A Man’s Guide to Buying Lingerie as a Gift
Does your wife or partner drop subtle hints to you before Christmas that she would like some gorgeous lingerie for her Christmas gift? – but you somehow wriggle out of it by either telling her that you didn’t know what to get, or you might brave the shops only to find you have chosen something she would not wear or maybe. You may even find yourself saying, I’ll give you the money and you choose it!
It is a common scenario that men are fearful when it comes to buying lingerie for their partner. And who can blame you? We women are fussy and we know exactly what we want. Coupled with the choice you face in the lingerie department, we do understand that you don’t stand much of a chance of getting it right!
In recent years, some high street stores have had “expert” advisors on hand in the lingerie department on the run up to Christmas. This is a great step in the right direction but still some men are too afraid or embarrassed to ask advice of matters of such delicacy!
So, I’ve put together some handy hints for you which will give you all the information you need to know before venturing to the shops.
Research
Like any new venture on which you are about to embark, research is paramount. These are the things you need to find out: the correct size – most important! Have a (careful!) rummage through her underwear to find the size of her underwear. Look at the labels and on the bra, you are looking for a two digit number followed by a letter (eg: 34D). Then on the knicker labels, you’ll see either a single or double digit (eg: 8 or 12) or Small, Medium, etc. Note it all down so you don’t forget it.
During the rummage, take a look at the type of underwear that is in the drawer. Is it plain? Or maybe sexy? Or lacy or sporty? If it is plain, she is unlikely to like anything with a lot of lace and similarly, if it is all lacy, don’t buy plain!
Check out her wardrobe too and see what types of colours she likes – be brave with the colour you choose. Don’t buy white multipacks!
Hitting the shops
Some rules to remember when you are in the shops are:
Buy matching sets. An extra couple of pairs of knickers is always a great idea so the set can be worn more often.
Buy at the top of your budget. You really do get what you pay for, so buy the best you can afford. Cheap underwear doesn’t provide good support and doesn’t last very long either.
Consider the fabric choice as well. Smooth fabrics will look better under t-shirts and tight tops, so make sure you pay attention to the type of tops she normally wears!
Just when you thought all the above was enough, there is more to consider! The shape of the bra is important too. Under-wired bras tend to give a better shape. During your rummaging expedition, take a look at whether she has under-wired styles. Balconette or plunge styles are flattering for most. Avoid anything with the words slimming, padded or control – not very romantic!!
Your gift should be well packaged. If the shop assistant offers to wrap it for you, accept the offer. If not, buy a gift box. Whatever you do, don’t hand it over in the carrier bag!
If all else fails, why not enlist the help of a Colour Me Beautiful Personal Shopper? Your Consultant will be able to guide you through the information you need to collect and then help you in your choice.
About the Author
Sarah Gray is a Senior Image Consultant with Colour Me Beautiful Image Consultants. Look on Colour Me Beautiful’s website to find your local Consultant offering Personal Shopping.
The Lingerie Box Launch – Dusk Bridal Fair 2009
