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, Cbut there was a charming simplicity about choosing what to buy. 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 Mud grey chiffon and tulle camisole ‘have a go’ at choosing for us then good ad hipster pant £30 in sizes 32-40 luck to them and thank goodness for stores under a gathered sleeve short wrap, trimmed with pink satin bow having the gumption to provide easy £33 in sizes 32-40 from the Sweet returns policies. Passion range by Triumph www.northeast-life.co.uk NORTH EAST LIFE December 2008 91 FASHION Above: All over diamond sparkle effect Mignon stay- ups 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 Black and bronze ‘control’ Hourglass all-in-one corselet £50 in sizes 32-36 loungewear or a robe, look through her B-F by Charnos dress rails and see a numerical dress size or a description, Small, Medium etc. Armed Stockist Information with this knowledge, your inherent good Chantelle is at Fenwick Ltd and John Lewis, Newcastle; taste and your credit or debit card and you House of Fraser, MetroCentre; Lady J at Darlington and are free to visit various lingerie websites (see Durham, Petals of Hexham, Silk and Sand, Alnwick; Brides Dreams, Walkergate and Secrets in Morpeth. Other stockists Other makes worth stockists box opposite) or visit the specialist on 01483 300880 lingerie stores and departments and find checking out Charnos is at Fenwick Ltd, Newcastle, Petals of Hexham and something special in her favourite colour or Fauve is at Fenwick Ltd and Amplus Figura of Crook www.charnos.co.uk fabric. Lingerie assistants are fully prepared Brides Dreams, Walkergate, for shoppers like you. They’ve seen and Elle MacPherson Intimates is online at www.figleaves.com Newcastle; branches of Sadie Tel: 0845 602 0745 The Bra Lady, Petals of Hexham heard it all before, so there’s nothing to and Lady J and Penelope’s in worry about. Karma Couture is online www.miodestino.co.uk Tel: 0845 Darlington Other stockists on Websites like figleaves.com and rigbyand 8400025 Tel: 01536 760 282 peller.com even have advice sections these Rittratti Karma Couture is online at www.miodestino.co.uk Lejaby is at Fenwick Ltd, days for men answering the questions they Tel: 0845 8400025 Newcastle. www.lejaby.com dare not voice. But if it’s all still confusing Tel: 0207 478 4340 Triumph is at Fenwick Ltd, Newcastle 0191 232 5100 Other what about a gift voucher instead? Just stockists on Tel: 01793 720330 www.triumph-international.com Panache is at Fenwick Ltd, John make sure it’s packaged beautifully to look Lewis and Bravissimo in Valisere is online www.valisere.com Newcastle; Debenhams indulgent – around her favorite perfume, MetroCentre; online at attached to her favorite flowers, hidden The White Company is online www.thewhitecompany.com Figleaves.com; Secrets of inside her favorite chocolates. Tel: 0845 678 8150 Morpeth Tel: 01670 505040, Now isn’t that clever? We ladies will get branches of Sadie The Bra Lady Wolford is at The Boutique, Eldon Garden, Newcastle and Amplus Figura of Crook. two presents that way. 92 NORTH EAST LIFE December 2008 www.northeast-life.co.uk.