Purple with frustration recently at the awfulness of my bras, I decided to embellish them and see if I could improve matters. I have to confess, I am quite pleased with the results.

These bras, I should point out, are modelled on my mannequin, Isabella, and stuffed with old socks...

In deciding which embellishments to choose, I logged onto Figleaves and tried to define what I liked about certain bras. Apart from more embroidery on the top cups (something I'll try later using appliques), I noticed that pretty bras usually have the following:

* bows at the bottom of the front straps

* sometimes bows up the straps themselves

* a strong central motif between the cups

* embroidery outlining the cups

* pretty straps

* interest on the bra band

* a pretty back

* occasionally,  sequins on the cups

Some of these ideas can't easily be copied - there is a little you can do, for instance, to prettify a back band because that would affect its elasticity. The same applies to the straps, though I will try, at a future date, to applique a narrow lingerie ribbon on top of the thunderingly wide straps of the Doreen. But I decided to give some of the other ideas a try. 

The bras shown are all Doreens by Triumph. A Doreen bra, though fabulously supportive and shaping, generally has little in the way of adornment other than a small central bow, though the Luxury variety also has prettier lace on the top cups, satin fabric, and picot edging on the cups and straps, which the other types lack. 

On the black Luxury Doreen (right) I added scattered gold sequins in the centres of the flowers, a little gold cross pendant (more Madonna than 'the Madonna', I hope) and embroidery round the cups in gold floss. This is very easy to do - you just use a large-eyed crewel needle and push it through the fabric, weaving in and out of the lace, then tie a knot at the back (take care not to pull the thread tight, as you'll reduce the cup size!). If you keep the sequins to the top half of the cups, you can sew right through the outer layer and inner lining but it won't irritate your nipples, or you can take more care and keep the stitching to the front layer only. The bra looks pink underneath, btw, because of my pink sports socks!

This red Doreen (left) is the standard model, which has quite rough, opaque lace. I added a red and gold pendant as its central motif, and the same gold floss embroidery as the black bra. The little red bows at the base of the straps (see close-up at top left) came from the old central motif of both this bra and the other red one shown and are held on with a gold bead, while the gold braid around the bra band is - believe it or not - off a posh chocolate box. 

And finally this red bra is my favourite. The upper cups are liberally sprinkled with irridescent sequins, and the central rhinestone motif is taken from a broken bracelet, as are the rhinestone bars at the bottom of the straps. The jade embroidery floss is actually knitting silk. The more embellishments the better, I think and I like this belly-dancer's-top result: the key is keep it tonal - all these embellishments are in the pink/jade range, which matches well with the red fabric.

Because I sew and make jewellery, I tend to have sequins, thread and findings hanging around the place, but if you want to try this idea yourself, the bits and bobs are readily available - lingerie bows, lingerie roses, applique lace and rhinestones can be had from any haberdashery or craft shop - I even found lingerie bows in a office supply shop.

Keep the embellishments flat and smooth for the best results. Curiously, though, I found that the cheaper and gaudier the ornament, the better it looks - real gold chain and silver don't work nearly so well.

I'll post some more pictures later, when I've embellished some others. 

Following on from my pre-Christmas blog on buying lingerie for your girlfriend, a male reader recently asked if I had any further advice for Valentine's Day.

The original tips were:

* Look in your partner's underwear drawer to get an idea of what colour she normally wears.

* Think about what style she - as opposed to you - likes.

* Think about her skin tone. 

* Know her size.

And here, after a bit of a think, are 10 more tips.

* 1 Buy something else instead. Lingerie is a very personal thing and most women have two sorts: everyday stretch stuff in black, white and flesh colour, and sexy stuff. If you buy her the former, she'll think it's boring, and if you buy her the latter, you're telling her how to express her sexuality, which is a no-no.  Instead, get her a beautiful nightgown or dressing gown or scarf, or chocolates, or dinner out, perfume etc. (And if you get perfume, don't get her what your ex used to wear just because you liked it). 

* 2 Never, never, never buy a woman shapewear of any kind unless she specifically asks for it. 

* 3 Camisoles and slips are nearly foolproof and so are nighties (except baby dolls) - most women will appreciate a pretty camisole, a slip or a nightie with a matching negligee. Unless it's see-through - in which case, you've boobed again. All of the slips shown on this page are from Figleaves and are sexy without being sleazy. Buying this kind of clothing also mean you don't have to worry so much about bra size or degree of push-up - she wears the same size in a slip or nightie as she does in a dress.

* 4 Buy silk lingerie. Many women don't treat themselves to this kind of luxury.

* 5 Listen to her. Does she complain that thongs cut her in half? Does she complain that lace itches? Not much point in buying her a lacy thong then, is there?

* 6 Buy her a voucher to spend at Figleaves, Victoria's Secret, Agent Provocateur or somesuch. The thought really counts, and you're not telling her what to get. If their prices make you wince, try British Home Stores - it has a fantastic lingerie department.

* 7 Leave lingerie advertising lying around and see what she says. Or, gazing at an Aubade ad, say whether you like it and see what her reaction is. PS: don't try this trick with Playboy...

* 8 Note what she wears on her top half, especially colour and transparency. There's no point at all in buying a coloured bra for a woman who lives in white blouses. 

* 9 Buy something she can wear outside the bedroom. If she can't, it's really a present for you...

* 10 Take it down a notch. If you like her in red, buy rose pink. If you like her in black, buy silver grey.  If you like see-through, buy something with lots of lace. Above all, buy a print - hookers don't wear prints.

Did you know that every major lingerie range brings out a black and red bra for Christmas?

No, neither did I. 

The customers they're aiming at, apparently, are clueless men, who at this time of year, high-tail it to the department stores at the last minute to get something for the wife or girlfriend. 

A red bra, points out Peter Jones saleswoman in this promo video on the Guardian site, will be worn by very few women, as it's not a practical colour.

I must be an exception here, though, because most of my bras are brightly coloured. Living, as I do, a rather grubby life, constantly covered in mud, soot and dog hair, my outer clothes all have to be dark or they're completely ruined in five minutes. I pretty much live in black, chocolate brown, khaki and various shades of taupe, beige and denim blue.

But to make up for it, my bra drawer is zinging, with bras in red, yellow, green, coral, shocking pink, black, white, lemon, sugar pink and lilac. They all go perfectly well under a black t-shirt, if you ask me - a white blouse is something in my dim and distant past...

The Guardian video highlights the Peter Jones department store, which has set up a men-only section this Christmas, where - it is hoped - men will not feel intimidated and can get some advice. The saleswoman featured says men get three things wrong:

* Size

* Colour

* Level of sleaze. 

So here's a clue, guys: crotchless knickers, boned basques, Santa Outfits and knickers with cartoon characters aren't generally women's cup of tea.

She then adds several tips:

* Look in your partner's undie drawer to get an idea of what colour she normally wears.

* Think about what style of undies she - as opposed to you - likes.

* Think about her skin tone. 

* Know her size.

Happy shopping, fellas. Still one day left to get it right. 

I am feeling deserted by fashion this week.

One reason is that I'm still clumping around like Quasimodo after my foot op last week. As soon as I had finally managed to get on a pair of trainers rather than Crocs, I had to have my second op (on mole number three), so am back into Crocs again for at least a few more days of shuffling. 

But it's also that I'm squaring up to that hideous annual routine of trying to find a decent bra. 

It's the same every year. My Doreens (by Triumph) give fantastic support and comfort, but they are not what you'd call the sexiest bra in the world. Therefore, once a year, the routine is this: I yearn for something prettier. I order something girly from some online vendor or another. It arrives, I try it on, and I send it back because it just doesn't give enough support. This year it was the Helena bra by Fantasie and the Provence from Pour Moi? Beautiful, both of them, but hopelessly unsupportive. 

Every year I end up tearing my hair out in frustration. The problem is that once you hit 40, you start to notice that everything in life, including your tits, is heading south. I have a low-slung bust to start with, courtesy of my Irish grandmother, but from the age of 11 to about 44, my boobs could hold their own for firmness without needing too much in the way of uplift, and a Wonderbra was all I needed to put someone's eye out. 

No more, however. These days I need a little more help: a good bra is about structure and my bras have to tick all the following boxes:

* Deep bra band with the cups properly set into it, not separate cups only joined in the middle.

* Leotard back.

* Two or three-hook back closure.

* Three-section cup or an internal sling.

* Wide straps.

The Doreen ticks every box. When I bought my first one five years ago, I was amazed at how it hoicked the girls back into place - it takes 10 years off you, along with 10 pounds. Not only that, it's so comfortable that I don't even know I'm wearing it. And those are not things with which I'm willing to part. But God, I wish it was prettier to look at.

I do not, I should perhaps point out, have big boobs - and that, indeed, is one of the problems. I'm only a 34B or 34C, depending on the time of the month, but good support details such as support slings are not generally included in bras under a D cup. Freya, Fantasie, Goddess and Elila are all wonderful makes that hardly ever produce anything in my size - if I had huge knockers, I'd be better catered for.

So, I turn back, once again, to the Doreen. Triumph has brought out this bra in standard, luxury, cotton-rich and 'fleur' jacquard satin finishes, all of which are very nice (especially the luxury finish), but you try getting it in colours other than black, white, nude and (very occasionally) pale pink. I am not a schoolgirl and I long for a dash of colour, and some lace edging or prettier straps.Lace on the top cups, or edging the straps or the band would be so welcome, rather than this plain edge, which makes the bra's construction so visible.

Colour is also important when you can't change the style of your bra, and you're stuck with an over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder design. It is just a leetle something that makes you feel more feminine.  So thank heavens for Ebay, where I have now picked up limited-edition Doreens in dark red, coral and lilac, though the search is still on for blue and aqua (available, evidently, but not in my size).

But when will Triumph put its money where its mouth is and acknowledge that the Doreen is the best-selling bra in the world? When will it come with some lacy trim on the straps or the band, or in royal purple with black lace, or emerald green satin with red bows? When will it have sparkly fabric or contrast lace, or something - anything - to make it feel a tad less matronly? It is a fantastic construction, with about 48 or 50 parts, so surely just a few of those could be changed, to - for instance - have a nude lining to the lace on the upper cups?

Not only is Doreen the biggest-selling bra in the world, it sells to the biggest bra-buying market of all - 55-65 year olds, who have plenty of money to spend on lingerie and would still like to look sexy as well as supported.

Oh la. Well, I can see that customisation is the name of the game here and that I shall have to get out the sewing machine and the haberdashery basket, with roses, little bows and rhinestones galore.

And I have bought another Grace bra, which has pure cotton cups, and I will be dyeing it myself to see what I come up with. Watch this space. 

This site was pushed to me the other day, which might prove useful for larger ladies who haven't given up the ghost.

Hips and Curves specialises in sexy lingerie, corsets and nightwear for women with 'hour and half glass' figures. The range also includes footwear, dress-up costumes (French maid's outfit, etc) and daywear, including several nice examples of bootcut jeans. 

Clothing starts at US size 14 (UK 16) and goes to US size 24, and a full sizing chart is included, so you can work out where you are. International shipping available.