Choosing Lingerie

Bras




For advice on bra styles and which bras are best under your outfits see our new Bra Styles advice page...


Buying the right bra when you have larger breasts can be difficult so read our handy guide for D+ women...


A brassiere (commonly referred to as a bra) is an article of clothing that covers, supports, and elevates the breasts. The bra is considered a foundation garment, as well as an undergarment, because of its role in shaping the wearer's figure.  It was originally developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to replace the corset, and has now become, in many parts of the world, the most popular form of undergarment for the upper body.

The bra may be worn to support and enhance breast shape during everyday activities and a specialized bra, the sports bra to support and restrain breasts during exercise.  The bra may also be worn to observe modesty or to present a certain image of femininity.  Bras are typically designed to lift the breasts into a particular position, for a more youthful look or for enhancing cleavage.

The backstrap (band) and cups should provide most of the support, rather than the shoulder straps.  When viewed from the side, the strap that runs around the body should be horizontal, should not ride up the back, and should be firm but comfortable.  The underwires at the front should lie flat against the rib cage (not the breast), along the infra-mammary fold, and should not dig in to the chest or the breasts, rub or poke out at the front.  The breasts should be enclosed by the cups and there should be a smooth line where the fabric at the top of the cup ends.  There should not be a ridge or any bulging over the top or sides of the cups, even with a low-cut style such as the balconette bra.

Padded bras are simply bras with padding inside the lining. They are 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. Push-up bras are structured so that the breasts are lifted to enhance cleavage. Many push-up bras contain padding, typically made of foam or rubber, but some contain gel filed pads or more recently air filled as these are lighter.  Another alternative is the balconette bra that is a half-cup style bra that provide push-up support, with wide-set straps and horizontal bust line.  They are often seamed or boned which gives great cleavage and a frame-like effect.

For a smoother look under sheer or tight-fitting fabrics try a T-shirt bra.  Because or their seamless and seamfree design there are no raised seams so the bra is not visible under tight fitting clothing. For the ultimate in flexibility try a multiway bra as these allow a variety of strap positions (or be completely removed like a strapless bra) to ensure the bra is not visible under a wide variety or tops and Dresses.  Prosthesis bras (otherwise known as Mastectomy bras) are designed so that a prosthesis may be held in place and are intended for individuals who have lost one or both breasts in mastectomy treatment for breast cancer.

Bridal Lingerie




No wedding (and more importantly the wedding night) is complete without a coordinated set of Lingerie in Ivory or light pink colours - not forgetting the odd bit of blue if your a traditionalist.

Whether you choose separates or a babydoll, corset or bustier ensure you both have a night to remember.

Briefs




Briefs come in a multitude of styles, shapes and colours and mostly it is down to personal preference which style you go for from the full coverage of the boyleg brief, to the less material of a short brief.  Next is the classic brief, lossing more material leaves the thong and ultimately the minimalism of the G-string.

Many reasons exist why women and chose to wear thong underwear.  Among them are:
1. Prevention of bulk underneath clothes and visible panty lines
2. No folds in the clothing, doesn't leave elastic marks on skin
3.Can prevent underwear from showing above pants
4. Takes up very little space in a drawer and easy to pack when traveling, easy to store, lightweight
5. Seems and feels more adult, less childish

But probably its fashion-consciousness, better designs are available, as thongs come in a lot of patterns/colours and are generally considered more sexy then the more classical or covering styles.

Bodies and Basques




A basque is an item of women's historical apparel.  The term, of French origin, can mean either a long corset or jacket characterised by a close, contoured fit and extending past the waistline over the hips.  In 20th century and contemporary attire, the term is used to refer to an article of lingerie, particularly a torso-hugging camisole that resembles a basque or corset (typically featuring decorative front or back lace-up detail), but of more delicate construction and offering little or no figure-shaping.













A bustier looks somewhat like a Basque, but a bustier is shorter. It reaches down only to the ribs or the waist and has a different function: its primary purpose is to push up the bust by tightening against the upper midriff and forcing the breasts to move up, while gently shaping the waist.  Basques and bustiers have also become a fashion item for the daring to wear as outerwear, to find these you will need to look in our evening tops department.

Bodies (or bodysuits) are usually skintight and form fitting but do not provide any form of body shaping.  Although this has changed recently with the emergence of shapewear.  Shapewear is worn to shape certain areas of the body or in some cases the entire body.  Unlike restrictive corsets, shapewear uses modern fabrics to gently contour your figure without the discomfort.

Lingerie Sets




Lingerie sets provide the ultimate in convenience and style ensuring you're always coordinated and prepared. After all who wants to get caught out without matching underwear for that special moment?



















Choosing lingerie sets is primarily decided by whether you want a shorty style, thong style or string style brief. Styles range from quite plain to very detailed and embellished in a wide variety of colours, although black with a coloured trim is the most popular style. Tie-side briefs add some sexyness, whilst satin and lace add sophistication.

Smaller busts benefit from underwired bras to support your breasts and padding to give that little extra help.

Something Sexy




A babydoll is a short, sleeveless, loose fitting nightgown or negligee intended as nightwear for women.  It usually consists of formed cups with an attached loose fitting skirt falling in length between the hips and the belly button.  The garment is often trimmed with lace, ruffles, appliques, Marabou fur, bows and ribbons, optionally with spaghetti straps and often made of sheer or translucent fabric like nylon or chiffon or silk.  The garment's hemline is usually about six inches above the knee.













It is said the name was popularized by the 1956 movie Baby Doll starring Carroll Baker in the title role, which essentially marked the beginning of the enduring popularity of the style into a highly eroticized item of adult sexy bedroom wear.  The legs are fully displayed and some styles emphasize or deliberately expose the breasts as well and often sold as a set with matching panties as a typical babydoll is short enough that underwear is visible if worn.

Suspenders enhance enhances sexual spontaneity and as more detail is involved, a perception of erotic intent is raised greatly over tights.  Bodystockings take this a stage further by extending the material to cover most of the body but revealing wnough to show almost everything that's underneath.

Stockings and Suspenders




Stockings are typically supported in one of three ways.  The most common way is to wear a suspender belt that goes around the waist and drops extensions that are clipped to the tops of the stockings.  The second most common means of support is via 'stay-up' technology (commonly known as Hold Ups, where the inside of the top of the stockings has added to it a band (typically silicone) of elastic but highly tractive material that resists slipping down the thigh.














The most convenient - and presently fashionable - way to wear stockings is to wear briefs over the stockings and garters. If the briefs are reasonably full, this pins the garters to the body, which makes it less obvious exactly what is being worn.

Choose from standard stockings or go for the currently fashionable patterned stockings and opaque stockings.

Tights




Tights are a type of fabric leg covering, usually extending from the waist to feet, and fitting as tightly as possible to the body (from which the name derives).  Tights have a long history as they were derived from those worn by men riding horseback and were called hose.


















In America the term 'pantyhose' usually refers to material of 40 denier or less whereas tights are made from thicker 40 denier+ materials.  Whereas in England the term tights refers to all styles and thicknesses of material.  Tights are made from silk, cotton or nylon

Choose from standard tights or go for the currently fashionable patterned tights and opaque tights.

Also try our nightwear advice page
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