Lingerie for Love: a necessary guide for men.

Lingerie with love: a Guys' Guide to buying underwear this Christmas.

The Countdown to Christmas is almost over so you better get organised if you haven’t found yet the perfect present for your special lady. There is little more offensive than the wrong gift that says: “I have absolutely no idea who you are”? In order to avoid a relationship faux-pas, a wise man planning to indulge his lady with lingerie should be assiduous in his search. From bras to corsets, bodies to suspenders, the world of underwear is fraught with perils and pitfalls. Get it wrong and it's a nightmare waiting to happen. Get it right and this could be a time to remember.

So where should a man begin? Let’s start with the things you should not do. Avoid any models that might make her feel like (a) something you saw in a strip club, (b) the model displayed in the window of Ann Summers shop or (c) Jordan. Some fabrics also MUST be ignored: high-shine satin, over-the-top frills, clashy reds and most importantly anything that has an unambiguous hole.  Make sure you get the right size too! Too small she will end up depressed and might skip the 3 star Michelin you’ve booked. Too big, she will accuse you of seeing her fat. Think less about the lingerie in the latest LADY GAGA video and more about the sort of lingerie the object of your affection already wears and you'll be on your way to a winner.

Engage in your quest and don’t be embarrassed to ask the advice of the expert in the Lingerie shop. From style personality, size, shapes and colours, she will talk you through and suggest you with some models for her. At least this is the only opportunity for you to talk openly about underwear to another woman without sounding like a pervert!

Here are some of my suggestions to ease your search:

Luxury-lovers will enjoy La Perla's sumptuous fabrics or Chantelle who offers quality and beautifully designed products. Comfort and simplicity are important for her? Elle Macpherson's Intimates range has a vast selection of bras and lace boy-shorts in soft shades, as does M&S or Gap which are more affordable.

Got it? Well, hit the shops now!

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Style and Fashion During The Christmas Holidays

Black is often a chic and fashionable selection.  Darker colours are favoured during the A/W season. It might explain why fashionistas add a bit of sparkle and cheer to Christmas and holiday clothing with some colour, usually magnificent red.

Dominant colours during the Christmas holiday season are usually black, white and magnificent red accessorized with a coloured matching scarf. A good alternative would be Purple. Too often dismissed this colour flatters everyone and boosts any skin tone.

 Holiday-themed apparel with snowflakes, candy canes, stars, Christmas trees, are also popular during the season. Along with being colourful, they also convey the message that the person is fully embracing the spirit of the season and is in a festive mood. When applied with moderation, individuals wearing holiday-themed accessories or just as a pattern on their knitwear are giving a pleasant signal of festive season. After all, nobody wants to be around the ‘grumpy bah-humbug’ type of personalities during the Christmas season. Just be cautious not ending up looking like the Christmas tree yourself unless you want to convey a creative look.

Jewelry also works wonders. These can add that little sparkle to an outfit that makes it stand out in an admirable way. Holiday-themed jewelry is also perfect for those individuals who simply want to show a touch of holiday spirit without having to actually wear a holiday-themed outfit because it maybe too different from the conservative style of their wardrobe.  Miglio offers a wide range of quality jewelry to complement your party outfit.Miglio email address

Jackets can play the main part with embroidery, sequins at Fenn Wright Manson or they can be more minimal based on the overall outfit. Don’t forget textures. Velvet, faux fur or fur if keen to invest in a real one, leather have been the stars of the catwalk and are a great statement to any outfit. The winter short and pencil skirt can easily convert from working outfit to party wear with the right accessory, making them perfect to wear to an early evening Christmas or a holiday party. Add a fur shrug from LK Bennett on top of your coat or jacket and you’ll be party ready!

Another A/W fashion staple are knitwears. Either as a black loopy waistcoat at Mint Velvet, an oversized jumper or just as a tunique, they offer a great versatility. Dress it down with colourful tights for fun or put on your Hunters boots for a casual-country look. A cardigan over a shift dress accessorized with a broad belt at work will instantly give you a more relaxed look. For a New Year party, dress it up with a sparkly brooch, sex it up with high heels or jazz it up a dramatic hairdo. The key is in a nice mix between casual and made up.

Fancy something younger and trendy? Leggings are one of my favourite. Check this one from  Alexander Mc Queen at Net a Porter.They completely transform a classic outfit and are a more dramatic version of the tights. They can be worn under skirts, dresses, tuniques or simply in place of trousers, worn with a jacket or again, with an oversized knitweater.

2010 A/W collection has celebrated the come-back of the dress. For those who don’t want to spend time thinking of matching a skirt with a top the dress is a great alternative for a quick decision and looking impeccable. Choose the dress that flatters the best your body shape and your colour type and enhance the look with sparkly or a subtlely strass detailled tights.

 The latest in jeans, which is a mainstay in everyone’s wardrobe and suitable to wear at all times including during Christmas and the holidays, is that a skinny fit is in. And if ultra-skinny is not very complimentary to your body shape, you can still get one of the newer types of jeans that are said to have a lot more stretch, giving a 360-degree or all-around wrap to the body for a perfect or near perfect fit. "Not my daughter’s jean" is a good address to start browsing with.

And since Christmas is the season to be happy and cheery, the truly jolly can always top off their Christmas outfit with a cone-shaped, red and white Santa hat!!!