Over the last five years there has been an explosion of lingerie stores both online and traditional bricks and mortar style stores enter into the market. We have seen many new players like fashion models, actresses and socialites develop their own brands of lingerie and flaunt them in the market place; however this has created challenges for women in choosing the right type of lingerie for their body.

There are five key tips you should consider when looking to buy any lingerie.

Tip 1: Check the Sizing for the Lingerie

Most lingerie stores will not allow you to try on their lingerie and this is often due to local legislation that actually forbids this activity. Therefore it is very important to carefully check the sizing of the lingerie.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no single standard for lingerie measurements or sizes but there are things you can do to decrease the chance of buying a piece of lingerie that doesn’t fit. Most designers when creating their lingerie range will in fact develop a sizing scale for their range. The sizing scale will tell you how to measure yourself and where to measure yourself for the best outcome.

Many clients become concerned about buying lingerie online, however you will find that those stores usually have the sizing information easily accessible compared to traditional bricks and mortar stores.

Tip 2: Check the Fabric Type of the Lingerie

Fabric type is one of the critical choices any women can make. When looking either online or in a shop check to see what the fabric is made of and the style. Often products that are marked as os (one size) are often made of very stretchy material which can be easily torn.

Other fabric styles, especially some made of pvc can also be very uncomfortable on some skin types. Before buying any piece, check on the internet by visiting some of the online forums and newsgroups and see what people have written about the garments you are going to purchase.

Tip 3: Check the Returns Policy of the Store

Most lingerie stores have a no-returns policy for lingerie or underwear unless the item is faulty. This is primarily due to local health regulations that prevent them from re-selling the item. There are some online stores that do accept returns even if the item doesn’t fit. Most online companies do this simply to take the risk of buying from them off the consumer.

Before buying any item from any lingerie store check their returns policy and especially their fine print.

Tip 4: Choose a Piece that Compliments Your Body

One of the biggest mistakes that men make, more than ladies is to purchase a piece of lingerie that doesn’t compliment the body. For example if you were buying a piece of lingerie for a plus size lady, it would most likely not me appropriate to purchase a g-string or thong for her. Most large ladies don’t like this style of underwear as it often means the thighs rub together whilst walking.

If you are buying online always try to find pictures of a person similar to your size wearing the piece of lingerie. For example, if the picture you see on the screen is of a size 0 model and yet the piece is for a plus size person, then most likely the piece won’t fit correctly.

Tip 5: Choose a Striking Colour

When choosing a colour think carefully about when you are going to be wearing the garment, for example, is the garment for a romantic night in, for a special cocktail party or for something you will wear in combination with other clothes. If you were having a night in with your partner then bright red is a great colour to wear however, if you were a woman who had red hair this might not be the best colour.

Lingerie can be great fun but buying can lead to disappointment so when searching for your next pieces remember our five tips.