A Man's Guide
for Gifts of Lingerie

Seek Out Her Size
Before you shop, get into her drawers. Sneak a peak at her panty and bra sizes A word of caution, however: Bra sizes are highly variable, and even women have trouble with them. If you feel unsure, start with a less confusing article-say an item that comes in small, medium and large, or extra large. A chemise (a short nightie) can be very forgiving, says Lindkrantz. Ditto for camisoles and robes. Resist the temptation to adjust her size to suit your fantasies. No matter how hard you wish for it, buying a C cup won't make her B's any bigger. Likewise, avoid trying to flatter her with underwear in a medium size if she really is a large; there's no sensation less sexy than wearing a tournaquet-tight G-string.

Make Sure It's Not Complicated or Crass
Some of the wilder stuff may look fun but can be tricky and uncomfortable to wear. Merry widows and corsets will definately make her cups runneth over, but they take a long time to lace up, hard to get out of, and can constrict breathing. Garters are alluring but have to be unsnapped to remove panties, or worn with crotchless panties. And while we're on that subject.... most lingerie comes in naughtie and nice versions. Crotchless panties, however, are the single entendre of slutwear. There's no way to pretend they're anything than what they are; a free pass to the tunnel of love. Be absolutely certain that the woman will not be offended.

Present the Gift with a Flourish
If you have even the slightest concern that she'll be underwhelmed by a racy gift, make it part of a bigger package-like a bed and breakfast weekend getaway, suggests Lindkrantz. For Valentines Day, which ranks right after the December holidays as the biggest time for lingerie sales, sexy is expected, but is still a good time to mix in a little romance. (Flowers, Dinner Out) to be clear that your gift means more than just, "you're my favorite ho." Presentation is important; you can't just hand her the bag or an unrapped box (which translates as: "here put this on, I'm ready") If you're going to go to all the trouble of buying a silk nothing, make sure it looks like something. Most stores will help you follow through with gift-wrapping service and a card.