Giving Lingerie for Christmas

The Rules of Giving Lingerie for Christmas

There are different rules to giving lingerie for Christmas, depending on your relation to the receiver. There are also, obviously, rules on the type of lingerie it’s appropriate to give.

Significant Others

1. Men, if you’re going to give a woman lingerie for any holiday, you better have something else to go with it. Women realize that you don’t care if she’s wearing it or not wearing it, but she also knows that it’s a gift for yourself anyway. When she puts it on (assuming you bought her sexy lingerie and not a flannel nightgown), you’re going to expect a “come hither” look complete with bedroom eyes and a seductive half smile.

2. Ladies, men’s lingerie probably isn’t the greatest gift to give a guy. Yes, it’s practical. Yes, it’ll get worn. If you absolutely must get him lingerie, try a nice warm robe or some unrestrictive pants he’ll feel comfortable lounging around in when you have girlfriends over and he just wants to drink a beer and watch a game. Plain boxers are boring.

Satin boxers are a possibility. If you buy him some that will make him feel like you want him in the bedroom ASAP, he probably won’t mind (though you may want to throw in tickets to see his favorite action movie, too—and go with him, without falling asleep.

3. The best bet for you ladies is to buy him women’s lingerie—for yourself, of course. Just like it’s really for him when he buys it for you, it’s a gift to him when you buy it for yourself. Again, it probably wouldn’t hurt to throw in a little something extra. Meet him at the door wearing your new lingerie, with his favorite beer in one hand and a gingerbread man-shaped pizza (for the sake of the season) in the other—get creative.

4. Sizing can be interesting. Usually, men’s sizes are straightforward. But what’s a guy to do if he’s buying it for his spouse or girlfriend? Lingerie comes in sizes like Small, Medium, Large, 34B, 36C, 38D—it’s enough to send any man running for the snow-covered hills! Do some info gathering.

If you can check her bra size, it’ll be easy enough to match that up. Check her pants and dresses, as well, to get a size that will help you decide between the smalls, mediums and larges. If you’re ordering online, you can check each company’s individual size chart based on measurements and number size (2-4, 4-6, and so on).

Friends and Family

There are fewer rules for friends and family when it comes to giving lingerie for Christmas. We’ll just continue the list:

5. Don’t buy sexy. Just don’t. It’s uncomfortable for everyone. Yes, even if you are the cool grandma. Save it for actual lingerie parties and wedding showers. Stick to modest nightgowns, pants/cami sets or flannel sets in solids or cute patterns.

6. If you’re unsure of the receiver's size, guess. If you’re really not sure and you’re going for a set, opt for the smaller of the two sizes you’re considering, and include a gift receipt. It’s more flattering to think the giver sees you as smaller than you are, than larger.

7. Cozy pajamas are great gifts for nieces and nephews in college. They probably have roommates so they need to cover up. Plus it’s a little piece of home they can take with them—especially if they wash them first at their parents’ house and use their mom’s detergent and dryer sheets. The pajamas will smell like home the next time they wear them.

Where to Look

• Victoria’s Secret

• Frederick’s of Hollywood

• Trashy.com

One of your best resources could be Pajama World. You click on what you’re looking for and it gives you the names of stores to find them in, plus links.