Buying lingerie, not unlike buying lube or condoms, doesn’t have to be embarrassing. You can stride right over to the sexy underclothes area of the department store and ooh and ahh at the silky offerings. Or you can duck your head, pretending you were looking for flannel PJs, and blush.

Buying lingerie online isn’t tactile—what online buying is?—but you can find a wider variety of fabrics, sizes and styles than in most lingerie or department stores. Hard-to-find sizes are a real bonus with online shopping.

We don’t like the models’ styling in here, but if you dig deep you can find some unusual pickings with lace and silk and satin, and a good selection of plus sizes, at Lingerie Diva. The blog’s not bad either. Like Mistress Cobra’s corset in Full Load, similar designs abound here.

If your idea of fun includes leather and latex, don’t miss JT’s Stockroom for a wide selection of panties, corsets, stockings and more. It’s one of our favorite shops.

Want to know the best uses for lingerie? Next time, in Lingerie: Part 2, we’ll talk about how and when to wear lingerie and what else it’s good for.

We want your opinion on how you wear and use lingerie. You can comment here.