Romantic dinners, chocolates, home-made cards and champagne bubble baths may all seem clichéd but sometimes it’s the simple things that make us happy. If you really want to spice things up on Valentine’s Day, buy her lingerie.

Believe it or not, lingerie was the first ever nip and tuck. Underclothing has been lifting, pushing and squeezing bodies since the days of ancient Greece. Though the word comes from the old French linge, or linen, the term lingerie was introduced in England to describe shocking underclothing.

In the Middle Ages, women didn’t shower or bathe every day. They wore linen undergarments to protect elegant gowns from their unclean bodies and to add an extra layer of warmth. It took the French Revolution for women to shun their restrictive wasp waisted -lace corset and petticoats for the comfort of high-waisted muslin.

Then the bra came along. The brazen brassiere was invented out of necessity and rational thinking. Who can dance hours on end in a tightly strung corset? About 1913, Mary Phelps Jacob had a brainstorm. If she tied two handkerchiefs together with ribbons, she could leave her corset at home and dance the night away in relative comfort.

The idea caught on and by the time Hollywood’s Silver Screen hit the big time, ladies’ lingerie had become sexy, fashionable and in demand.

The recent recession has actually boosted the sales figures for ladies’ lingerie. We may be spending less on luxuries, but lacy underwear and sexy nighties seem to be in a category of their own.  Maybe more couples are spending evenings in instead of going out; possibly couples feel less stress and have more time for one another if they have switched to working at home. Whatever the reason, lingerie sales are skyrocketing.

And lingerie doesn’t have to take a bite out of your budget. It’s possible to get fashionable, high quality silk, cotton and lace online or in most high street shops.

Lingerie is to women what gadgets are to men - you can never have too much of a good thing. Encourage her lingerie collection but make sure she has plenty of room to store this intimate apparel.

At Sliderobes we have all the storage ideas and solutions you need to take extra care of your delicates. At Sliderobes we specialise in the intricacies of storage, so whether it’s a walk-in wardrobe or a custom fitted unit that melds itself into an unusual corner or space, Sliderobes accommodates what goes into your wardrobe as much as how well it is fits into a room. We have specialised baskets, drawers and rails that can be specifically designed to keep your lingerie safe and easy to reach for any planned or spontaneous occasion!