Avoiding the Underwear Shopping Nightmare

If you are thinking of buying underwear, swim wear, sports wear, or nightwear then look no further than Figleaves.com. They sell all over the world and offer free delivery in the UK and USA. If you are a busy Mum like me this really takes the hassle out of shopping for underwear.


I must admit I mistakenly believed that Figleaves just sold ladies underwear - wrong. It also has a great range of men's underwear, swimmers and even a couple of socks options. Their prices start at just £12.00 and even in the men's range there are more than 700 items.
The women's wear range is phenomenal. It incorporates everything you would expect in lingerie, but does also have maternity bras, mastectomy bras and bras for the double D ladies. Again I assumed that it was all going to be very expensive and purely designer stuff, but there is a great variation in prices and products. Although you can search by the type of product, department or size - you don't seem to be able to search by price. This means that expensive items are mixed up with the cheaper brands. So don't be put off if the first few items you look at are over budget.


Alternatively you can just start by clicking on Fig leaves "Sale" button where there are some really generous reductions of up to 50% off

The thing I really liked best about Figleaves was how much I have learnt about women's underwear. Searching under the "Search by Size" option takes you to their "Fitting Room" which is a mind of information. There is a ten point fitting guide along with pictures so you can understand what Figleaves are referring to. Tips on measuring yourself, and then when you have carried out the dreaded deed even an online size calculator. Fantastic -for the first time in years I know what size I am!!


This is all so much less embarrassing than having the challenge of standing in a changing room, with a middle aged woman tutting disparagingly at your boobs like they are some unfortunate appendage. Too big too small - it doesn't matter whether you are equipped with melons or poached eggs, for most of us being fitted out for a bra is up there with going to the dentist! Which is why of course that most women are wearing the wrong size bra?


Clearly to invest in education, sizing and how to try on Bra's is in the best interest of Figleaves, as it is likely to cut down on returns, (which are free in the UK and US). But this site goes further than that - it tells you about styles of bras. What they look like, the terminology and what it means, and in some cases what the bras do with the storage of your boobs. All incredibly interesting for us girls and means that we are more likely not only to choose the right size bra but the right style of bra for the clothes we are wearing. I am sure you know the sort of thing. I have a bra that makes me look a bit "nippy" as my teenagers would say, or the bra that makes me look a rather peculiar shape. I've discovered it's a balcony bra and I have been trying to wear it with all the wrong clothes!


The other thing about buying from Figleaves is that you don't have all that messing around in the shop or the changing cubicle trying to find out whether the colour, size and the style you are after is in stock. This is where I think most underwear catastrophes take place. Once you have selected the style bra, you can check whether it is in stock and the colour you want it in is available, in just a few clicks. Simple.


I also really liked the fact that you do not get just one view of the product. You can zoom in to see an enlarged view, what it looks like from the back (it does this with pants too) and you can get an image of it in other available colours. This facility is available across the whole range of the Figleaves site whether you are looking at the swimwear, sportswear or men's wear and must save many save costly mistakes.


Figleaves started up in 1998 so they have been around a long time in internet terms and that professionalism and maturity is well reflected in their website which has won many awards for best fashion, lingerie and "ease of use" sites in the last two or three years.
This website will save you time and money, because you are less likely to make bad underwear decisions. - If you follow their style and fitting guides you will probably end up with a range of underwear to die for and that special person in your life will love!

Gift Boxes
Figleaves will provide a gift box for £3.50 and you can even organise to send it on their "virtually anonymous service" which of course is ideal for Valentines Day.

Navigation
Although there is loads of products this site is really easy to use, you can search by size, department or even the brand you are after. I would really recommend at some point though going to the "Fitting Room" which you get to by clicking on "size".

Payment and Delivery
Payment online is by the standard credit cards (not Amex) and debit cards. Payment is taken on despatch of goods. They also have their own gift vouchers which you can pay with. Figleaves is registered with the shopping is safe ISIS programme so be assured that this is a secure site.
Standard delivery charge is £2.00 and 3 to 5 days from date of despatch. Express delivery is £4.00. For the rest of the world standard delivery is £6.00 and delivery will be in 5 to 10 days or express delivery is £20.00. For orders over £300 express delivery is free. It is not clear whether this is just for UK or worldwide.

If you are in the UK you can also elect to collect your Figleaves parcel from a Post Office.
Diana Groves