Ordering Lingerie Online Made Easy: 15+ Lingerie Shopping Tips

For anyone who has ever felt awkward or uncomfortable in a store dressing room trying on bras, bustiers, or any other type of lingerie, it should come as no surprise that the lingerie online shopping industry is on fire these days. In fact, online lingerie shopping is expected to grow by 11.5% between 2023 and 2032, according to a study by Business Research Insights. The perks of ordering lingerie online pretty much speak for themselves. Privacy, convenience, variety, size-inclusivity, and so much more.

But even with the benefits of buying lingerie online, it can still be a daunting process, especially with so many online lingerie stores to choose from, not to mention the multitude of brands, collections, styles, and sizes available. That’s why we’ve put together this guide of 15+ tips to make ordering lingerie online simple. Let us show you how shopping for lingerie online can be painless – and, dare we say, even fun!

15+ Lingerie Shopping Tips: How to Shop for Lingerie Online 

1. Start with what you know: Especially if you are new to lingerie online shopping, a good place to start is with shapes and styles that you’re already comfortable with. If your top drawer is already full of black lingerie, start your online lingerie shopping by browsing the black lingerie section first. Or, if you feel most confident wearing an underwire bra, begin there before exploring other sections of the site. Starting in your comfort zone will help you ease into making the best online lingerie purchases.
2. Take your measurements: This may seem like a no-brainer, but before you shop for lingerie online, you’ll need to know your measurements. Wrap a tape measure around the widest part of your bust, hips, and waist to determine your measurements in inches.
3. Consult online sizing information: Each online lingerie store and brand has its own sizing chart with different nuances. At Oh La La Cheri, You can find your correct size using our Fit Room sizing chart. It’s also important to remember that not all types of lingerie will fit all bodies the same way. Take time to research what kind of lingerie will best complement your body type and give you that great confidence boost you deserve.
4. Read customer reviews: While sizing charts and measurements are helpful in finding the right fit, one of the best things you can do when ordering lingerie online is read customer product reviews. People love giving feedback on fit and sizing in product reviews, so take advantage of this information!
5. Order several sizes to try: More is better when it comes to lingerie online shopping. When you find an item you like, purchase it in several sizes and return the ones that don’t fit. If you purchase with a service like Klarna, which offers a ‘Pay in 30 days’ program, you can receive your order upfront with 30 days to pay, allowing you time to return the items that you don’t want without having to pay.
6. Take it for a test run: This tip ties into tip #5. After you receive your online order (in various sizes), be sure to try them on at home and test them out in real life. This means wearing bras under clothes for more than just a few minutes, making sure there’s no gaping, tugging, or scratching.
7. One-size items are your friend: If you’re not sure of your size, a good way to test the waters with online lingerie shopping is with one-size items. Often, these pieces are made of stretchier or lace-up material, or are generally more forgiving than sized items.
8. Ask for help: One of the best things about buying lingerie online is that you can avoid awkward encounters with salespeople. But this doesn’t mean that you have to forgo help with sizing advice or product questions. When ordering lingerie online, don’t hesitate to reach out to customer service via the site’s online chat or just send them an email.
9. Check out the store’s reputation: If you want to find the best online lingerie, you need to do your due diligence and research the store and make sure it has good ratings and reviews. Check Google Reviews or other sources to make sure you’re shopping a trusted brand.
10. Be flexible about color: One thing that can catch people off guard when buying lingerie online is that product colors in real life often differ from what is displayed on the screen at checkout. Just be aware that shades can vary, always read product descriptions when you shop for lingerie online—and be prepared that your purchase may look different when it arrives at your doorstep than it did on screen.
11. Don’t miss the sale section: The sale section is a great place to find quality lingerie at reduced prices. Especially if you’re new to buying lingerie online, browsing the clearance section to see what you like is a great idea. You can also shop lingerie sites by category and then filter by ‘Sale.’ For example, at Oh La La Cheri, you can browse plus-size teddies on sale or going-out lingerie on sale and then easily make a purchase online.
12. Discover discounts: When ordering lingerie online, look for additional on-site promotions, such as signing up for a store’s newsletter or text messages in exchange for a discount on your order. Don’t pass up these offers when you shop for lingerie online – they’re a quick way to save!
13. Buy in bulk or sets: An often overlooked lingerie shopping tip is to buy lingerie sets instead of individual pieces. This can save you money, and it doesn’t hurt that you’ll look hot in the process! At Oh La La Cheri, we offer a variety of lingerie sets; browse our sexy lingerie online collections, including fetish and bondage lingerie sets, embroidered lingerie sets, and more.
14. Check shipping charges: There are a few logistical items to remember when buying lingerie online. One of the most important is shipping fees and shipping policies since they can affect your overall total purchase. At Oh La La Cheri, we offer free shipping on orders over $99.
15. Research return policies: When you buy lingerie online (or anywhere, really), it’s important to understand the store’s return and exchange policy. Save yourself unnecessary headache by doing research ahead of time, just in case you need to send back your purchase.
16. Review your cart before checkout: There's nothing worse than hitting the 'pay now' button, only to later discover that you purchased the wrong size or color or bought multiple items when you didn't mean to. Give your cart a quick once-over before you purchase. You'll thank yourself later.

With these lingerie shopping tips in mind, it’s time to have some fun! Take your measurements, do some research, browse what’s hot and new on the site, shop the sales, and start buying sexy lingerie online today!