A countrywide survey showed that the majority of women (78%) find receiving a gift of sexy lingerie from their partner "flattering" and "a compliment".
However, that feeling swiftly changes to "embarrassment and disappointment" for one in three women (34%) when they are the recipients of underwear in the wrong size.
The survey carried out for Debenhams revealed underwear that is too small tops the table of lingerie-buying faux pas, with sets that were considered too risque, or vulgar coming a close second.
Buying underwear that is too big, the wrong colour, uncomfortable or just tasteless, were also a big let-down on Christmas day for many women.
The study prompted Aliza Reger, who runs the famous Reger brand, founded by her mother Janet, to spread a little Christmas cheer by coming to the aid of the novice knicker-buyer.
Aliza says: "Follow these rules, strike a balance between comfort and glamour and a man will be ticking all the right boxes. Get it wrong and it can be a real anticlimax."
REGER'S RULES
1. Size is important: You have to get to grips with your partners size before you can think about anything else. Find the size of both her bra and knickers by discreetly taking a peek in her underwear drawer and checking in the labels of sets you know she wears.
Alice Cottingham from Debenhams added: "We have lost count of the number of times a man will come to the lingerie department, hold their hands in a cup shape and say, "about this size". It happens very frequently and yet it's so easy to find out a women's size by looking at the bra label."
2. Total recall: Think back to the lingerie she wears for special occasions, what does she wear just for you and what lingerie does she love to wear for herself? What style of knickers? What type of bra, lower cut, smooth, higher cut?
3. Chuck out the Chintz? What are her tastes? Does she wear bold colours, pastels, floral or modern geometric prints? Does she like sophisticated and luxury fabrics or prefer frills and pretty details?
4. Original Sin: Don't try being original by purchasing something you have never seen her wear , such as fishnet lingerie, cut out underwear, a half-cup bra, see-through knickers, or a shocking pink set if she only ever wears black.
5. Think before you Thong: Thongs are a big turn off among many women with latest industry figures showing fewer than one in ten knicker sales are thongs. Lacy knicker can be wonderfully sexy and shows just enough cheek.
6. Forget Festive Fantasies: Don't buy lingerie if it is your fantasy and it's not something you have mentioned before. She has to like it to wear it. That "Miss Sexy Santa set" complete with flashing garter and thigh high plastic boots may look good in the catalogue, but may well be your ticket to the single bed in the spare room.
7. Get Touchy Feely: Feel the fabric on the inside of any lingerie you are thinking of buying. If it feels rough to the touch then it is unlikely to be comfortable to wear. Check for raised seams or spikey, hard lace that would be uncomfortable against the skin. It is difficult to feel sexy when you are wearing something that rubs and chafes the skin.
