Lingerie has to be one of the most common and romantic gifts that a man can give to a woman.  It doesn't matter what size she wears, lingerie will always make a woman feel sexy and... more like a woman!  But how to shop for lingerie can be a bit tricky at times.  Here are a few pointers that will help you in your quest to buy that perfect lingerie for the woman in your life!

TYPES OF LINGERIE

First you must know the different types of lingerie and what they are called.

Bras:
Seamless/Smooth
Demi Cup
Push-Up
Full Figure
Strapless
Open Tip Bra
Shelf Bra
No-Wire
Under-Wire
Corsets
Bustier
Camisoles

Panties:
Bikinis
Briefs
Thongs
G-Strings
Control
Crotchless

Sleepwear:

Gowns
Chemises
Pajamas
Robes
Baby Dolls
Teddies

Garter Belt

Hosiery:
Panty Hose
Stockings
Thigh Highs (or Stay-Ups)
Body Stockings

Fantasy
 
SIZE

The next thing you need to know is her size. Some companies have different size sections. But overall they are basically the same. Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large (XL) are in the regular sizes. The Plus sizes usually range from 1X to 4X. These are usually for the clothes sizes such as panties, sleepwear, garters, hosiery and fantasy wear. Bra sizes are totally different.

When measuring for bras, you are measuring for width and cup size. Width is measured in inches and cups are in a letter size. Put on your best fitting bra. Loop the tape measure under your arm pits and above your breasts. The tape should be snug, but not tight. The resulting measurement is the size of your torso.
Then, lower the tape measure so it reaches around the fullest part of your breasts. Subtract the size of your torso from this measurement and consult the table below to determine your cup size.

A - up to 1"
B - up to 2"
C - up to 3"
D - up to 4"
DD - up to 5"

If you are buying for someone else (such as wife or girlfriend) my suggestion is to look at the bras they already have. Disregard the ones that are worn out or stretched out of shape. Look at the ones that are in good shape. Jot down the size and go from there. While you're at it, jot down the colors they already have so that you can buy a color that they don't have yet.

COLOR

Color is pretty much a matter of personal preference. If you're still unsure, here are a few tips that might help:
Blondes black and all shades of blue look great.

Redheads shades of green, especially teal, are awesome. Pinks and other pastel tones are good also.
Brunettes the two most natural colors here are white and red. Black can be good, too, depending on their skin tone.

Hair color is only one way of choosing color. Skin color and tone is also important.

The most important factor in choosing color is personal taste. If you go nuts over red then it's the color red that you want! If you think the sexiest color is black, go and get it! Lingerie as a gift is meant to be a very personal message that only the two of you need appreciate, not the rest of the world!

THE TYPE OF WOMAN YOU ARE BUYING FOR

Now that you know her size and have picked out a color, the next thing you need to do is choose what type of lingerie you are going to buy. In order to this, consider the type of person she is first. When you buy lingerie, you are buying for the BOTH of you, not just for you. So you have to figure out what will also be comfortable for her. And I'm not just meaning comfortable in that it fits right. What I mean will she also enjoy wearing it? To do this, keep in mind her preferences, body shape, personality and her best outstanding features. Here are some things to consider:

What is her bedroom like?  Is she the submissive type, maybe even shy?  You may want to try something a bit more to that liking. Or is her bedroom very seductive? Is she the type of person who likes to try new things? If so, then buy something that she wouldn't normally buy herself, such as leather lingerie. Or something in the fantasy wear. Sometimes someone who is submissive is willing to try new things, so she may like the total opposite of what she's used to wearing in bed.

UNDERGARMENTS

Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it won't make her feel sexy. Women absolutely love to wear sexy, frilly, satiny bras and panties under their clothes, even though you may not know that she's wearing it. Women go by touch, whereas men go by visuals. Also, if you are going to buy her a bra, make sure you get the matching panties to go with it. So when choosing undergarments, make sure they are something that will make HER feel sexy, and something you will enjoy looking at as she's undressing.