Buying her sexy lingerie for Christmas?

Lingerie makes a wonderful gift at Christmas - but its high stakes. Get it right and you'll earn some serious brownie points (and she might even wear it for you). Get it wrong and you could end up sleeping on the sofa. Follow our lingerie-buying rules and you can't go far wrong.

1. Buy for her, not you
Think about what she would want to wear, not necessarily what you would like.

Presuming you're buying lingerie as a special gift (rather than everyday wear), ask yourself what she would wear for a big night out. A leather miniskirt and a sexy sheer blouse or an elegant wrap-dress? Keep this in mind when choosing colours and styles.

2. Know her size
Before you go to the lingerie store or shop online, peek inside her underwear drawer. Look in the labels of briefs as well as bras and don't go by dress size alone. A pear-shaped woman might wear a size 12 on top but a 14 on the bottom, for example.

3. Ask for help
Don't be afraid to ask for help. Shop assistants can suggest styles for you to choose from. You'll need to give them your partner's size, so don't forget to make a note.

Guide to underwear styles
Don't know your push-up from a plunge? The bras in her drawer should give you an idea of what she likes to wear. Here are examples of common styles that should help.

Balcony
Sexy and sassy, a balcony bra provides maximum lift.

Wonderbra Glam balconette bra, £29

Plunge
Plunge bras push the breasts together for extra cleavage, and are generally worn by women with smaller cup sizes (A-C).

Push-up Halter-Neck bra, £18.75

Full cup
Full bras cover a larger portion of the breast and provide good support and shape, and are generally preferred by those with a larger cup size, (D upwards).

Luccia Classic Underwired Floral Lace Bra, £17

Basque
Great for an hour-glass shape, a basque will cinch in the waist much like a corset. They often come with straps to attach to stockings – so don't forget to buy some hosiery too.

Suspenders and waspies
A suspender belt sits above the knickers and acts as a belt to hold up stockings. A waspie is like a suspender belt but is thicker and reaches up to the waist. They usually come with matching bra and knickers. Again, don't forget to buy stockings to go with it.

Nightwear
Not sure what size of underwear your lady wears? You can't go wrong with a beautiful piece of nightwear. A silk chemise and matching wrap is always a good choice.

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