Lingerie Terms

Babydoll

A babydoll is a short nightgown or negligee intended as nightwear for women. The garment is often trimmed with lace, ruffles, fur, bows and ribbons, optionally with spaghetti straps. Sometimes it is made of sheer or translucent fabric like nylon or chiffon or silk. The garment's hemline is usually well above the knee like a minidress and may have a scoop-neck.

 

Bikini

Bikini is a term used for a type of undergarment worn by both men and women that is revealing of nature.

For women a bikini can refer to virtually any tight, skimpy, or revealing undergarment that provides less coverage to the midsection that traditional underwear panties or knickers.

 

Bodystocking

A bodystocking is an article of lingerie , similar to a leotard or a catsuit. It usually has long legs, but it may have long, short, or no sleeves. It is usually made from a sheer fabric similar to those used for stockings and tights , or from fishnet material. Some people consider bodystockings to be an erotic garment.

 

Bodysuit

A bodysuit , is a leotard -like undergarment, sometimes used to provide support and shaping, sometimes simply as a top that cannot become untucked from one's trousers or skirt. It is usually skintight or formfitting. They can have long or short sleeves and be made like a tank top . Bodysuits are for both females and males. Unlike a leotard, a bodysuit also has snaps at the crotch .

 

Bra/ Brassiere

A brassiere (commonly referred to as a bra ) is an article of clothing that covers and elevates the breasts . As well as being an undergarment , the bra is also considered to be a foundation garment , because of its role in shaping a woman's figure. Originally developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and replacing the corset, the bra has become in many parts of the world the most popular form of underwear for the upper body, although camisoles and chemises are now increasingly challenging this.

 

Built-in bras

Built-in bras are a supportive brassiere-like structure on the inside of another garment, such as a swimsuit or tank top , which provides support for the bust without the need for a separate bra. In most such garments, these consist of a horizontal elasticated fabric strip, although some do have cups and underwires as with other bra types.

 

Bustier

A bustier is an article of clothing for women, which is form-fitting and is traditionally worn as lingerie . Some people wear it as an outer garment . Bustiers can slim the wearer's waist , while enhancing the bust . Bustiers often have detachable garter straps for holding up stockings.

 

Camisole

A cami or camisole is a woman 's undergarment which covers the top part of the body. It is sleeveless and tight fitting in contrast to a loose-fitting babydoll or chemise . The materials of choice in which they are manufactured are satin or silk , or stretch materials such as lycra , nylon , or spandex .

A camisole can be worn over a bra or without one. Some camisoles come with a built-in underwire bra which eliminates the need for a bra among those who prefer one. In modern times, the camisole has been transformed from simply being an undergarment to outerwear, with the fabric changing more into cotton based materials.

 

Catsuit

A catsuit is a skin-tight one-piece garment with sleeves and long legs, and sometimes with feet or gloves, sometimes with a hood. It usually has a zip closure in the front or back, but other necklines are possible. It is usually made of leather , rubber/latex , polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or velour as well as the more normal spandex .

 

Chemise

See babydoll

 

Club wear

Club wear is a general term for the type of provocative, revealing, or fetish clothing that is worn to night clubs featuring a sensual atmosphere with a very relaxed dress code .

 

Convertible bras

Convertible bras have straps which may be detached and rearranged in different ways depending on the outfit. Alternatives to regular straps for strapless bras are beaded bra straps or clear plastic bra straps that provide support and style.

 

Corset

A corset is traditionally a garment worn to mold and shape the torso into a desired shape for aesthetic or medical purposes (either for the duration of wearing it, or with a more lasting effect).

Both men and women have worn - and still wear - corsets.

Many garments sold as "corsets" during recent years are not technically corsets in the traditional sense. While modern "corsets" and "corset tops" often feature lacing and/or boning and generally mimic a historical style of corsets, they have very little if any effect on the shape of the wearer's body.

 

Corselette

An undergarment that is a combination of a light corset and a brassiere, often without boning and similar to a camisole. It may or may not have underwired cups.

 

Costume

The term costume can refer to a particular style of clothing worn to portray the wearer as a character or type of character other than their regular persona at a social event such as a masquerade or a fancy dress party . Halloween costumes are a favourite.

 

Crotchless panties

Underwear with openings, that are meant simply to display the genitals.

 

Fishnet (stockings)

Fishnet is a material with an open, diamond shaped knit. It is most often used as a material for stockings , tights or bodystockings . Fishnet is worn on the legs and arms by practitioners of Goth and Punk fashion, but is also commonly worn in mainstream with sexy lingerie.

 

Fetish clothing

Fetish clothing includes any type of clothing and clothing material which is commonly fetishzed . It is possible for almost any item of clothing to be the subject of a fetish. Commonly fetishized types of clothing include underwear and skin-tight clothing.

Commonly fetishized materials include leather , fur , satin , rubber , spandex , fishnet and fabrics made from plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC, vinyl), polyurethane (PU) and polyamide .

The uniforms associated with certain occupations are frequently fetishized; for example, nurse , maid , schoolgirl , law enforcement officer and military officer .

Common items of fetish clothing include catsuits , corsets , gloves , thigh-high boots and stockings , collars , bondage masks and hoods, and leather body harnesses . Many elements from fetish clothing have been adopted by mainstream fashion designers.

 

Foundation Garment

A foundation garment is an undergarment designed to change the wearer's shape, producing a more fashionable figure. Foundation garments are also referred to as shapewear .

 

Full figured / fuller figured

See Plus Size

 

Full support bras

Full support bras are a type of bra designed to offer good support for the whole of the breasts and, as such, are a typical, practical bra for everyday wear. Popular with plus size woman.

 

Garter Belts

Garter belt (also known as a suspender belt) is worn around the waist or hips directly against your skin. The silky or fishnet stockings are attached to the garter belt from four to eight dangling straps with clips. These straps are called garters.

 

Girdle

The girdle can be worn by both men and women. Most girdles extend from the waist to the thighs. They are constructed of elasticized fabric and sometimes fastened with hook and eye closures, the modern girdle is designed to shape and smooth a woman 's figure, thereby producing a more aesthetically pleasing and attractive silhouette .

 

Gothic

Gothic fashion is a dark, sometimes morbid, eroticized fashion and style of dress . Typical gothic fashion for women includes gowns, corsets, veils, teased hair , eyeliner, black fingernails and fishnets . Popular colours are black, blood red and dark purple.

 

G-string / gsting

A G-string or thong is a narrow piece of cloth or even leather that passes between the legs, usually between the buttocks, and is attached to a band around the hips , worn as a bikini bottom or as underwear by both men and women. The two terms, g-string and thong are often used interchangeably however, the primary difference between the two garments is that a g-string has less material around the waist band and between the buttocks hence, a "string" like appearance.

 

Hook and Eye (hook n eye) Closure

A closure or fastener used to secure bras, corsets, some shape wear and other garments. The fastener includes a small hook secured to one side of the garment that grasps a small loop (the eye) secured to the other side.

 

Leather

Animal hide or skins used in the making of lingerie, most commonly fetish lingerie, but also present in many sexy lingerie styles.

 

Mastectomy bras

Mastectomy bras are designed so that a prosthesis may be held in place and are intended for women who have lost one or both breasts in mastectomy treatment for breast cancer .

 

Maternity bras

Maternity bras are slightly different from nursing bras, though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Maternity bras are designed such that they can be expanded to adjust as the breasts increase in size over the course of a pregnancy.

 

Minimizer bras

Minimizer bras are designed to de-emphasize the bust, in particular of large-breasted women (34 C or above). Minimizers, by compressing and shaping the breasts, help to create the illusion of being a cup size or two smaller.

 

Negligee

The negligee is a form of womenswear intended for wear at night and in the bedroom. It is a form of nightgown / sleepwear.

 

Nightgown / Nightwear / Nighty

Nightwear , also called sleepwear, nightclothes, nightdress or nighties is clothing designed to be worn while sleeping .

 

Novelty Bra

Novelty bras designed more for show, and sensuality than function. Include unusual materials, such as leather, or design such as Peephole / Peek a boo bras, which have cups which loosely cover the breasts, but include holes around the nipples.

 

Nursing bras

These bras are designed to help make breastfeeding simpler by allowing for easy access to the nipple . Traditionally, nursing bras are made with flaps of fabric over the cup which can be unclasped and pulled down to access the breast. Even with the flap pulled down, the cup of the bra supports the breast.

There are also no-flap versions made of stretchable fabric which can pulled to the side at feeding time.

 

Open bust

A type of lingerie like a teddie or bra with no coverage over the bust are, designed for show rather than functionality.

 

Padded bras

They are simply bras with padding added inside the lining. Designed to provide a fuller shape for small breasts. Unlike push-up bras, however, most padded bras support the breasts but do not significantly lift them.

 

Panty

A general term for women's underwear. Panties come in a variety of styles.

 

Peek-a-boo bra

Peek a boo bras are a form of novelty bras, designed for show rather than functionality. They have cups which loosely cover the breasts and features holes around the nipples.

 

Plus size

A plus-size clothing include garments from dress size 14 or higher in North American sizing, 14 or higher in Australian sizing, and 16 or higher in UK sizing.

 

PU material

A leather like fabric used in the making of lingerie.

 

Push Up Bra

Push-up bras are structured so that the breasts are lifted and the cleavage emphasized. The best known brand of push-up bra is the Wonderbra. Many push-up bras contain padding, typically made of foam or rubber, but some contain pads filled with water, an oil/water mixture, or gel.

 

PVC material

Polyvinyl chloride is commonly abbreviated as PVC. A leather like fabric used in the making of lingerie.

 

Robe

A robe is a loose-fitting outer garment designed to be worn over other lingerie or sleepwear. I t usually has sleeves .

 

Shape wear/ shapewear

See foundation garment.

 

Shelf Bra

An underwired bra that pushes up without actually covering any, or only a thin strip of the breast.

 

Sheer

The term sheer refers to semi- transparent, see through and flimsy cloth.

 

Sleepwear

Pajamas or pyjamas (often PJs or jammies ) are a form of nightwear . Pajamas are usually two-piece garments but may be one-piece garments . Pajamas are usually loose fitting and designed for comfort, using softer materials such as cotton or the more luxurious silk or satin.

 

Sports Bra

Sports or jogging bras, are worn by women during exercise. They are more sturdy in their construction than regular bras, and offer greater support for the chest, thus increasing comfort and reducing the chance of damage to the ligaments of the chest during high-impact exercises such as jogging.

 

Stockings

A stocking is a close-fitting, variously elastic garment covering the foot and lower part of the leg , but usually not intended to conceal the leg.

 

Strapless bra

A bra with no shoulder straps, designed for wearing with clothes that reveal the shoulders, such as halterneck tops. Popular with wedding dresses.

 

Suspender belt

See garter belt

 

Swimwear

A swimsuit (also swimmers ), bathing suit (also bathers ), swimming costume (sometimes shortened to cozzie ) is an item of clothing designed to be worn for swimming . In New Zealand English and some areas of Australian English , swimsuits are usually called togs .

Swimsuits can be skin-tight or loosely fitting and range from garments designed to preserve as much modesty as possible to garments designed to reveal as much of the body as possible without actual nudity . They are often lined with a fabric that prevents them from becoming transparent when wet. Women's swimsuits are generally either one-piece swimsuits , bikinis or thongs.

 

Tank Top

A tank top is a sleeveless shirt -like garment that can be worn by either sex. It is often worn under the shirt as an underwear, though more colourful and well-designed tanks are usually worn as a outerwear. The term singlet is more common in Australia .

 

Teddy / Teddie

A teddy is a form of bodysuit -like lingerie . Unlike a bodysuit, it is typically looser and more sheer, and may be designed to slip off from the shoulders, rather than to open at the crotch.

 

Thong

See g-string

 

Training bras

Training bras are designed for girls who have begun to develop breasts but have yet to develop enough to allow for a standard sized bra to fit properly. They are of simple construction and offer little, if any, support.

 

T-shirt bra

A bra designed without raised seams, so that a tight t-shirt may be worn underneath without the bra being visible.

 

Please Contact Us if you cannot find what you are looking for. We will gladly add it to our dictionary.