Try a Valentine’s treat with lingerie

But with the array of underwear on offer, it can be hard to know where to start - and what suits.

“Lingerie is such a personal choice and is very much about enhancing your body shape - it should fit impeccably,” says Marks and Spencer’s head of lingerie design Soozie Jenkinson.

Whether you’re skinny, curvy or anywhere in between, here’s some expert advice on the styles to flatter every figure...

When it comes to clothes, straight-up-and-down boyish frames make everything look good, but lingerie can be a bit trickier.

“If you want to create curves, then look for a padded bra; there are lots of different types of padding for either a subtle enhancement or a more dramatic effect,” says Agnes Dewhirst, junior buyer at Figleaves.com. “There are also lots of beautiful triangle shape bras or half cup bras that look great on more petite figures.”

If you’re in possession of hourglass curves, lucky you, almost any type of lingerie suits, so it’s up to you whether you want to enhance what you’ve got, go all-out in a seriously seductive set, or choose something more delicate and demure.

“Having a bigger bust used to mean boring and frumpy bras, but not any more,” says Dewhirst. “There is a lot more choice, no matter your cup size, with bras that have been designed with both support and style in mind.”

For pear shapes, a well-fitting bra is just as important, but finding flattering bottoms is the tricky part.

“Generally, a brief shape or any knicker style that is narrower at the hip will be more flattering on a pear-shaped figure. A deep short may enhance the width of your hips, but if the styling has a vintage feel, this can also create a desirable pin-up effect,” says Dewhirst. “A basque really adds to a seductive look, especially with the addition of stockings. Or alternatively, choose a baby-doll, either with a built in bra or soft cups.”

For top-heavy ladies, lingerie that’s as supportive as it is sexy is the Holy Grail - but luckily, it’s not that difficult to find.

“Women with larger cup sizes may feel more secure in a side support style, or a bra made in a more rigid embroidery to give more support,” Dewhirst says. “If you are fuller in the top of your breasts, look for bras with lace at the top of the cup, as this will stretch and be more forgiving, while also providing support in the bottom of the cup.”

“A T-shirt bra can also offer great support from a D up to a GG cup,” she suggests, “as the foam helps to provide support 
for the bust.”