Ultimo Buyers Guide

You can seldom go wrong with a bunch of red roses or a candlelit meal on Valentine’s Day, but if you really want to woo your lady and turn up the romance factor lingerie is the ultimate gift! We asked Michelle Mone (left), bra expert and creator of Ultimo, the UK’s leading lingerie brand, to provide some invaluable tips on how to make the perfect lingerie purchase.

“Size is everything when it comes to lingerie. A lot of men resort to guessing, which is a big mistake. Ask her friends or her sister what size she is or try and take a peak in her lingerie drawer when she isn’t around. To give you a quick idea, a bra size is generally expressed in inches, whilst cup sizes typically start at an A and work their way up the alphabet.”

“A big Valentine’s faux pas is buying lingerie that will never see the light of day, beyond the odd romantic night! This is where some careful consideration is required; don’t just buy something slinky and red because you like it, take into account her tastes and get the right balance between ‘raunchy’ and ‘elegant’. Black lingerie is always an excellent choice (Ultimo ‘Perfect Line Lace’ balcony bra, £25, short, £12); classic in every sense of the word, it’s both sexy and stylish."

“The style of lingerie that your partner will love – and, most importantly, feel confident wearing - will depend on how she feels about her body. If she dislikes her stomach, opt for a concealing corset (Ultimo Black Label ‘Duchess’ Basque, £50.00)."

"If she’s proud of her boobs, go for a plunge bra (Ultimo ‘Boudoir’, £25.00). Also, is she reserved or is she a bit of a minx? Does she wear satin thongs or cotton boy shorts? These are the questions you must ask yourself.”

“It really is the little things that make us women happy, so it’s definitely worth swathing the lingerie in some pretty tissue paper and boxing it up with a big ribbon. If you want to really impress her, why not place a red rose on the top for some added ‘wow’ factor. Also, don’t ruin it by leaving the prices on, but do leave the labels on just in case the lingerie needs to be exchanged.”

For more lingerie ideas and to view the full Ultimo collection please visit www.ultimo.co.uk