GLOSSARY OF LINGERIE TERMS

Applique - an item sewn on for decorative reasons.

Babydoll - a short nightgown or negligee intended as nightwear for a female. The garment is often trimmed with lace, ruffles, bows and ribbons, optionally with spaghetti straps. Sometimes it is made of sheer or translucent fabric like nylon or chiffon or silk.

Bandeau - a lightweight and brassiere-like band or tube top.

Boy Shorts - a woman's panty style similar in shape to boy's underwear (but not quite so innocent!)

Bralette – an unlined, soft cup bra, which resembles a crop top. Bralettes lack the usual support features of a real bra.

Bustier – a highly structured garment which extends from bust to hip. Most bustiers have flexible boning throughout the body of the garment for additional shaping, and close in the back with a long row of hooks and eyes. Additional features may include removable or convertible straps or garters.

Charmeuse - an opaque (i.e., not see through), shiny fabric. Synonym for satin.

Chemise - Short under dress or slip.

Corset – a highly structured, form fitted support garment that extends from the bust to the hip. Most corsets have lace up details, flexible boning throughout the body of the garment for additional shaping, and close in the back with a long row of hooks and eyes.

Crotchless - A convenient slit or opening in the fabric covering the crotch area.

Demi – A demi cup bra offers the perfect amount of ‘barely there’ coverage for petite to average figure women. Demi bras cover the nipple and approximately half to ¾ of the breast.

Dot Net - sheer net fabric decorated with evenly spaced opaque dots.

Garter - a band worn around the leg to hold up a stock or stocking.

Gingham - a clothing fabric with a checked pattern.

G-String - a panty with a small front area connected with thin, elastic string in back and around the waist leaving the buttocks exposed.

Halter Top - a type of sleeveless shirt or blouse that has one strap around the back of the neck instead of two over the shoulders, which would be a tank top.

Microfiber - an extremely fine synthetic fiber usually woven into soft, light weight, washable, breathable fabrics.

Opaque - not see-through.

Padded Cups - cups that contain padding, sometimes removable, for those with smaller breasts that might not otherwise fill out the cups.

Peek-a-boo Cups - cups with a slit or other opening that partially exposes the breasts or nipples.

Ruched - the process in which a fabric is gathered to achieve a more elegant effect.

Sheer - very thin or transparent.

Shirring - involves the puckering or gathering of material with stitches done in thread which has an elastic quality to it.

Skirtini - a mini skirt with attached garters.

Soft Cup – soft cup bras do not have underwires, but may be padded or lined.

Stocking - close-fitting hosiery to cover the foot and leg.

Tanga - a style of panty that sits low on the hip, exposing some of the buttocks.

Thongs - a panty with only a thin strip of material in the back that exposes most of the buttocks.

Underwire – a thin, flexible wire, which offers added support to the cups of bras, bustier and shapewear. Modern bras are constructed with comfortable underwires, which don't poke.