How to Buy Lingerie for Your Partner

Published on 28/09/2020

So, you've decided to treat your lady to a seductive new lingerie set. That is excellent news. However, it can be more than a little daunting to know where to actually begin...

Luckily, we've whipped up these handy hints and tips that'll ensure you get gasps of delight when she rips open the wrapping paper rather than groans of dismay. With pointers for choosing the perfect size and style, our expert videos and advice will take you through the finer points of picking lingerie that she'll love (and, even better, love to show off to you).

Video: Top tips for buying Lingerie as a gift

Is Lingerie a good gift?

When it comes to buying for your lover, lingerie is a great gift - your grandma on the other hand, not so much, right?

Lingerie works well as a romantic gift as it’s a compliment as well as a present. By giving your partner something skimpy, red and a little bit saucy, you're saying, ‘I desire you, I find your body attractive and I’d like to see more of it’.

Lingerie is also a good gift as it's not just an item, it’s also a promise for the future. When you hand over that basque and thong set, you’re making a request to see them in it and if they love it, they could be accepting your request.

When your partner chooses to wear their lingerie is up to them, but just by giving your lover sexy underwear you’re building anticipation for the moment when you get to sensually take it off - and that can feel absolutely magnetic.

However, it's important to remember that (as with many gifts) getting it wrong can be disappointing and even a little bit insulting. That’s why it’s essential to make the best choice for your lover, their specific body type and their unique style.

How to choose Lingerie

Picking a lingerie set that’s two sizes too big or too small can feel a wee bit offensive, no matter how good your intentions were.

Equally, buying your ultra-goth girlfriend something pink and flowy could also result in a load of undies to return to Lovehoney HQ and a disappointing birthday surprise.

That’s why we’ve come up with four foolproof ways to discover your lover’s ideal lingerie set.

1. Have a Snoop

Before you set out on your sexy shopping adventures, it always helps to get as much information as you can about your partner's size, likes, and dislikes.

The easiest way to do this is to have a little rummage through her underwear collection. When you do this, you’ll want to look at the labels to find out her:

Bra size (e.g. 32C, 36B etc)
Knicker size (e.g 8, 10, 12 etc.)
Clothes size (e.g 8, 10, 12 etc.)

It’s also a good idea to look for any colours, fabrics, or styles that she wears a lot of. Lots of black thongs? She clearly likes those. Drawers full of silky nighties? You’re onto a winner.

2. Pick the Right Colour and Fabric

So now you know what she likes and feels most comfortable wearing, you can easily narrow down your search.

Start off in the Sexy Lingerie Sets section, and begin to narrow down your search using the options on the left-hand side. You can filter the options you see by colour, size, material, and price, so it's super easy to find exactly what you're looking for.

Remember, this is a gift for her: the most important thing is to buy something she feels happy in and will enjoy showing you, rather than just something you want to see her wearing.

3. Choose the Style

Cast your mind back and remember any occasions where she's dressed up for a romantic evening in (although keep the details light - it's best if you stay focused here).

If she went for something tight and structured like a corset, then she'll probably appreciate a basque or bustier. If her look was lighter and floatier, babydolls and chemises are a good way to go.

If you're struggling to tell the difference, a quick glance at our Guide to Lingerie Styles may help to clear things up (as, 'That-floaty-dress-thing-with-the-bra-attached' isn't too handy in searches).

4. Get the Right Size

This isn't always easy. Due to the wide range of body shapes, and many brands sizing their clothes differently, few women are consistently the same size in all their clothes.

We do, however, have some easy tips for you:

Check the size of her favourite bras or items of clothing. If she wears them all the time, they probably fit best.
Check the brand size chart on the item page. One brand's Small may be another brand's Large.
Read the customer reviews. People will have left comments on the sizing.
Try a One Size item. Many of these clothes lace up or are super-stretchy to give a more forgiving fit.

Some final pointers

If you're still searching for a little bit of advice, here are a few handy dos and don'ts:

DO Get as much information as you can about her size - if you know her exact measurement in centimetres or inches, that's even better.
DO Check out our guide on How to Buy Lingerie for Your Shape. You may pick up some tips on what will suit her best.
DO Look at her evening or party dresses for inspiration. Lots of women wear party clothes that closely emulate the colours and fabrics they would prefer to have in their lingerie drawer.
DON'T Buy something that's just for you. She may not want to wear it or feel comfortable in it.
DON'T Buy a bra without buying the matching knickers. It's nice to have the option and can be difficult to match up later on.
DON'T Go too far out of her comfort zone. If she likes long chemises, she may not feel sexy in a wet look body.
DON'T Be afraid to ask her best friend for help. She'll appreciate the effort you've gone to (plus you'll get major partner points with her friends).

Is it okay to buy your girlfriend underwear?

Underwear is a really personal item (it straddles our dangly bits, can you get more personal than that?), so when it comes to buying it for other people it’s important to make sure your gift will be welcome.

While we at Lovehoney think that everybody wants beautiful lacy lingerie sets, there will always be those who disagree.

When buying your lover a gift, make sure you’re thinking about them specifically and what they’re all about. After all, there’s no point presenting them with a full corset set if all they’re really hankering for is a new spade and trip down to the garden centre.

If however, your partner loves to feel gorgeous, absolutely can’t get enough of Moulin Rouge and is looking for ways to feel more confident in the bedroom, then ding ding ding we have a winner!

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