Lingerie Definitions Glossary
Our Lingerie Glossary explains everything you need to know about Sexy lingerie but were afraid to ask.
Discover The Power of Lingerie And Seduction.
It has the power to make you feel attractive, confident, sexy and glamorous. Lingerie itself is beautiful to look at. The lace, the ribbons, the bows, the satin… it’s designed to look and feel sensual.
The word lingerie is a word taken directly from the French language, meaning undergarments, and used exclusively for more lightweight items of female undergarments. The French word in its original form derives from the old French word linge, meaning 'linen'. So faire le linge, comes to mean "do the laundry". In French, the word lingerie applies to all undergarments for either sex.
A babydoll is a short nightgown or negligee that often comes with matching panties. Babydolls usually compare in shape to today’s empire-waist style of shirt or dress. They consist of form-fitting cups, with loose-fitting fabric that falls somewhere between the hips and the belly button. This piece of lingerie is typically trimmed with lace, ruffles, bows, and ribbons, and is made of sheer fabric, like nylon, chiffon, or silk.
A bodystocking is true to its name: It is fitted hosiery that covers your entire body, from the shoulders to the feet. This lingerie is similar to a leotard or a catsuit. It can be worn underneath clothes during winter or more often than not as a sexy piece of lingerie. Because the bodystocking is usually made of a tight, sheer material (like nylon, lace or fishnet), it highlights all parts of the body, making it a perfect fit for any confident woman.
The bra, or brassiere, is a close-fitting piece of lingerie that is worn to help lift and support a woman’s breasts. While bras do serve a functional purpose, they also are usually one of the first pieces a woman gets when creating a collection of lingerie. Bras come in various sizes, fabrics, styles and colors made to serve each and every woman’s needs.
A push-up bra lifts the breasts to create cleavage. Push-up bras often come with padding, giving the illusion of a larger, fuller chest.
An underwire bra contains metal wires in the lower edges, giving extra, often-needed support for the bust. These bras are great for women who have C cups or larger.
The bustier is a bra that extends to the waist, providing additional support, control and sex appeal. Although it usually comes with straps, it is most often compared with the corset. Both are structured to give the torso a sensual, hourglass shape. Many wear bustiers under their clothes, while others wear them as a top with a pair of pants. They also look exceptional with garters and stockings.
A camisole, or cami, is a short, lingerie top, fitted around the bust, and ending at the waistline. Camisoles come in any kind of fabric from mesh and lace to silk or leather. Depending on how revealing the fabric, camis can be worn as outerwear or just peaking out of an open jacket or blouse. They’re great for wearing layers, or if you just want to wear them — as is — in the bedroom.
Charmeuse (pronounced shär-mōōs) is a lightweight, satin-finished silk, which is soft and drapes beautifully. It is perfect for lingerie, used in loose-fitting designs, like a babydoll or camisole. However, it’s important to treat it delicately because it can tear easily.
A chemise is a one-piece, shirt-like undergarment that is the same in shape as a straight-hanging sleeveless dress. It is similar to the babydoll, but it is fitted more closely around the hips.
The term “chemise” refers to a classic smock or shift: an undergarment in the European Middle Ages worn to protect clothing from sweat and body oils.
Let yourself be admired in an outfit that highlights your silhouette and contours your body. Designed to get attention, our club dresses are both attractive and snug. The seductive cleavages with a V shape, cowl or straight design, are chosen to flatter any type of bust and boost your confidence.
Corsets are boned and close-fitting lingerie that create structure and control. The corset emphasizes a woman's curvy figure by reducing the waist and exaggerating the bust and hips. Corsets begin either above or just below the bust and extend down to the waist or below the hips. They compare in shape to the bustier, but are often strapless.
The corset has quite a history in women’s fashion. It was first used in the 16th century, as a way of making the torso look more cylindrical by flattening the breasts and creating cleavage that would spill out over the top. Since then, the corset has changed in many ways to fit the style of the times. While some still wear them to create a slender shape, today’s corsets allow more breathing room and are mainly used to create a sexy outfit in the bedroom or as a top, used as outerwear with a pair of jeans.
Hosiery or stockings are close-fitting, elastic garments that cover the feet and legs. Hosiery comes in various styles including silk, nylon, and fishnet. Because the material is usually sheer, the legs are still visible, but appear silky, smooth and unblemished. Many women wear them with skirts or dresses, but hosiery can also add an extra touch of sex appeal when paired up with most lingerie garments, especially when paired with garter belts and leg garters.
Garter belts and leg garters are made to hold up hosiery. Often made of silk, lace, or even leather, garter belts are worn around the waist and have dangling straps that clip or snap onto stockings. This type of lingerie has a wide array of styles, ranging from cute and flirty to an exotic dominatrix look.
In the early 1900’s, before the invention of pantyhose (a combination of panties and stockings), garter belts were the only thing you could wear to hold up stockings. Now, they’re a great way to add excitement to any piece of lingerie. Add some shoes, and you have a whole outfit!
Panties are underwear that come in all shapes, fabrics and colors, allowing you to have lots of coverage or barely any coverage at all. From hiphugger or bikini panties to cotton or silk panties, these undergarments are made to fit and suit any version of the female body.
Boyshorts are a relatively new kind of underwear that continues to grow in popularity. They are tight and extremely short shorts that go beneath your clothes. Because they provide more coverage than bikini underwear, they tend to stay in place better and not bunch up. Some styles only have partial rear coverage, allowing part of the lower rear to show, while others have full coverage. Either style, however, does a great job of covering the hips and upper part of the thigh.
The G-string (sometimes known as the V-string) is about as close as you can get to wearing no panties at all: It’s essentially a skimpy thong. While the thong has minimal fabric in the back, the g-string has even less. True to its name, the g-string includes a single piece of string that attaches the front side to the back. G-strings help prevent panty lines and are even more erotic than the thong, adding some extra excitement to when your clothes come off at the end of the day.
A thong is a popular type of panty that is great if you want no visible panty lines and a smooth appearance through your clothes. This smooth look is possible because of the minimal amount of fabric in the back of the undergarment. The fabric creates a "v" shape at the waistband, and then gradually thins out by the time it reaches the crotch.
Crotchless panties are incredibly cheeky and are perfect for igniting a new fire in your sex life. They are a definite must when it comes to any women's sexy lingerie collection.
"crotchless". adjective. of clothing, without material in the crotch area.
A teddy combines the look of a camisole and panty into one mood-setting piece. It resembles the shape of a one-piece bathing suit because it is typically sleeveless, and sometimes even strapless. This style of lingerie is made with all sorts of materials — lace, leather, nylon or vinyl — and is made to accentuate the body.
Robe, is a garment worn to cover the body. A robe may be floor-length, knee-length, or shorter, and it is commonly worn over and as lingerie.
A man-made plastic material that has a wet look and is often used in fetish wear. Many manufacturers are now bonding the vinyl with a thin layer of knit fabric and some are even producing vinyl with a small amount of stretch.