Now that the holiday season in upon us, we have been getting a lot more male shoppers coming in to get gifts for their lady friends. Male shoppers… they can be tricky. Many of them come in and know exactly what they’re looking for and in which size, but there are equally as many men who become nervous, uncomfortable, and unsure as soon as they set foot in a lingerie shop. I’m certain that these are confident and intelligent men in any other circumstance, it’s just the whole ‘panty shop’ stigma. It’s not their fault, I get that textbook case of anxiety when I have to take my car in to the mechanic, it’s pretty much the same thing, except I don’t have to talk to the mechanic about “panties”… I mean, I usually do anyway, but I don’t have to (just kidding). The word “panties” alone is enough to make some people uncomfortable, but how do you buy them without talking about them? Especially when you need someone to help you navigate through non-standardized sizes. And talking about sizes, ugh, that’s a whole other thing. It’s not so easy to talk to a strange woman about your wife’s breast size, you know? I feel for these guys, I really do. Sometimes I feel for them so much that their nervousness makes me nervous too. It can be a challenge to overcome an awkward shopper. I want to be friendly and helpful and put everyone at ease and I think I usually do a pretty good job, but man, when we’re both tip-toeing around each other it can create a real communication barrier. I try to offer my assistance without being overly intrusive, I try to crack jokes or else be as ‘matter of fact’ as possible, but at the end of the day I have no idea if there’s one perfect approach to a male lingerie shopper. I am still in my 20’s and I look like I’m barely in my 20’s, so it’s impossible for me to give off that austere vibe that I assume might be the best possible solution. I try to take it case by case, I often go the ‘best friend’s precocious little sister’ route, or maybe the ’sassy platonic friend’ route. With women I’m probably even too ’sassy friend’ at times, I’ll say things like “I love those panties, I’m wearing them RIGHT NOW!” without batting an eyelash, but yeah… as much as that might possibly be a little too much for some women, it is most definitely not a good move with the guys. My first instinct with fidgety men is to try to break the tension as soon as possible and then answer any and all questions as thoroughly as I can. But listen guys, just to make things easier, if you’re reading this and thinking about stopping in, I want you to remember a few things:

1.) We don’t bite. Trust me, we are truly happy that you’re in our shop and we want you to feel at ease.

2.) You aren’t the first guy to come in. Lots of men shop here. Some of our best customers are men. Seriously.

3.) No question is a dumb question. Knowing is half the battle.

4.) We talk about bras and panties and body shapes ALL DAY. It’s no big deal.

5.) Don’t worry if you falter on your choice of size or style, gift purchases are exchangeable for store credit.

6.) We do offer Gift Cards if you feel completely over whelmed.

7.) I only recommend this if you are at a very high comfort level with your lady, but if you can, try to scope out her closet before you come in…. or else just ask her what her sizes typically are.

8.) Think about what types of lingerie she already has and then think about which of those items are your absolute favorites to see her in and why. Remember, you know this woman, you know her general taste, and you know your own general taste. The key to finding a gift that is perfect for both of you is to pinpoint the cross section.