Select shopping | Underneath it all

Whether it’s the last shopping day of Christmas, or something just to brighten up New Year, here are four lifesavers in the lingerie department to get 2012 off to a splendid start.

Lust
Lust first opened as a boutique dedicated to helping women explore their sexuality. Today the shop has three floors, and the toys, outfits and props become more daring as the customer descends. The first level contains books and gifts – some of which could appear on almost any coffee table – the second lingerie (mostly of the racy variety), and the third level battery-operated merchandise ranging in price from 300-1,300kr. The female staff are all prepared to answer questions and assist in finding the right products.

Mikkel Bryggers Gade 3, 1460 Cph K; open Mon-Thu 11:00-19:00, Fri 11:00-20:00, Sat 11:00-18:00; 3333 0110; www.lustuniverse.com

Agent Provocateur
This British brand of the stars started in 1994, offering a whole range of upscale lingerie, including classic silk pyjamas, sparkly heart-shaped pasties, corsets with zippers in unmentionable places, black silk leopard-print bed linen, garter belts and stockings in lux fabrics, and kimono-style robes in several lengths and shapes, which are popular winter accessories for those who lounge – all at prices ranging from 600-2,300kr.

Pilestræde 6, 1106 Cph K; open Mon-Thu 10:00-18:00, Fri 10:00-19:00, Sat 10:00-16:00; 3391 9931; www.agentprovocateur.com

Tekinoktay
Founded in 2003 by the visual artist Evan Tekinoktay, who applies her attention to detail and craftsmanship to all her selections (and the posters and graphics), the shop has a charming old-but-new aesthetic – an atmosphere that combines boudoir lighting with 1970s colour palettes and old-school Berlin cool. The full disclosure is that I would buy every piece of lingerie here for myself if I could afford it. The stock of sweet nothings that the shop carries has each received personal attention and the prices of the bras, tops, jewellery and sets reflect that care.

Silkegade 13, 1113 Cph K; open Mon-Tue 11:00-18:00, Fri 11:00-19:00, Sat 10:00-16:00; 3391 6011; see Facebook

Bedtime.dk
Bedtime, previously a shop on Fiolstræde aimed at couples in their 30s-50s looking for a discrete shopping experience away from Vesterbro, changed hands in February to go exclusively online. Products range from lingerie and oils, to toys and DVDs, from the relatively light to the quite explicit. While online, the staff of Bedtime are available for questions by phone or email with responses guaranteed within 24 hours.

Puggaardsgade 3 cellar, 1573 Cph V; 2281 2011; www.bedtime.dk