by Francesca Di Meglio

Something about being in Italy makes women feel prettier than ever. That sometimes gives them - or the men pursuing them - the motivation to purchase sexy lingerie. If you're among these shoppers, you are likely to turn to Intimissimi, a retailer of women's lingerie and men's underwear in Italy.

I am usually in Ischia, an island off the coast of Naples, in July, when everything goes on sale. And Intimissimi is right on the corner of the street on which I live in Ischia, which means trouble. The cute panty and bra sets on display in the window often lure me into the store. Affordable is not the word for this underwear during the sale season. I've purchased bras for as little as 12 euros and panties for as little as 9 euros.

My first Intimissimi set is an dark green panty with a ruffle all the way around the waist and a ruched bra. I also have a two sets of lace boy shorts and bras - one in blue and another in turquoise. Even my fiancé Antonio has purchased his fair share of boxer briefs - with prints of everything from different colored handprints to reels of black and white film.

If you're planning a trip to Italy, you can check out Intimissimi, too. But there are a couple things you should know. First, take your time to scout the store to see what you like. I sometimes get drawn to the window items and miss other great deals in the rest of the store. Second, bra sizes are completely different in Italy than they are in the United States. For example, a size 34C or 36B is considered a size 3. If you're not sure what your Italian size is, you can ask a salesperson to convert the size for you or just measure outright. Finally, remember that the euro is doing better than the dollar at this time, and therefore even during sale season, you might be spending more than you would in the United States.

Now, even Americans can get their hands on fancy panties from Intimissimi because of a new line offered at Victoria's Secret. Select stores are selling the Italian lingerie line, which includes a sheer babydoll in black or white, an all-over lace triangle bra and panty set, and a flower-patterned cami. You can also take a walk on the wild side with an animal print set.

In preparation of my upcoming trip to Italy, I'm already making a list of all the underwear I want. The best part is that if I can't wait until Italy, I can just jet over to Victoria's Secret and get a jumpstart on my shopping spree. What about you?

Di Meglio is the guide to Newlyweds for About.com, where you can get information on everything from cooking for two to decorating your house.

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