Will You Be Able To Buy Her No Pop-Out Skimpies?
Shopping for your better half’s smalls is a minefield: lingerie buyer Nicky Clayton and model Nicole Neal hold your hand around the underwear aisles, no matter how difficult your missus is to buy for.
Bad news, guys. With 12 million sets of ill-fitting, non-suiting lingerie being returned or resigned to the back of top drawers every festive period, shopping for your better half’s small and skimpies is a minefield and, frankly, the odds are against you. To prevent underwearageddon in 2014, we’ve enrolled the senior buyer for lingerie at House of Fraser, Nicky Clayton, and the heart-achingly hot Nicole Neal, to hold your hand around the underwear aisles, no matter how difficult your missus is to buy for…
PROBLEM 1: She doesn’t like receiving pants as a present
Nicky says: “Opt for a slip as it’s about femininity and clean lines. She can wear it under a little black dress for the evening, or as sleepwear, so it has multiple uses. It’s very sophisticated, too.”
Nicole says: “Slips are so comfortable! It makes me feel like I want a movie night in with someone – one that leads into other things… fun things.”
PROBLEM 2: She’s an underwear snob
Nicky says: “The 1920s led a huge trend in lingerie this year, thanks no doubt to The Great Gatsby. This collection has a very classic look and uses some beautiful art deco-inspired embroidery.”
Nicole says: “Ooh, I feel classy in this. I can’t stop stroking it! I’d put this on in the bathroom and come out expecting some sexy time. Oh and look! My bum looks nice, too. This is my favourite.”
PROBLEM 3: She gave you better presents than you gave her last year
Nicky says: “Luxury Brit label Agent Provocateur is a very aspirational brand, but it can often out-price a lot of budgets. The diffusion line is the perfect way to buy her something without breaking the bank.”
Nicole says: “I love these colours, and it’s very sexy. It feels special. I’m feeling pretty playful and fun in these. It’s underwear for when you want to only wear underwear, if you get what I mean.”
PROBLEM 4: She only wears the latest fashion
Nicky says: “All girls love French lingerie – it’s synonymous with quality and fit. Implicite is a very new brand in the UK, and it has really cool patterns and uses some lovely material.”
Nicole says: “There’s not much to this, and that’s the kind of underwear I like. It’s very comfortable, but at the same time it’s got a sexy bondage vibe to it. I feel like I’m wearing less, and I’m into that.”
PROBLEM 5: She doesn’t do just ordinary
Nicky says: “The beautiful floral but smooth-cup bra, meaning she can wear it under absolutely anything she wants to, but it’s far from just an ordinary plain T-shirt bra. Biba is a heritage brand and they know what they’re doing.”
Nicole says: “Hmm, it’s a little bit too practical to feel sexy. But then again, I’d only wear special underwear if I knew my boyfriend would love it, so if this is his thing, I’d happily put it on… if it meant taking it off again shortly after.”
The picks: Untold Decadence bra; L’Agent by Agent Provocateur Marisela bra; Implicite Obsession bra; Biba Brigitte bra.
Model scanned for 3D printing
For 2013 Victoria Secret Fashion Show, they decided to 3D scan a model. Here’s a low down. Victoria’s Secret, Shapeways and Swarovski collaborated for VS’s 2013 show to create a 3D desgin called Snow Queen, a nylon plastic outfit. For this, designer Bradley Rothenberg created this outfit that the claimed to be an intersection of art, design and architecture.
From the January 2014 issue of FHM India.
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