Doh! This post from Sadie of Jezebel is what prompted me to render my own opinions about the importance of getting fitted for bras instead of winging it. So I should have posted it first.

The point, Sadies says, is that…

...apparently men are so crap at buying underwear for the dames in their lives that London’s John Lewis store has set up a “lingerie academy” to prevent the purchase of Pussycat Dolls-esque monstrosities in random sizes. But seriously, is it really that hard? Apparently so!

According to the academy’s mastermind, Maria Walker, men’s problems fall into a few categories: buying for themselves rather than their recipients; cluelessness as to size; and generally being intimidated by the setup of the creepily-named “Intimates” departments and Victoria’s Secret bordellos, and the fear of looking pervy. Then too, the mechanics of fit and hoist, or underwire and cuppage, are a language that’s mysterious even to women.

...

...in a panic, guys go with what they’ve been told is “sexy,” almost never what we’d choose. Think red, black, thongs, and a lot of teddies.

...

Rather than guessing at sizes (which I can tell you from my time in retail, men never know even if they think they do) the academy recs that guys get camisoles and panties and stay completely away from thongs, however much they want them. They also have to coax some guys out of the weird virgin/whore complex that presupposes that racy lingerie suggests “mistress.” I would personally add to this: if there is any danger of receiving lingerie, ever, beat into the buyer’s brain the brand you wear: it’s so hard to find stuff that works with the vagaries of individual breasts there’s no point taking a chance on a line that cuts small through the back (ahem, Elle MacPherson) or inconsistently in the cup (yes, looking at you, Gap Body.)

She said it here.

The few times I’ve bought anything like lingerie for someone else I’ve tended towards clothing that I’d want to wear. In the sense that I thought it would be comfortable to wear (although see “continue reading…” below.) The lingerie I like most, on me or anyone else, is “nothing” so I’m not exactly the best person to ask about what looks best. But perhaps because I prefer nothing I think I’m pretty tuned in to what will or won’t feel nice for the wearer.

But anyway, while I’m sure there are some men who can do a pretty good job of picking out clothes for their partners I’m… pretty sure that, regardless of taste, or eye for color, when it comes to items where fit is really important it’s probably best to leave those choices up to the to-be-fitted individual. Not to say you can’t do it at all, just maybe bring the actual person with you when you go.