Shopping for lingerie is a task that requires some planning, whether you are buying it for yourself or a special person in your life. The first step is to plan and it makes a difference if you are buying it for yourself or that special woman.



If you are buying it for yourself, then dress casually in clothing that you can get in and out of with ease, because you may need to try the lingerie on. There will be no need to wear hosiery, tight pants, or elaborate clothing, because it is a pain to take them off and then to put back on. If you are buying the lingerie for another person, then you must have their sizes ready. It is essential as with buying any clothing, including lingerie with only a vague idea of their sizes will often lead to disastrous results. Do not leave for the lingerie store without their bra and pantie sizes as well as their height, weight, and perhaps dress size. It will not be hard to get their sizes as going through their drawers or closet will divulge their sizes.

Choose the store carefully as there is a difference in lingerie stores, because mall stores like Victoria's Secret and Lane Bryant have lingerie, but they are generally known as foundation stores with bras, panties, some hosiery, and perhaps some sexy lingerie. There is absolutely nothing wrong with these stores, but the selection of sexy lingerie is fairly limited. They may have some sets, pajamas, and robes, but they are not going to carry a large selection of sexy lingerie. The other type of mall stores such as Macy's and Sears also have lingerie, but the selection will be rather tame.

There is lingerie and then there is sexy lingerie. You may want to take a walk on the wild side and this is generally finding a boutique lingerie store. This is not as easy as it sounds as many adult stores carry lingerie, but it tends to be in boxed sets that are very popular as they are easy for the adult stores to carry, but they are generally one size fits most, limited in styles, colors, and selection. Furthermore, these boxed sets are often the best selling lingerie sets from the manufacturer, simply because they are simply boxed with sexy girls posing on the box or hung on racks for easy showing and sale.

There are many adult stores that carry these boxed sets, and most of the sexy lingerie manufacturers have jumped on the band wagon selling lingerie to adult stores that do not want to carry lingerie on the hangers. However, due to their compact size and eye appeal these box-o-lingerie is a hot seller to the sex toy stores as well as many lingerie stores. These adult stores generally carry lingerie, in addition to their main product line which are sex toys. There is nothing wrong with these toys, but you will not find a good selection of lingerie in these stores. The sexy lingerie stores may also carry sex toys, but the toys are in addition to the lingerie, not the other way around.

Once you find the boutique lingerie store, then it is a good idea to call ahead and determine their policies, which include the store hours, return policies, selection, and product lines. Give yourself plenty of time to shop, so it is important to plan accordingly as you will need to try things on or shop thoroughly. Return policies may vary from store to store and are particularly essential if you are buying lingerie for another. Remember most, if not all, stores prohibit returns on panties and other garments worn over intimate areas, thus do not purchase these items without proper sizing, so it is important to ask about exchange policies as it is best to be safe when it comes to gifts of lingerie.