• Get the size right. It may sound obvious but as Michelle Mone, creator of Ultimo lingerie, says: 'You can't rely on guesswork, and all it takes for you to find out her actual size is a quick peek in her underwear drawer.' Asking a shop assistant what underwear they think would fit your other half is not an option.
• Flesh tones are a definite no-no, unless (a) she's got a good tan or (b) you want her to look like a sack of potatoes.
• Do not buy a thong for someone who doesn't like their posterior. She won't thank you for it.
• Can't choose a colour? Go for black --it's sexy and can hide a multitude of sins.
• Red is also a good bet, very playful and sexy - although you run the risk of playing out a scene in Readers' Wives.
From left to right:
Black frontless plunge bra with diamante detail, £28, and boyshorts, £12, both ultimo.co.uk; knee-high stockings, £5, topshop.com; bronze metallic peep-toe shoes, £325, georgina goodman.com. Black-lace corset, £35, Marks & Spencer, marksandspencer.com; black sheer hold-up stockings, £7, aristoc.com; black T-bar shoes, £85, office.co.uk; sapphire crystal and steel Christal watch, £1,100, dior.co.uk
