Buying lingerie at Sarojini Nagar: Trying before buying there - Anyone remembers?

(Delhi)

I am in the library rn, lowkey distracted by 'interesting' thoughts. Talking to one of you (you know who you are) made me realise I should share this as a post. So, taking a break from my books and typing this out. This might turn out to be a 2-part post ngl. So yeah here it goes.

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So this is before the major portion of shops/stalls/hawkers at Sarojini Nagar Market were removed & demolished. I know a lot of stalls are back, but it's not like before.

Besides the usual clothes, there also used to be lingerie sellers everywhere. Shops, yes. But also stalls, street vendors etc. (like, the temporary ones). For reference, you can maybe see this or something like this - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HDVvYfbGCQU though, keep in mind, it was much chaotic, unorganised, crowded than this.

So, all types of undergarments lying & hanging everywhere. This includes the modest ones but also the more "fancy" & "modern" ones. Thongs, lacy boyshorts, hipsters with net. Bras of all types.

And not a single girl ever felt shy or uncomfortable there. I remember, so many times I have purchased from there (alone & also with friends). We would be very open about what we want, how it would look etc. Saying things like "thoda lace me dikhao" and "thodi neeche se chhoti hai koi?" or "oopar string ho jisme" was common for me & my friends - so forget 'simple' things like just going and saying I want thongs.

I feel a loot of girls of all ages basically became shameless there. You would see girls try to measure the size roughly by putting bras on their chest or ask their friends who're with them by placing it on their shoulders from the back. You would see them girls similarly holding panties at their crotch level to see if they would fit. All very natural, very normal, very demure.

Fun fun fun.

Keep in mind, all of these were local products, so sizing was kinda all over the place. Like, even if a seller said a bra is 30B, the actual size may differ hugely. Even with branded products, there are often variations. So, a 30A from the H&M does not fit the same way as a 30A from M&S. So, with local products, you can imagine...

All of that always added extra reasons to try before buying.

Almost all of my friends & me have received stares & looks from boys while trying the undergarments this way. I knew they're enjoying. Tbh I loved the attention too.

Most of the girls tried the way I mentioned above. Some of us went to try properly in one of their makeshift "trial rooms" (though calling them rooms is being generous 😭) .

A lot of crazy things have happened there too. As I said, girls basically shed all sense of shame. It is similar to going to a tailor (posted about it previously here) but like at a different level. You can imagine how it would go down hahaha. I would probably make a separate post spilling what all was normal there & what all has taken place there with me & my friends haha.

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Why I'm posting this? Wondering if any other woman remembers this and/or is interested in sharing similar experiences. Also, for men who have never been to this place and were not privy to the shenanigans a lot of us indulge in. 🙈

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Also, important to remember that undergarments are normal and everyone wears them. So if girls go buying them openly, it's a good sign that society is shedding the taboo. Please, please do not judge any girl simply because she buys undergarments openly, tries to figure out their size by holding them or just talking about it.

I'm sharing this because it makes me and some of you excited. Also because the whole experience was a crazy ride. Please do not see this as an opportunity or justification to judge any girl, to target them or to do anything inappropriate/illegal with them.