Bloomer and Panty Size Chart: What Sizes 45–100 Mean

What does panty size 85 mean?

It means an 85 cm waist — about 33.5 inches. Indian cotton innerwear is usually numbered by waist measurement in centimetres rather than by S, M and L, so size 90 is a 90 cm waist, size 75 is a 75 cm waist, and so on. Our sizes run from 45 to 100 in steps of five.

This is why the same number works for a child and for an adult. It is not an age and it is not a letter size — it is a body measurement, so it means the same thing on every garment we make.

Full size chart: 45 to 100

Waist measurements in centimetres and inches, with the age each size usually suits. Ages are a guide only — measure where you can.

How to measure your waist

1. Find the natural waist. Bend to one side; the crease that forms is roughly the natural waist. It sits above the hip bone, not at the top of your jeans.
2. Wrap a tape around it. Keep the tape level all the way round and snug against the body without pressing in.
3. Breathe out normally and read the number in centimetres.
4. Round up to the next size of five. 82 cm becomes size 85; 88 cm becomes size 90.

No measuring tape at home? Use a length of thread or a phone charging cable, mark where it meets, then hold it against a ruler or a school scale. Anything marked in centimetres will do.

Which size does each range cover?

The bloomer ranges start at 45 because the same shape is worn by a two-year-old and by an adult. The panty ranges start at 80 because that cut is made for women only. If you are buying for a child, you are looking at sizes 45–80; if you are buying for yourself, you are almost always in 80–100.

Buying children's sizes by age

Children's waists vary a lot at the same age, so the ages in the chart are a starting point rather than a rule. Two practical habits help:

• Measure once a year, usually before the school year starts. A child who has grown 4 cm at the waist has moved a full size.
• Do not buy two sizes up to save money. A loose bloomer rides up and the child pulls at it all day. One size up is fine; two is not.

For everything else about school-day fit, fabric and how many pairs to keep, see our guide to cotton school innerwear for girls.

Size is not the only thing that decides fit

Two garments in the same size can feel different, because the cut changes how the size sits on the body:

• A bloomer has a longer leg that covers the hip and upper thigh. It stays put under skirts and dresses.
• A panty has a shorter leg opening and sits closer to the body, which gives a lower line under fitted clothes.

If you are not sure which shape you want before you pick a size, read bloomer vs panty: which shape to buy.

Common size questions

What does panty size 90 cm mean?

A 90 cm waist, or about 35.4 inches. Size 90 and "90 cm" are the same thing on our labels.

Is size 85 a medium or a large?

There is no fixed conversion, because letter sizes differ between brands. Measure instead: an 85 cm waist is size 85 on our chart, whatever letter another brand prints on its pack.

Do the sizes shrink after washing?

Cotton can shrink slightly on the first hot wash. Washing in cold or warm water and drying in shade keeps the fit and the elastic for far longer — the detail is in our cotton innerwear care guide.