The best lingerie brands to elevate your underwear drawer

best lingerie sets
(Image credit: Bordelle)

The best lingerie brands are not only perfect for a Valentine's Day gift, but they'll elevate your lingerie drawer and give you a confidence boost all year round.

The perfectly-fitting set is the ideal foundation for any wardrobe and often gets overlooked - a crying shame. Whether you're into lace, mesh, silk, or plain cotton, whether you like powdery hues, pops of colour or embroidery details, there is a wide selection of gorgeous underwear sets out there, no matter your style or budget.

It's never a good idea to scrimp on quality when it comes to undergarments, and if budget is no issue, the likes of Coco de Mer, Bordelle, Agent Provocateur and La Perla serve up some beautifully crafted pieces that are akin to art.

But don't be mistaken into thinking you have to spend a fortune for beautiful, good-quality sets. Head to M&S, Intimissimi and &Other Stories for some great budget-friendly options that'll last.

Choosing the right lingerie for your body shape

Far more women wear the wrong lingerie size than you'd think, so I've put together a little guide on choosing the best lingerie for your body shape (and here's how to find the right bra size).

Apple body shape: For apple body shapes, bodysuits with deep V-necks are the ideal solution. If these aren’t up your street, V-cut knickers are a style that lengthen the gap between the bottom of your bra to the beginning of your knickers, elongating the frame.

Pear body shape: For pear body shapes, try wearing bandeau bras – they will help widen your upper torso, meaning the difference between your upper and lower body will seem less distinct.

Banana body shape: Banana body types should go for longline bras or bralettes – these are longer at the waist, extending one or two inches further down the waist than other bra types. The extra material is not only attractive but helps to fill out your shape without using a padded bra.

Hourglass body shape: Meanwhile, hourglass figures can add a bit of sexiness to their outfit with a suspender belt that matches their underwear set. This will keep attention on the tiny waist, creating a classically sexy style.

How to make lingerie last longer

Once you've invested in the best lingerie, you'll want it to last a while. With that in mind, we chatted with a couple of experts from Journelle and Simone Perele about how to wash your lingerie correctly, as well as some lingerie care tips to make sure they stay fabulous for as long as possible.

The best lingerie brands

Keep scrolling to shop our edit of the best lingerie brands which offer delicate, feminine and all-around gorgeous lingerie sets, from bras and knickers to bodies and more.

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.

Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).

Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.

However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.

Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.