Lingerie styles and definitions

In order to know what style of lingerie will fit your body, and personality type best, you first need to know what styles are out there, and what that means to you.

Bra

Full name for a bra is a brassiere. A bra is a foundation, or undergarment worn by women to support their breasts.

Adhesive bra adhesive bras are bra cups with surgical-quality re-usable adhesive that can be peeled off and worn several times. They give support, and shape, and hide your nipples under sheer clothing. Some even come with significant silicone to give additional depth to your breasts. When you find yourself wanting to wear an outfit and no bra seems to work, an adhesive bra can come to the rescue.
Backless bra style of bra that will either be fastened low on back, or will have no back at all, in the case of a self adhesive bra such as the NuBra.
Balconette bra style of bra that is designed to create cleavage with or without added padding. Features wide set straps, and are cut with a half-cup, with the top line of the bra running in an almost straight across line. Often confused with a demi-cup bra, which has a similar shape, but a balconette cut has a more shallow cup.
Bralette unlined wireless bra that usually pulls over your head. It is more of a leisure bra or a bra for a woman not wanting much support. This bra style is best for small-breasted women or for some support while sleeping in the case of sleepwear with shelf bras.
Bra hook extenders these are hook and eye closures that are sold separately and are designed to attach to your bra to extend the length of the band size. They have multiple rows and columns of hook and eye sets. To use, simply hook one end to the end part of your bra band and adjust accordingly.
Contour bra contour bra is another name for a t-shirt bra. The cups are seamless, molded and shaped to prevent nipple show-through. Contour bras are similar to a molded bra, except molded bras generally do not have any cup padding.
Cookies cookies are oval shaped, removable demi pads that are generally used in push-up bras, and designed to create dramatic, yet adjustable enhancement.
Convertible bra bra that can change from a traditional straight strap, to a halter, or criss-cross bra. Allowing you to wear the bra with multiple styles of tops.
Cupless bra bra style that does not have any supportive cups. Features a frame, and typically traditional back closures.
Darted seam cup bra bra cups each have a single seam starting from bottom of the cup straight up to the center of the cup. This construction is usually found on full figure or full cup bras for a rounder silhouette, comfort and greater support.
Demi cup bra designed at an angle, to expose more of the breast area, pushes underarm breast tissue into the bra cup for a more full chest. Often this style of bra is made with removable padding, for enhanced cleavage line.
Encapsulation this word is primarily used in defining the construction of a sports bra. If a sports bra has encapsulation design, the bra cup construction surrounds the breast for support while giving the breast a shape, as opposed to the uni-boob look most sports bras give you.
Front closure bra front closure bras are bras with a closure in the front that makes them easy to put on and take off. Front closure bras can be limiting since they have only one non-adjusting clasp at the center front. The center front clasp is not as strong or as supportive as a bra with a center panel. Consequently, the bra cups can shift around thus reducing support in fuller cups. These bras are best designed for women with petite to average bust size.
Front-fastening bra bra style that features a closure in the front of the bra, rather than a traditional back closure. Great for smooth form fitting shirts. Typically seen in racerback bras, due to the design.
Full cup bra full cup bras covers the entire breast and are designed to give more support. The full cup bra is linked to ladies with larger cups as it helps to keep the shape and fullness of the breast plus it can help stop back pain as it offers extra support.
Full coverage bra bra style that covers the entire breast. Offers maximum support, while creating keep shape of breasts. Great style for women with fuller breast.
Half cup bras half-cup bras give three quarters of coverage of the breasts, which gives a sexy look and feel. You’ll look great in the half cup style, while still maintaining great support. These bras are ideal for women who are looking for a bra that will help to give the look of more cleavage. Half cup bras are ideal to wear with any low front cut tops and dresses.
Halter bra bra style, or a feature of a convertible bra, that allows for the straps that support the cups of the bra to be held up with a strap that goes around the back of the neck. Typically the bra is made with demi cups.
Molded molded bras have cups that are pre-shaped and designed to mirror the natural shape of the breasts, for a better fit and comfort. Molded bras are generally unlined and may be either soft cup or underwire.
Minimizing bra bra style that is made to suppress the size of full breasts. Spreads breast tissue through out the bra area, rather than focusing on pushing the tissue towards the front of the cups. Great option for full breasted ladies, that are having a hard time with tugging and pulling of their blouses.
Moisture wicking moisture wicking fabrics draw moisture away from the skin. This is a great feature that is common in a sports bra, and athletic underwear.
Padded bra typically made in a demi cup, the bra cups are lined with fiber-fill to enhance the size and shape of breasts. Great for ladies with a petite bra cup, especially in a smooth cup bra. Such as The Little Bra Company Yvonne. http://www.aveclamour.com/designer/The_Little_Bra_Company/Yvonne/Smooth_Push-Up_Molded_Cup_Bra/)
Plunge bra bra style that features a deep v shape in the front of the bra. Designed to show the most amount of cleavage possible, especially when combined with a push-up. Typically bra cups are demi shape. For a great Push-up plunge bra look at The Little Bra Company Lucia. (http://www.aveclamour.com/category/Bras/The_Little_Bra_Company/Lucia/Deep_Plunge_Push-Up_Lace_Bra/)
Push-up bra designed to support and elevate, and push breast closer together to create cleavage. Biggest difference between push-up bra, and padded bra is that the push-up bra also draws breast together rather than just making them appear fuller.
Racerback bra bra that is designed with straps that come in a v shape on the back, and closer to the neck, than traditional bra straps. Great for shirts that come in off the shoulders.
Rigid straps non-stretch straps which are generally adjustable. Rigid straps offer more support than stretch straps. Rigid straps are an important feature for Full Figure silhouettes. Some bras have rigid in front straps, and stretch adjustable straps in the back for additional, adjustable comfort.
Seamless bra with cups that have been molded into a permanent shape and fit. This bra gives a smooth and almost transparent look under clothing. They look perfect under revealing and tight-fitting tops.
Sports/Athletic bra bras that provide maximum support for during exercise. Typically made of wicking materials, to keep sweat away from body during times of high exertion.
Strapless bra bra that is designed without, or with detachable shoulder staps. Typically featuring a balconette shape bra cup, the bra band can be made with or without silicon to hold up the bra around the chest.
T-shirt brabra style that does not have front seams on the cup of the bra. Typically made with a contour, or lined cup to minimize the appearance of nipples under a form-fitting garment.
Triangle bra fabric that covers the breasts is cut in a triangular shape, thus the name, triangle bra. The triangle bra is not usually underwired although some designers may use wires. Unlike most bras that have a central piece of material that attaches all pieces to the chest strap, the triangle bra doesn’t have this. These are typically worn as weekend bras, or for more comfortable wear.
U-Back bra unlike the conventional rectangle shape in the back, the U-shape prevents the straps from sliding or falling off the shoulders. This style is particularly good for fuller figures and full cup women who need the additional support, or ladies with rounded shoulders that tend to have problems with bra straps falling down.
Underwired bra bras that have a “wire” under the cup for maximum support. The wire can be made of plastic, or metal.
Wireless/Softcup bra) bras that are made without the use of underwire in the bra cups. Supported by chest band, and shoulder straps only. Most commonly used for casual light support, and for a more petite cup.

Underwear

Undergarment, or foundation that is worn next to the skin for protection, and hygiene.

Panties typically have an elastic waistband, and a more moderate cut leg opening. Also used as a way to describe ladies/girls underwear.
- Brief traditional rise panty that offers full coverage in the rear.
- Garter Panty usually a brief that contains garter straps or garter clips to hold up stockings without need for a garterbelt, girdle or corset.
- Hi-Cut Brief moderate to full coverage panty with a very hi-cut leg. This particular panty is great for women who are looking to cover up a belly.
Thong a garment that can be worn by both men and women alike, as swimwear, or underwear. Has a more bikini like appearance from the front of the garment, with a small thin strip of material in the back of the garment, running from the crotch to the top of the waistband.
- G-String thong thong style that typically offers minimal coverage on the front of garment, with a elastic strap that connects the crotch to the top of the waistband. Also known as a Rio thong.
- T-Back thong thong that makes a T-shape in the back of the garment. Similar in style in design to the g-string thong, but made the straps are made from fabrics, rather than elastic.
- V-String thong essentially a g-string thong, which has an open triangle at the back of thong. Defined as a thong that has a small strip of fabric, or elastic running from front pouch to waist strap, that has sides that split.
- C-String thong the smallest of the thong category. Features no side straps, only a front pouch, and a curved frame to go along the backside. Held up by the ridged eternal framework design.
Bikini underwear smaller style than the traditional panty cut. Bikini panties have a higher leg opening, and are worn bellow the waist.
- String Bikini bikini with thin string sides. Offers comfortable, minimal to moderate coverage and are seamless, making them virtually disappear under medium to heavy fabrics.
Hipster underwear underwear that can be made in a thong, or panty design. Type of underwear that sits well bellow the natural waist, with waistband sitting on hips. Can also be called low-rise underwear.
Boyshorts underwear that can be either a thong, or panty design. The boyshort cut are underwear that covers all the way down the hip area. The boyshort underwear can also be known as: boy shorts, cheeky panties, tap pants, bootie shorts, hotpants, or boyleg briefs.
- Boyleg briefs styled after men's briefs and may have short legs extending below the crotch. They offer full coverage in the front and rear and are the best choice to wear under jeans and skirts.
Seamless Underwear seamless underwear eliminates side seams for an absolutely smooth look under form-fitting clothing. Seamless underpants come in all the popular underwear styles - thong, bikini, hi-cut thong, hi-cut bikini, briefs and the boy shorts.
Tap Pant a panty styled like short shorts with a small flair at the hem. Frequently sold with coordinating bra or camisole. Also called a coulotte.

Lingerie

Lingerie, Intimate undergarments worn by women such as underwear, bras, and sleepwear.

Babydoll a babydoll is similar in style to a chemise, in that both garments are typically short, sleeveless, and worn as nightwear or lingerie. However traditionally a babydoll is less form fitting in the hips, and rear than a chemise. However, this is not always true.
Boxer Shorts boxer shorts are loose fitting shorts. Worn traditionally by men, have been adopted by women as sleepwear.
Bustier a bustier is used interchangeable with corset in the lingerie industry, the only difference being that a bustier may or may not have boning in the garments structure, and a bustier is shorter in length than a corset, ending at the waist. Both garments will accentuate a woman’s hourglass figure, and push-up the breasts.
Camisole a camisole or cami is a sleeveless, lightweight woman’s top. Similar in cut to a tank top, although typically much lighter weight fabric is used, including lace, mesh, nylon, silk, etc. Camisoles typically have spaghetti or thin straps. A cami can be worn with or instead of a bra, some camisoles even have a bra shelf sewn into them.
Crop Top a no-wire bra that is a cross between a camisole and a bra.
Shelf bra camisole shelf bra camisoles are camisoles that have a built-in wireless shelf bra, which is an extra piece of fabric with an elastic underband that is built into a garment and provides light support to the breasts.
Chemise a chemise is a short, sleeveless loose fitting style dress, traditionally. However, designers use the term “chemise” loosely, and chemises can vary in length, and fit.
Corset a corset is a garment made to shape or accentuate a woman’s torso into an hourglass shape. The corset runs from a woman’s bust to her hips, and typically has boning to keep the shape of the garment rigid. Can be used as a push-up bra. Typically a corset is fastened with either laces, or eye and hook closures.
Garter Belt/Garters a garter belt is an undergarment that is worn around the waist, with four straps that run down the legs to attach to stockings. The four straps are known as the garters. Garter belts have also been called suspender belts.
Gusset Closure the hook-and-eye or snap closure found on the crotch. Usually seen on body briefers, teddies, or body suits.
Keyhole this is a design feature that is a small oval cut out in the fabric of a garment.
Kimono a wide-sleeved robe with a belt. Inspired by traditional Japanese costume.
Long Leg a type of shapewear with a brief top and half legs that give support and control down the thighs. Usually a "leg gripper" is sewn along the leg ends to keep the leg of the garment from curling up.
Loungewear loungewear is clothing that is made for relaxing, designed to be comfortable.
Negligee a French expression to identify a woman's feminine night gown; especially one that is lace-trimmed.
Nightgown a loose dress worn to bed by women. Also called a night-dress or nightie. Typically nightgowns are made of silk, polyester, or cotton.
Peignoir a very feminine robe that is French and derived from "to comb" because this was the dressing robe women would wear while they combed their hair at night.
Peignoir Set a peignoir set includes a robe and a matching nightgown.
Teddy a teddy is the lingerie version of a bodysuit. A teddy is a camisole and panty combined. Teddy’s can be loose or tight fitting. May have a bra bodice with adjustable straps, or no structure to the bodice at all. Teddies can have a full back, shorts, or thong back.
Tee Shirt a tee shirt or t-shirt is a close fitting garment that is pulled overhead, and typically runs from shoulders to just above the hips.
Yoga Pants yoga pants are soft full length or Capri pants that have a more tailored shape than traditional pajama pants, and typically have a very small amount of elasticity, to hold the garments shape. They can have a drawstring, fold over, or elastic waist.