What's that one item you can never miss on a bridal shower gift list? Lingerie. Not just one, but several of them, and often no one cares if it's the right size.
If you attend one with those older aunties, you might hear them admonish the bride-to-be. "This is what you should wear around your husband?" says Aunt Martha while holding a piece of strappy lace that leaves little room for imagination.
Now, this is the same Aunt Martha who throws a fit when her nieces show up to family gatherings in crop tops.
“Don't wear dera or campaign T-shirts and stockings to bed. You need to please your husband. Remember, men are visual creatures?”
And just like that, the standard is set. A woman, especially a married one, must have lingerie to set the right mood in the bedroom.
However, lingerie isn’t just for romance. When Eva Karimi started shopping for lingerie in 2021, it was about self-love and embracing her femininity.
She was excited to try something new, and visited lingerie stores with palpable anticipation. But this feeling was short-lived. As a curvy woman, she couldn’t find anything in her size.
“The ones I found were either too tight around my stomach or didn’t fit my breasts properly. I'm a size 38DD, and I never got my size,” she says.
Cindy Wangari had a similar experience; her biggest challenge was finding lingerie that fit her bust area properly. As a size 22, she says she mostly thrifts for lingerie, but rarely finds colourful ones in nude, beige, or pink, only red and black.
“I buy a maximum of three pieces of lingerie every year, but their longevity depends on the material. Silk ones are worth the money, but net-like ones don't last long.”
These frustrations are exactly what Anita Nyaga experienced as a shopper, long before she became a seller. Anita, the founder of Royal Curves by Anita, started selling lingerie for plus-size women in February 2022.
“I was shopping for lingerie online while pregnant. Lingerie was my way of showing love to myself,” she recalls.
Anitajoy Nyaga poses for a photo on February 5, 2026 at Royal Curves Plus Size lingerie by Anita at Platinum Plaza.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
Anita experimented with different styles of lingerie that would fit her new body after giving birth. She had been wearing a thrift piece for a year, but she wanted something more comfortable.
“Before I got pregnant, I was a size eight, but then I went up to a size 18 and needed new lingerie. The first piece I bought cost Sh1,500, but it tore while I was wearing it because the seller hadn't taken my measurements. Also, after searching online, I found that most shops carried sizes up to XL (16), but I knew I wasn't that size. And the few pieces I got were not sexy,” she recalls.
Additionally, Anita noted that the lingerie models were slim, as if to say, “This is the size that is beautiful enough for lingerie.” As a business owner now, Anita commissions plus-size models for her pieces so buyers can see bodies like theirs represented in the industry.
“Lingerie is a luxury. It elevates your confidence and makes you feel more sure of yourself. Our lingerie prices range from Sh2,500 to Sh7,900.”
According to Anita, the most important thing when shopping for lingerie is how you feel as a customer. “First, ask yourself if you are confident enough to find what you are looking for. The next considerations are fit and comfort. Those two go together.”
Naomi Ngige, the store manager at Woolworths Sarit Center, says plus-size women are always looking for lingerie. They sell to women whose cup size is from D to G. “We review cup sizes every year, and it shows us which size is more in demand. However, sizes like D and DD have always been the peak of the year,” she adds, noting that the majority of the clientele are women above 50 years old.
For Anita, her biggest clients are married conservative women who order spicy lingerie, like crotch-less bodysuits and the regal temptation harness bodysuit, which is strappy, seductive, and bold.
Different types of lingerie pictured on February 5, 2026 at Royal Curves Plus Size lingerie by Anita at Platinum Plaza.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
“Men also buy lingerie for their wives. Often, they come with screenshots of what their women want, and sometimes they just choose what is there,” she says.
For this Valentine's Day, Anita shares that most clients are looking for red robe sets, either a bodysuit or a bra set with robes and crotch-less lingerie, with the latter giving her 70 percent of the sales. "Currently, sizes 14 and 16 have been sold out."
At Woolworths, Naomi says that Valentine's demand also leans towards lacy and red lingerie. "Our prices range from Sh4,300 to Sh5,600, and sizing does not affect the price."
Anita says that the lingerie market for plus-size women is complicated because of the wide range of body shapes. "An apple-shaped woman needs something different from a pear-shaped woman. So, a size 22 might not fit everyone the same way," she explains.
Anitajoy Nyaga poses for a photo on February 5, 2026 at Royal Curves Plus Size lingerie by Anita at Platinum Plaza.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada Nation
Naomi says clients are afraid that the bra will not last long or fit the same way after a few washes.
"New customers don't want to take a chance when they find lingerie in their size. So, they buy more."
According to Naomi, buying the wrong size is the biggest mistake people make when it comes to lingerie. "This is especially true for those who are not our usual customers. They come in thinking they're a 34D, but then they're told, 'No, you're a 34C.' The problem with the wrong size is not only that it doesn't provide the right support, but it also impacts their overall health."
Anita notes that lingerie is often misunderstood. "Before I moved stalls, there was a time when I put the mannequins outside. A group of ladies passed by and said, "These are for the OnlyFans girls." Their comment made me realise how some people perceive lingerie. One of the best feedback Anita received was from a client who had struggled with her body image after having a baby. She wanted to buy something for her upcoming anniversary.
She wrote to Anita, 'When I put on the piece and looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn't recognise myself. I looked and felt amazing. I had never felt that way before, not even when I was a size 8. I hold that piece dear to my heart. My husband's jaw dropped as soon as he saw me."
Anita says that lingerie should not be cleaned like regular clothes. The fabric should be soaked in lukewarm or cold water for 10 minutes, and then rubbed together with minimal soap.
She adds that you can spot clean stained areas and let them dry on a flat surface. "Keep it away from direct heat. If you hang it to dry, be careful with the lace and straps."
If you plan to wash it in a machine, she advises putting it in a laundry bag with the hooks together. However, she insists that hand-washing is the best option.
