Glossary
Lingerie Glossary
Love to Buy Lingerie presents a rundown of all those tricky lingerie items, materials, and terms that might have confounded you in the past.
If you have an underwear question drop us a line on the contact form.
For Panties
See Briefs
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Adjustable Back
A bra (or garment) with more then one set of eyelets at the back for a flexible fit.
A practical thing.
B
Baby Doll
A garment, usually consisting of formed cups, with an attached, loose fitting skirt that falls anywhere half way done a ladies thigh.
Sexiness value: High to saucy.
Back Seams
Stockings or tights made with a seam running up the back.
Erotic to almost every man in the world.
Balconette/Balconet (Bra)
Sits across the chest in a straight line and serving up their delights rather like a tray or a balcony.
Bandeau (Slip/Strapless Slips/Bra-Slip)
This is a slip with a fitted top and is useful for wearing under strapless dresses.
Basque
Today it?s more of a torso-hugging camisole. In Victorian times it was worn as outerwear.
Bed Jacket
Just the thing for a lady who likes to lounge in bed and keep out the chill; short and usually made of silk.
Bias Slip
A slip where the fabric has been cut on the diagonal to flatter. Because of the closer fit the slip will move without binding or pulling.
Boa
Only for ironic stripper type hen night parties.
Bodice
The upper part of a dress or the bit of a garment that covers the breasts.
Useful for all your ?Bodice Ripping moment? needs.
Body stocking
A well fitting stocking that covers you from the neck or upper body down to the ankles or even the toes.
Somethings you like, somethings you leave to others.
Body Suit
Snug fitting one-piece garment similar to a leotard.
For those with a special shape.
Boning
Rigid supports sewn vertically into a corset or bustier that help maintain a slim, shapely figure for the wearer.
Are you sniggering?
Bra
You thought there was just one didn?t you? Here is our rundown of the different types. Some have their own entry in this glossary: Balconet/Balconnette, Bralet or Bralette, Bust Enhancers, Bust Minimizer, Bustier/Corset, Comfort Straps, Contour, Convertible (Backless and halter), Demi Cup, Front Closure, Full Cup/Full Coverage, Full Figure, Moulded/Seamless, Padded Bra, Plunge Bra, Push-Up, Raceback, Seamed/Cut-and-Sewn, Soft Cup Bra, Sports Bra, Strapless/Bandeau Bra.
Bralet or Bralette
Unlined and wireless. Most comfy.
Briefs
See Panties.
Brocade
Heavy embroidery.
Difficult to stoke through.
Bustier (aka Bustiere)
Looks like a Basque but is shorter and reaches down only to the ribs. It?s function is to push up the breasts by tightening the midriff.
Bust Minimizer Bra
A bra giving the appearance of a reduced cup size by squashing or lifting and redistributing.
C
Camisole
A short, top often offering no support for the breasts but can be worn under or over.
A flutter of shape fitting.
Chantilly Lace
Have you heard that song?
Charmeuse
A French word meaning a soft, smooth silk dress-fabric.
Chemise
Short under-dress or shirt.
Chiffon
A lightweight, sheer fabric weaved from tightly twisted crepe yarn. Originally made from silk but now can be any fiber. A delicate fabric that hangs well and more revealing than satin.
Choker
A snug fitting necklace.
When made of velvet highly erotic. Visit Manet?s painting ?Olympia? for this delightful detail.
Cleavage
Simply put it?s the ?cleft? or division between the breasts. Rather an old fashioned term. We prefer the ?valley of perks.? See D?colletage.
Contour Bra
Moulded and filled with fiber or foam and creates a rounder more symmetrical bust-line. Also eliminates nipple-show.
Convertible Bra
Usually with detachable straps and worn under a halter necked dress.
Cotton
How very sensible.
Corset
Restrictive, shape-making-excitement.
Corselet or Corselette
A Foundation garment which is a Brassiere and a girdle all in one.
D
D?colletage
The plunge in the neckline of a garment. A bit too? French.
See Cleavage.
Demi Cups
Demi cups (or half cups) have a lower line, which reveals more of the breast.
Is that good?
Denier
Denier is a unit used to measure the thickness of the fabric15 denier is almost transparent.
Now you know
Dot Net
Sheer net fabric covered in evenly spaced opaque dots.
Yes I know. You geek.
Dotted Swiss
Sheer material decorated with evenly spaced raised dots.
E
Eyelash Lace
Lace garment with strands at the edges that resemble eyelashes.
F
Faux Fur
Artificial fur.
Faux Leather
Imitation leather.
Fishnet
Coarse, open mesh fabric used in stockings or tights.
Use it wisely.
Flounce
A piece of material gathered and attached at one side, such as a large ruffle.
French Cut Bra
A sheer, full cup bra.
Often used as a blockade.
French Cut Knickers
Loose-fitting pants, often made of silk or lace.
French Net
Very coarse, six-sided open mesh fabric.
Fringe
Decorative thin strips or strings.
Fully Fashioned (Stockings)
Stockings woven by a machine to follow the shape of the foot and leg.
G
Garter
A decorated elastic leg band originally designed to hold up stockings and for clich? wedding moments.
Garter-Belt
American for a Suspender-Belt.
Georgette
A crepe weaved lengthways and crosswise from twisted silk or polyester yarn to create a delicate textured surface. Slightly more weight than chiffon and therefore slightly more coverage.
Girdle
Originally meant a belt. Old-fashioned shapewear.
G-String
A type of knickers consisting of a triangular patch of fabric connected with very thin, elastic straps.
Eliminates the VPL but rather exposing.
G-String Back
A type of thong but with a string up the back.
Yes that?s right a variation on a G-String.
Guipure
A type of lace.
Guepiere
A waist-cincher designed by Marcel Rochas but now more often used to describe bustiers or corset.
H
Half-Cup
See Demi-Cup.
Halter Neck
Wraps around the neck for support and, optionally, may be tied behind the neck (halter tie) or include a clasp (halter closure).
Halter Top
A short top held up at the neck usually exposing the shoulders and upper back.
Hold-up?s/Stay-up?s Stockings
A rubber grip inside the top helps prevent slippage down that silken thigh.
I
Iridescent
Fabric that changes colour or sparkles as it moves.
J
Jacquard
Fabric characterized by an intricate weave or pattern. Originally named after Frenchman Joseph-Marie Jacquard.
K
Knickers
See Briefs.
L
Leather
Some like it sweaty.
Long Line
A bustier that extends further down, usually to the hips.
Lycra
Mad made stretchy fabric, fit for cyclists and yoga-types.
M
Marabou
Soft, fluffy feather-like material.
Tickles?
Microfiber
Created with filament fibers it is spun out and therefore very thin. Silky and durable this material moulds to the body and looks super-smooth under clothing.
N
Negligee
Literally ?neglected.? Modern versions are looser and made of sheer materials as opposed to the more utilitarian versions before WWII.
Net
A knit or woven fabric with an open-mesh pattern of evenly spaced holes.
Nylons
Originally meant stockings (pantyhose). The first synthetic fabric produced around 1939 it became synonymous with stockings during WWII. A light feel and easier to care for than silk. Can be combined with spandex to make some interesting effects.
O
Opaque
You can?t see through it.
See sheer.
P
Padded Bras
Bra cups that contain padding.
Erm?
Pajama
Remember only silk will do. Comes from the Persian words ?pa? which means leg and ?jama? meaning a piece of clothing or garment.
Panties
See Knickers.
Pantyhose
American for stockings and tights.
Patent Leather
Real or synthetic leather with a smooth, shiny surface on one side.
Peek-a-boo Bra
A bra with a slit or other opening in the cups that partially exposes the beasts or nipples.
?Hello.?
Peignoir
A long outer garment usually sheer and made of chiffon.
Petticoat
Or underskirt worn to give the skirt or shirt a desired shape.
Plunge Bra
If I must.
Polyester
Made from petroleum. So it?s strong.
Princess Line
Visible seams, which resemble an hourglass shape for a figure-flattering look.
Push-up Bra
Designed to push the breasts up to create a more prominent cleavage.
Well you wouldn?t push them down would you?
PVC
Alright for some.
R
Rayon
Got it?s name because of its reflective quality. Shiny and comfortable.
Removable/Detachable Suspenders
Elastic straps which attach to stockings to hold them up but that can be removed if you don?t want to wear stockings.
Ribbed
Fabric with raised vertical ?ribs? usually made into form fitting designs.
What a daring word.
S
Satin
Can be made of silk or rayon, woven and with a glossy finish.
Have you ever played with satin gloves?
Scallop Edges
Shaped like a line of scallops.
Simple that one.
Seamless
Without seams.
Sequins
Small shiny discs used to reflect light and add interest to garments.
Think Strictly Come Dancing without the fabric.
Sheer
You can see through.
A good idea.
Shorties
See Briefs.
Silk
Luxurious, soft feel.
Please.
Silk Knit
Silk fabric that stretches and clings to the body.
Slip (Full/Half)
Quite old fashioned. Used to be worn under coarse fabrics to prevent chaffing.
Spandex/Lycra ? Spandex is the American generic term for fabric created from elastic thread, which helps a garment stretch for a better fit and extra comfort. Lycra is the most widely know brand of spandex.
For Gym Bunnies.
Stockings
Sigh.
Strapless
A garment without shoulder straps often with the same rubber strip as stockings to hold it in place.
Suspender-Belt
A piece of fabric that fits around the hips with suspenders attached to hold up stocking.
T
Taffeta
Can be made of silk, rayon, or nylon into a crisp, smooth, and plain-woven fabric.
Tanga
A thong and brief combination with slightly more coverage at the back.
Teddy
A one-piece garment with high cut legs and often a thong back.
Tights
Very handy.
Torsolette
Another name for a Basque.
Thong
A thin strip of material along the center of the garment?s back designed to sit between the wearer?s cheeks.
Triangle (Bra)
Triangle shaped cups of course. For pyramids? Never understood the why of these.
Tricot
Plain, close warp-knitted nylon fabric produced by a machine with the yarns running in a lengthwise direction.
T-shirt Bra
A plain, unusually smooth bra that gives an excellent shape under t-shirts or a t-shirt with pre-formed cups fitted.
U
Underwired Bra
A bra with a thin wire sewn into base of the cups for extra support.
V
Velvet
Fabric with a short, soft, dense pile noted for its plush feel.
Devine Diva Delight.
Venice Lace
Heavy lace with an open background, usually in floral leaf patterns.
W
Waspie
Also known as a Waist-Cincher or French Cinch; is a belt worn around the waist to make the waist look smaller.
Z
Zipper Front
Open things.
Love to Buy Lingerie Glossary
Laboured by Jim
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