Who's Proposing?

If you hadn't noticed it already, 2012 is a leap year. An additional day to add to the diary, for flirty acts and dirty deeds and it occurs only once in every 4 years!

Perhaps you have a multitude of exciting and tantalising activities planned for your extra day, to make the most of this Olympic year, however does one of them include proposing to your lover?

February 29^th has, for a great many centuries, been the day women can propose to men. Not necessarily a partner or lover, it can be any man, looking at tradition.

In the 21^st century, it is not uncommon for women to propose every day of the year, to a lover or a stranger. It is no longer frowned upon in society and rather refreshing in some relationships.

However February 29^th remains a tradition for many, a day set aside for this event that certain women await fours years for, and fastidiously plan again and again. And we here at Playful Promises are keen to know how many of you have been scheming a proposition for the past four years?

The tradition is rumoured to date back to the 5^th century AD. St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick about women having to wait for too long for a man to propose. Still the case! According to legend, St. Patrick said the yearning females could propose on this one day in February during the leap year, and it would come round only every four years.

 

St Patrick and St Bridget looking rather dashing

The first documentation of this rare and odd practice dates back to 1288 AD, when Scotland supposedly passed a law that allowed women to propose marriage to the man of their choice in that year. Tradition states they also made it the law that any man who declined a proposal in a leap year must pay a fine. The fine could range from a kiss to payment for a silk dress or a pair of gloves.
I think this law should come back into fashion, I'm in need a new silk negligee and matching gown.

So if this leap year your plans involve a proposal, we have some flirty lingerie to make that moment even more memorable and will hopefully cinch the deal with your loved one!

Dear Lady Unmentionable...

Why do my boyfriends shy away from buying me lingerie?

I love lingerie, and I enjoy wearing lingerie for bedroom partners, however I have never received lingerie from any men in my life no matter how many hints I drop.

What can I do?

From

LackingLingerie, 24 from London

Dear LackingLingerie,

Thank you for a very worthwhile topic.

Why do blokes shy away from lingerie gifts, lingerie shops and lingerie shopping?

Although I myself regularly receive lingerie gifts from gentlemen, this is a question that pops up among friends.

In the past I have heard such excuses such as;

“I don’t want anyone I know to see me in the shop…”

“The boutique girls thought I was a pervert…”

“I don’t know your size, I’d just get it wrong and you’d hate me for it.”

However, these excuses are petty and these, in my mind, are simply men with their tails between their legs running away from responsibility.

So what if your friends or colleagues see you in a lingerie shop, clearly they are also in there doing the same thing. Surely a real man isn’t shy to admit he can confidently walk into a lingerie store and browse to buy something nice for a girl? And would this not prove to friends that he has a rather successful sex-life. I would be bragging about this to my macho male mates.

Lingerie boutique girls are happy to help any gentleman who is looking to purchase something whether as a gift for a girlfriend, something for themselves or even if it’s for other reasons… Lingerie shop girls have seen it all and there is nothing to be shy about buying lingerie for a girlfriend.

Remember that store assistants are trained to help with sizing and are likely to help you with sizing problems as well as picking out popular styles, matching accessories and even showing you how to wear pieces.

The sizing issue is most likely the best excuse. However, most stores have a 14-28 day exchange policy. So even if the guy doesn’t have a clue of your bra size he can purchase a size and he or you can exchange it later. Lingerie stores also offer plenty of treats and goodies that do not require the mathematical genius of a bra size expert. Briefs, triangle bras, nightwear and gifting pieces, no excuse, just pick one.

With the popularity of online shopping, men can shop for lingerie in the comfort and serenity of their own home. No one will see them, no one will know, and lets be honest they’ve probably browsed for similar if not more exciting things on the net in the past. Men are able to buy lingerie online, get it sent to them and make it look like they’ve walked into a store…again they have no excuse.

Playful Promises often team up with voucher deals such as Living Social. So if the man is really too shy or too dim to buy lingerie he can buy gift vouchers and still get away with it.

LackingLingerie, I would say that the men you date love your playmate aspect but aren’t man enough to be your playmate! If they can’t buy lingerie, what else will they shy away from in later years?

And men…get off your backsides! When you don’t know what to buy a girlfriend for a birthday, anniversary, valentines day or any non-special days –THINK LINGERIE.