Your complete guide to buying and wearing the right lingerie

Often we all have been buying and wearing lingerie, which actuality is a completely normal everyday task, can actually be quite daunting. Finding the right size or fabric that suits you, experimenting and getting far out of your comfort zone is all part and parcel of the experience. And even aftercare, to ensure your precious bras and panties (which you probably spent an unbelievable amount on) remain in good shape, is something you have to constantly keep in mind. If you still haven't found your footing in the vast world of female intimates, these tips might help you along and give you a bit more confidence.

The key to kick-starting your lingerie journey is to get fitted by an expert
To get the perfect bra for you, getting measured and subsequently fitted by an expert at a lingerie or clothing store is the way to go. That way, once your size is determined, you can go ahead and try on whatever style you want and see what looks best.

Always, always try on your lingerie before buying it
It's great for you to be sure of your size, but if you're trying out a different store or are buying lingerie after a long gap, make sure you try out the bras. With underwear, of course, there's a no trial policy, but measuring your waist and using that to determine size should work.

Pay attention to fabric
While fitting is an essential thing to check first, the look and feel of your lingerie are important too. We all obviously want bras and panties that look great, but we need to pay more attention to what they're made of. Flimsy, thin material that won't make it through a couple of washes but look cute don't make for a smart buy, whereas soft, but the sturdier fabric that you know will last you for months on end and makes you look and feel sexy is the perfect combination.

Make sure you have your basics before anything else
Make sure you have your basic, everyday wearable bras and panties and a slightly sexier set (if you want), before you go into all the experimental stuff. Wearing a skimpy, patterned lacy bra under a plain t-shirt is a big no-no.

Always hand wash your lingerie
The cardinal rule of making sure your lingerie lasts longer than a month is to always, ALWAYS wash them by hand. Don't make the mistake of sticking your bras or delicate underwear into a washing machine because that'll be the end of it. And washing by hand doesn't mean you need to ghiso the life out of it - fill a bucket with lukewarm water, add the appropriate cleanser and soak and swish around your bras in this soapy water, rinse, squeeze and dry.