Lingerie makes a lovely Christmas present. It’s personal and a little indulgent, and when you choose well, she’ll still be enjoying it long after the decorations have come down.
It can also feel rather daunting, particularly when it comes to size. In 20 years of helping customers at Plums Lingerie, I’ve seen every approach to Christmas shopping, from the person who walks in knowing exactly which set they want to the one who hasn’t the faintest idea where to begin. You don’t need to be an expert, though. A bit of thought and one or two pieces of information will get you most of the way.
Start With What She Already Likes Wearing
When someone comes into Plums Lingerie looking for a Christmas present, my first question is whether they’re thinking of lingerie or nightwear, because everything else follows from that.
The customers who find it easiest are usually the ones who’ve noticed what their partner already enjoys wearing. You don’t need to know a balcony bra from a plunge. Her everyday choices will tell you a great deal. If she reaches for pretty lace, that’s a clue, and so is a drawer full of smooth, simple bras. Some women live in pyjamas while others wouldn’t be without a silk nightdress, and someone who always wears soft, unwired bras is unlikely to thank you for something heavily structured.
I do think a Christmas present should feel a little more special than something she’d buy for herself, but without straying far from her usual taste. If she loves simple, comfortable lingerie, look for the same easy shape with beautiful embroidery or in a particularly lovely fabric.
How to Find Her Bra Size Without Asking
If I could give one piece of advice to anyone buying lingerie at Christmas, it would be to find out her size before you shop.
The easiest way is to check the label in one of her favourite bras, ideally one she wears all the time. Most women have a few bras lurking at the back of the drawer that never get worn, often because they don’t fit particularly well. Those labels are usually beautifully readable, but that’s probably because the bra has hardly been worn! A bra she wears constantly is a far better guide, even if the label has faded, and if you can make out the brand as well as the size, even better.
If you really can’t read the label, you’re welcome to bring the bra into the shop. It isn’t foolproof, but it gives us a much better starting point than nothing at all, and we can sometimes narrow things down further by asking about her dress size and general proportions.
Knowing Her Bra Size Doesn’t Guarantee the Perfect Fit
Knowing someone’s bra size doesn’t mean every bra in that size will fit her, and that’s true even when women shop for themselves. Different brands and styles fit differently, and two bras with exactly the same size on the label won’t necessarily feel or look the same. I’ve written more about this in why the shape of a bra matters as much as the size, but for gift buying, the main thing is to stay close to the styles she already wears.
If she usually wears lightly padded or moulded cup bras, she may not get on with an unpadded soft cup. If she never wears underwired bras, buying her one probably isn’t the best idea. A woman who likes fuller coverage may feel exposed in a very low-cut style, and if she has a favourite brand, choosing from that brand gives you a head start. None of these are hard and fast rules, but a bra needs to give her the support and coverage she’s comfortable in, as well as look pretty.
Should Christmas Lingerie Be Sexy or Practical?
I think there’s a happy medium. A Christmas present is a chance to choose something prettier than her usual beige T-shirt bra, but it doesn’t need to be outrageously sexy or something she’ll only wear once.
The lingerie we sell at Plums Lingerie is sophisticated and beautiful, and importantly it’s wearable. Even our more elaborate collections are made to be worn and enjoyed, and the idea that beautiful lingerie should be saved for special occasions feels rather outdated to me. Why shouldn’t someone wear a gorgeous embroidered bra on an ordinary Tuesday? The traditional picture of Christmas lingerie, with suspenders and elaborate accessories, has become old-fashioned too. Most women would much rather have a beautiful bra and matching briefs in a lovely fabric, because that’s something they’ll actually wear.
What if You Have No Idea What Size She Wears?
If you don’t know her bra size and have no way of finding out, I wouldn’t recommend taking a complete guess. There are some lovely alternatives, though.
Consider Beautiful Nightwear Instead
Nightwear makes a wonderful Christmas present, particularly if you have a reasonable idea of her clothing size. Again, start with what she already likes. If she’s a pyjama person, a beautiful pyjama set will be far more appreciated than a nightdress, however lovely the nightdress looks.
Think about her life at the moment, too. If you’ve got young children and things are hectic, a pretty camisole and shorts set with a matching dressing gown is comfortable and practical but still a treat. If you’re planning a romantic weekend away, something a little more glamorous might be just the thing. For a really luxurious gift, our Silk Nightwear collection is well worth a look.
Don’t Dismiss a Gift Voucher
Some people feel gift vouchers aren’t very romantic, but I disagree. If you genuinely have no idea what to buy, a voucher means she can come into the boutique, try things on and choose something she really loves, and we can help with her size too. It’s far better than buying something unsuitable just because you feel there ought to be a wrapped present under the tree.
Which Lingerie Brands Make the Loveliest Christmas Presents?
Lise Charmel lingerie is a particular favourite of mine for gifting. The collections feature exquisite embroidery and beautiful fabrics, and there’s matching silk nightwear too, which makes a really luxurious present.
Marie Jo suits someone who likes pretty, feminine lingerie without anything too elaborate, with lovely embroidery and delicate details that are still very wearable.
PrimaDonna is ideal for someone who values good support and fit, and it’s beautifully detailed without being showy. You can find out more about the brand in our guide to PrimaDonna lingerie.
All three give her something beautiful she can enjoy every day, rather than something that sits in a drawer waiting for a special occasion.
How Much Should You Spend on Christmas Lingerie?
This can come as a surprise, particularly to gentlemen who haven’t bought luxury lingerie before. Realistically, you won’t get much change out of £200 for a beautiful bra and matching briefs from one of the higher-end brands. There’s a good reason for that. Luxury lingerie is made from high-quality fabrics with intricate construction and real expertise in design and fit, and many of the brands we stock are still family-run, with a strong emphasis on craftsmanship.
You certainly don’t have to spend £200 to buy something lovely, though. There are beautiful nightdresses, camisole sets and other nightwear pieces for under £100, and a well-chosen present always matters more than the price tag.
What Happens if You Buy the Wrong Size?
This is the biggest worry people have about buying lingerie as a gift, and it’s also the mistake we see most often, but it really isn’t a disaster. Even when a woman buys a bra for herself without trying it on, there’s no guarantee it will fit, so we fully expect some Christmas presents to come back for exchange.
Interestingly, when someone brings back a bra that doesn’t fit, they very often exchange it for exactly the same style in a different size. That tells me whoever bought it chose the design well and just needed a little help with the fit. So if you’ve been given lingerie that isn’t quite the right size, I’d encourage you not to automatically swap it for the basic everyday bra you’d buy yourself anyway. Someone has treated you to something special, so enjoy it!
A Few Things to Check Before You Buy
Before you go shopping, it’s worth trying to find out:
- Her bra size, ideally from a bra she wears regularly
- The brand of her favourite bra
- Whether she prefers padded or unpadded, wired or unwired
- The styles and colours she tends to wear
- Her usual clothing size, if you’re considering nightwear
- Whether she prefers briefs, shorts or thongs, for a matching set
- The shop’s Christmas exchange arrangements
You won’t know every answer, and even two or three will make choosing much easier.
The Secret to Getting Christmas Lingerie Right
After 20 years of helping people choose Christmas lingerie, what stands out to me most is the thought someone has put in, far more than how much they spend. I love it when a customer comes into the shop and you can tell they’ve noticed what she likes, made the effort to find out her size and really want to give her something that makes her feel special.
Getting the size right helps enormously, but it isn’t the end of the world if you don’t. Bras can be exchanged, and if something really isn’t suitable, we’ll help you find an alternative. Choose something beautiful with her in mind, something she’ll genuinely love wearing, and you won’t go far wrong.
