: check the specific product's sizing note rather than assuming - cup room and mesh stretch differ from style to style.
- Fabric blend: a higher spandex or elastane percentage gives more forgiveness if your measurements sit between two listed sizes.
Why Buy From Pleasing Strings
Every order ships from our Australian warehouses in plain, unbranded packaging with a discreet billing descriptor, and anything placed before 10am on a business day goes out the same day. Shipping is free over $99, and products carry a one-year warranty on top of your Australian Consumer Law rights. If sizing has you second-guessing before you order, sales@pleasingstrings.com.au is a faster way to check than guessing.
Ready to Choose Yours
Measuring first beats guessing every time, and once you know your numbers, browsing gets a lot faster. Start with the sizing chart on whatever piece catches your eye, not the size you wear everywhere else.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my measurements fall between S/M and M/L?
Size up, especially through the cup. A slightly loose stretch panel is more comfortable than a tight underwire edge, and most pieces have some adjustment built into the straps or closures even when the cup itself does not stretch much.
Can I put lingerie in the washing machine?
It is not recommended for anything with lace, mesh, pearls or underwire. Hand washing separately in cold water protects the elastic and the trims, and it only takes a couple of minutes longer than tossing it in with a regular load.
How is lingerie sizing different from everyday bra sizing?
Everyday bras use a band number and a cup letter, like 12C. A lot of lingerie, including much of what is stocked here, uses a two-band system instead - S/M or M/L - which covers a range of cup sizes within each band rather than one exact combination. Check the sizing chart on the specific listing rather than assuming your usual bra size carries straight across.
Does lingerie need to be stored separately from toys?
Keep it away from anything with rough edges, metal hardware or exposed clasps that could snag the mesh, and out of direct sunlight, which fades colour over time. If you keep toys in the same drawer, the toy cleaning and storage guide covers how to keep silicone pieces from touching fabric for long stretches.
What should I look at if I want a full look, not just one piece?
Start with the lingerie itself and work outward from there. The lingerie pairing guide covers how to layer in accessories, wearable toys and fragrance once the fit is sorted.
Is lingerie covered by the same returns terms as toys?
Electronic items carry the standard one-year warranty, but fabric pieces are usually treated differently for hygiene reasons once worn, so check the specific policy before you order rather than assuming. The guide to buying sex toys online in Australia covers how returns generally work across the store.
Related guides
- Pairing lingerie with the rest of the night
- How to clean and store toys by material
- How to buy sex toys online in Australia
Last updated: 17 September 2026
