Need help fitting those jeans online?

Zafu, which has developed a search engine that helps women select the right size jeans and bras online, on Friday said it has attracted $4.1 million in a second round of funding from Carlyle Venture Partners and Wasserstein SBIC Ventures.

Emeryville, California-based Zafu wants to solve the dilemma virtual mall shoppers face in deciding whether to purchase clothing that they haven’t ever had a chance to try on.

Zafu taps into mathematical calculations, product databases and body shape libraries to ask women a few simple questions. The answers provided allow Zafu to receommend which clothes will fit earch customer best.

“I think the amazing thing about it is that in the apparel industry 20 percent is sent back,” Zafu CEO Robert Holloway said. “What we do, only 6 percent say they didn’t fit.”

Mr. Holloway believes that’s the No. 1 reason people are turned off to buying clothes online. The online apparel industry represents a $20 billion business, according to NPD Group.

Zafu, which launched its site in August 2006, plans to generate revenue through payments for transactions it sends to clothing sellers and with advertising on its pages.

The site is targeted only at women for now, but the company has plans to launch fitting services for men by December. Mr. Holloway served as CEO of Levis Strauss & Co. in 1999.