Lingerie options range from the everyday practical to the downright scandalous but whatever your motivation for purchasing, the experience ought to be one you look forward to, not dread. These seven classy boutiques aim to make your lingerie outing comfortable and fun, giving you a confidence boost while they’re at it. Stay sexy, ladies.
This small and intimate boutique in the heart of downtown carries beautifully tailored pieces from international designers. From expertly crafted everyday bras and underwear to special occasion, super-sexy teddies to invisible support and even maternity wear, Scarlet has your undergarment needs covered, so to speak. Staff are professional and helpful and quick with suggestions but if you’d rather shop online, their website is vast and easy to use with orders arriving at your doorstep on the same day if you live in the Lower Mainland.
A family-run business in both Richmond and on West 10th in Vancouver, Bare Basics is in the business of making sure all your lingerie questions are answered. From thorough bra fittings — and all the attendant questions (how do I stop my strap from falling down? What can I do to my existing bras to make them fit better?) — to help with post-surgical support to beautiful but casual loungewear and even swimwear, Bare Basics wants to ensure that your lingerie shopping experience is a positive one.
Kerrisdale’s Monaliza’s Fine Lingerie prides itself on carrying only the best in European designs as well as offering organic fabrics from silk to cotton to bamboo in a wide range of sizes. Unique styles, stunning details and supportive pieces that still look sexy make up the gorgeous inventory at this high-end shop.
Christine Morton is the designer behind her namesake boutique along a non-descript stretch of Powell, southeast of Railtown. But her pieces are anything but non-descript. Vivid patterns, colours and textiles are the hallmark of her creative output, with certain chemises and nightgowns seeming almost appropriate for outerwear. Though you’ll want to keep these precious items for the boudoir — comfort, fit and style intended for lounging and making you feel your best.
Playful, fun and over-the-top sexy, the lingerie at Eye Kandee is not meant for the bashful. Quarter-cup bras, crotchless panties and scandalous corsets, teddies and negligees, not to mention accessories, toys and full-blown costumes will help you kickstart your bedroom fantasies. Reasonable prices and super-friendly staff make for a wholly fun and exciting visit — only to get better once you get home.
Another lingerie shop on the more erotic end of the spectrum, Honey Gifts in Gastown excels at making shoppers comfortable while perusing adult toys and accessories and intimate apparel. With a warm, almost cozy atmosphere in the shop, customers feel at ease browsing all manner of lingerie and even their line of 50 Shades of Grey BDSM merchandise. As attitudes towards sex and sexuality become more open and more empowering for women, Honey hopes to help women and couples along their adventure.