How to choose the right knicker size without trying them on

Why you should not choose knicker size at random

When buying lingerie online, the most common mistake is ordering the size that “usually fits” without checking the specific size guide. At Anabel Arto, the size of briefs, swim bottoms, belts and suspenders is determined by the hip measurement, and the women’s knicker sizing page includes a separate chart with sizes 42-58 and corresponding waist and hip ranges. That is why the question of how to choose women’s knicker size starts not with an S or M label, but with one accurate measurement and an understanding of how the style is meant to fit.

Which measurements matter for an accurate choice

For knickers, the most important measurement is the hip circumference. It should be taken around the fullest part of the hips and buttocks, without pulling in the stomach and without tightening the tape measure too much. If you want a more accurate result, it is also useful to note your waist measurement, because the Anabel Arto women’s knicker size chart includes both figures, although the hip remains the main point of reference.

This is especially important if you are choosing a style without trying it on for the first time, or if you are moving to a different cut. Some knickers may feel soft and relaxed, while others may sit more firmly against the body, even if they formally belong to the same size.

What to look at in the size chart

Before placing an order, it is worth opening the women’s knicker size chart and finding your range according to hip measurement. At Anabel Arto, for example, sizes 42-58 correspond to hip measurements from 90-94 cm up to 122-126 cm, as well as to intermediate international markings such as S, M/L or XXL/3XL. This is convenient if you are used to referring to both numeric and letter sizing at the same time.

It is important not to try to “squeeze into” a smaller size for the sake of a neater fit. Underwear should sit close to the body, not dig into the skin, compress it, or distort the hip line under clothing.

Why the style also affects the choice

Even when the size is technically correct, the fit still depends on the model. On the Anabel Arto website, there are different options available - briefs, thongs, Brazilian styles and other categories of women’s knickers - so the same size may feel different depending on the cut. More covered styles usually feel different on the body than cuts with a more open back line or a lower rise.

For example, one of Anabel Arto’s cotton brief styles has a low-rise waist, flat seams, a medium side seam height and covers about two-thirds of the buttocks. Details like these matter just as much as the size itself, because they determine how comfortable the lingerie will feel in everyday wear.

How to avoid mistakes when shopping online

If your measurements fall between two sizes, it is better to look not only at the number, but also at the fabric composition, its density and the cut itself. Softer, stretchier styles may adapt more easily to the body, while more structured models may require a more precise size match.

Another useful point of reference is to compare the purchase with lingerie you already own and know fits well. But it is better to compare not by the label, but by the fit itself: where the waistline sits, how firmly the garment fits around the hips, and whether it remains comfortable while moving throughout the day.

When the size has been chosen incorrectly

It is usually not difficult to spot a mistake. If the knickers dig into the skin, twist, gather into folds, shift when walking or create excess tension at the seams, then either the size or the style has not been chosen well. If the model feels too loose and does not hold its shape, the reason may also be an incorrect size, even if the underwear does not feel tight.

That is why, when buying online, it is important to think of lingerie as a category that requires precision of fit, rather than as something that can be “more or less” the right size.

In summary

Choosing knickers without trying them on is entirely realistic if you act methodically rather than intuitively: take your hip measurement, check it against the brand’s size chart, consider the cut and read the product description carefully. In this category, the principle of “I usually wear this size” does not really work, because comfort in underwear depends both on precise measurements and on the construction of the specific design. That is why international lingerie sizes and the brand’s own internal size chart should always be considered together rather than separately.

A good choice is not simply a matter of matching the number on the label. It is lingerie that stays comfortable throughout the day, does not need constant adjustment and sits naturally on the body. When the size is chosen correctly, shopping online stops feeling like a compromise and becomes a clear and convenient way to order lingerie that genuinely fits.