It's the most romantic time of the year again — or so the folks at Hallmark tell us — and with it comes the annual rush of harried gentlemen and love-struck suitors desperate to show their wives and girlfriends that they really, really do care.
And while we approve of red roses, chocolates and diamonds as much as the next person, we fail to see their connection with amor. They are gifts, indulgences, expensive little treats to gladden the heart of a special lady, but there is nothing inherently romantic about any of them. So on February 14th forget the Whitman's Sampler and give the gift that will make everyone's hearts beat faster: lingerie.
And not just any lingerie, of course. But the finest, silkiest, most expensive and, dare we say it, sexiest frilly unmentionables you can find. From such well-known makers as Victoria's Secret and La Perla to smaller brands like Strumpet & Pink and Guia La Bruna, these pricey skivvies can make women look desirable without looking cheap.
Of course, sending most men to buy lingerie is like sending most women to buy a big screen TV or a power mower: Not only in most cases are the relevant details of the products unknown but, at least with men, it is difficult to browse through racks of brassieres without getting some pretty funny looks from the other customers.
Well, get over it. “A man who gives a gift of lingerie is showing that he's willing to step out and take a risk, and women appreciate that,” says Catriona MacKechnie, owner of an eponymous new luxury lingerie boutique in New York City's fashionable Meatpacking District. “So many men have been led to believe that red lace is the only way to go. But if they take a moment to look around and realize all the creative things available that are just as wearable, they really seem to get into it.”
To help you in your search for just the right lingerie to send Cupid a message, we've compiled a list of the most expensive lingerie items we could find. Produced by independent and boutique designers as well as large fashion houses, they're the perfect way to shout your Valentine's feelings in the most intimate tones.