FASHION
Embedded Swarovski crystal and golden threaded bra £59 in sizes 32-38 B-D, string £29 sizes 10-16 and suspender £39 in sizes S-L from the Notte Veneziana range by Valisere
Luscious... luxurious... lingerie
WORDS BY VICKY PEPYS
- 90 NORTH EAST LIFE December 2008
- www.northeast-life.co.uk
FASHION
hristmas shopping used to be straightforward. The traditional gifts of yesteryear had a practicality to them; less choice and a lower budget perhaps, but there was a charming simplicity about choosing what to buy.
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Hand-knitted socks were top of the list, a new set of braces and shaving soap for the men, a Hotspur annual for the boys and a boxed manicure set and a new hair ribbon for the girls. Perhaps a tiny bottle of Evening in Paris or Californian Poppy for that special lady… and always an orange. So maybe lingerie-buying started when times got better and socks evolved into Nylons. Men realised they were on to a good thing; buy your lady something a little more alluring and even if you get the sizing all wrong she’ll be immensely flattered even by something totally unsuitable and usually out of character. But it can so easily go wrong. Make the wrong choice and it sours the whole day. There’s a fine line between sexy and smutty – don’t cross it! Even buying the lingerie gift can be traumatic in itself and the stuff of many a comedy routine. We ladies are confused enough about the differences in style effects these days – is it Balconette or Balcony? The padded Plunge versus the Push-up? Underwired or strapless or squashed into a sports bra? So if men think they’d like to ‘have a go’ at choosing for us then good luck to them and thank goodness for stores having the gumption to provide easy returns policies.
Mud grey chiffon and tulle camisole ad hipster pant £30 in sizes 32-40 under a gathered sleeve short wrap, trimmed with pink satin bow
£33 in sizes 32-40 from the Sweet
Passion range by Triumph
- www.northeast-life.co.uk
- NORTH EAST LIFE December 2008 91
FASHION
Above: All over diamond sparkle effect Mignon stayups with small bow at the heel £37 XS-L by Wolford Right: Iris purple Sheen camisole £66 and pant £40 sizes 8-L by Elle MacPherson Intimates
So why do men do it? It’s their way of saying ‘I see you at your worst as well as your best, and I still find you attractive’… how sweet. We must be supportive of the effort made (no pun intended) so leave this page open for them to gather a few helpful hints. Men. Take a peek inside “that” drawer or the laundry basket; you’re looking for the size label that gives you the numerical chest size as well as the letter which gives the cup size. It’s easy. If you’re buying loungewear or a robe, look through her dress rails and see a numerical dress size or a description, Small, Medium etc. Armed with this knowledge, your inherent good taste and your credit or debit card and you are free to visit various lingerie websites (see
stockists box opposite) or visit the specialist
lingerie stores and departments and find something special in her favourite colour or fabric. Lingerie assistants are fully prepared for shoppers like you. They’ve seen and heard it all before, so there’s nothing to worry about.
Black and bronze ‘control’ Hourglass all-in-one corselet £50 in sizes 32-36 B-F by Charnos
Stockist Information
Chantelle is at Fenwick Ltd and John Lewis, Newcastle; House of Fraser, MetroCentre; Lady J at Darlington and Durham, Petals of Hexham, Silk and Sand, Alnwick; Brides Dreams, Walkergate and Secrets in Morpeth. Other stockists on 01483 300880
Other makes worth checking out
Charnos is at Fenwick Ltd, Newcastle, Petals of Hexham and Amplus Figura of Crook www.charnos.co.uk
Fauve is at Fenwick Ltd and Brides Dreams, Walkergate, Newcastle; branches of Sadie The Bra Lady, Petals of Hexham and Lady J and Penelope’s in Darlington Other stockists on Tel: 01536 760 282
Elle MacPherson Intimates is online at www.figleaves.com Tel: 0845 602 0745
Karma Couture is online www.miodestino.co.uk Tel: 0845 8400025
Websites like figleaves.com and rigbyand peller.com even have advice sections these days for men answering the questions they dare not voice. But if it’s all still confusing what about a gift voucher instead? Just make sure it’s packaged beautifully to look indulgent – around her favorite perfume, attached to her favorite flowers, hidden inside her favorite chocolates.
Lejaby is at Fenwick Ltd, Newcastle. www.lejaby.com Tel: 0207 478 4340
Rittratti Karma Couture is online at www.miodestino.co.uk Tel: 0845 8400025
Triumph is at Fenwick Ltd, Newcastle 0191 232 5100 Other stockists on Tel: 01793 720330 www.triumph-international.com
Panache is at Fenwick Ltd, John Lewis and Bravissimo in Newcastle; Debenhams
Valisere is online www.valisere.com
MetroCentre; online at Figleaves.com; Secrets of Morpeth Tel: 01670 505040, branches of Sadie The Bra Lady and Amplus Figura of Crook.
The White Company is online www.thewhitecompany.com Tel: 0845 678 8150
Now isn’t that clever? We ladies will get two presents that way.
Wolford is at The Boutique, Eldon Garden, Newcastle
92 NORTH EAST LIFE December 2008