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Baby Doll
A very short gown, usually with matching panties, but sometimes is one piece. Ranges in style from sheer, lace, and opaque. Night wear or sleepwear. Sexy and sensual at its best.
Back Seams
Seams in the back of the nylon stockings or pantyhose that were the standard when stockings were invented in 1940. Back-seamed stockings are a very provocative style that is returning to fashion.
Bikini Panty
Bikinis offer full coverage in both the front and back while the sides rest high on the hips or waist.
Bloomers
Loose trousers with elastic at the bottom.
Boa
A long scarf made of feathers.
Bodice
Upper part of a woman’s dress from the shoulders to the waist. Originally a bodice referred to a tight-fitting corset that was worn laced up over a blouse.
Body Stocking
A one-piece snug-fitting undergarment for women, usually made of nylon, that covers the whole torso.
Bodysuit
A one piece top and bottom combination that sometimes has a snap crotch. They are sexy and compliment a womans figure. They may be worn as outerwear. If wearing a sheer bodysuit as outerwear, choose a similar color bra to wear underneath.
Boning
Once made from actual bone, hence the term Boning. Today, boning is made of plastic strips that are drawn through slots in the material giving structure, support, and body contouring.
Boy Shorts
Tiny lacy box shaped shorts that women wear as underwear.
Boxers
Loose fitting pair of shorts.
Bra Type: Demi
Sometimes called shelf-type bra. Covers the lower portion of the breast leaving the entire nipple exposed. Though only half a bra, an "underwired" demi-cup still offers excellent breast support and uplift. It is great under a sweater because it offers bust support while leaving a natural, no bra look.
Bra Type: Half-Cup
A half cup bra is just that. A bra with half a cup. It is very revealing but covers the nipples. It exposes a lot of bare skin and still offers support. Sometimes called a push-up bra.
Bra Type: Open-Cup
Open cup bras surround the breast leaving the nipple and surrounding area exposed. They come in different styles including push-up and underwire.
Bra Type: Push-Up
Lifts the breast to create cleavage. Also know as a half-cup bra.
Bra Type: Shelf
Same as Demi-bra. Covers the lower portion of the breast leaving the entire nipple exposed. Though only half a bra, an "underwired" demi-cup still offers excellent breast support and uplift. It is great under a sweater because it offers bust support while leaving a natural, no bra look.
Bustier
Pronounced "boos tee yay". Sophisticated & seductive. The bustier is a bra that extends to the waist. A bustier provides bust support and may smooth or shape the waist. Often worn with garters and stockings. Bustiers gained popularity in the 1980's as outwear due to a popular female singer.
Camisole or Cami
A short lingerie top, fitted over the bust, and ends at the waistline. Originally were used to cover the tops of corsets. Often worn visibly under an open jacket or blouse, or worn under wool garments to protect the skin.
Chantilly Lace
A floral pattern, sewn with thread and ribbon on a net background. It is named after the northern French town of Chantilly which was famous for lace and porcelain.
Charmeuse
Pronounced (shar moose). A man-made, silk-like fabric used in various lingerie items. Preferred over silk because it does not have to be dry cleaned. Originally French in origin.
Chemise
Pronounced (shuh meese). Originally worn to protect the skin from outer garments, and later as night wear. Sometimes called a shift or slip. A sleep gown with no waistline and designed to fall flatteringly from the upper torso. Often held up by thin spaghtti straps. Easy to purchase as a gift, as there are no particular sizing problems with a chemise.
Chiffon
A sheer fabric, made of silk, polyester, or other fibers. May be solid or printed designs.
Corset
A boned bustier that extends to hips and tightened with laces. Usually strapless. Old-fashioned sex at its best.
Costumes
Come in sets that include various accessories such as hats, capes, g-strings, garters, gloves, etc.
Crop Top
A top that comes to just below the breasts.
Crotchless
A slit or opening in the garment that covers the crotch area.
Denier
A unit of weight used to measure the fineness of silk and man-made fibers, especially when woven into women’s tights.
Embroidery
Decorative needlework, usually done on loosely-woven fabric in the form of a picture or pattern.
Faux
Faux means imitation. For example, faux leather means imitation leather. Illustration is red, backless faux-suede pants.
Fishnet
An open-mesh fabric that looks like netting. It is usually associated with a provocative look.
Garters
Garters are elastic straps with hook attachments that hang from the bottom of a bustier, the legs of a teddiette, or from a garter belt. They are uset to hold up stockings.
Garter Belt
Waisted lace belt with garters is worn around the waist and attached to thigh-high stockings (not panty hose!). Often, garters are attached to bustiers and various sets. Not practical, but men seem to love it.
Gown
Any number of women’s outer garments, such as an elegant formal dress, or a dressing robe that comes all the way down to the ankles.
G-String
A panty with a small front panel of material that is held to the body entirely with strings.
Halter top
A halter top is a woman’s top that goes behind the neck and across the back, with the arms, shoulders, and back left bare.
Hosiery Hose Or called stockings, cover from mid thigh to the toes. Styles include plain, fishnet, or lace-topped. Many styles require garters to help them stay up, while some thigh huggers do not require garters.
Long line
A long line bustier goes further down than a normal one, usually as far as the hips.
Marabou
Soft fluffy feather like material.
Negligee
A negligee is a sheer nightdress with lace trim, usually designed to be revealing.
Opaque
Opposite of sheer. Something that blocks the transmission of light is opaque. Not see-through. Like the panty portion of the pictured outfit.
Panty Hose
Stockings with attached panties.
Peignoir
A peignoir is a woman’s dressing gown
Piping
Piping is a thin strip of decoratively-covered cord or material, used to edge hems.
Robe
A robe is a loose flowing garment worn as a dressing gown or bathrobe.
Satin
Satin is a fabric made of silk, rayon, or other such material, thats closely woven to give a smooth glossy appearance.
Sheer
Transparent or nearly so. Something that does little to block the transmission of light is sheer. Opposite of opaque. Like the see-through chemise in the illustration.
Silk
Silk is a thread or fiber made from the very fine, soft, lustrous fiber thats produced by a silkworm to make its cocoon.
Spandex/Lycra
Spandex, or lycra, are man-made fabrics that are strong and durable while still remaining light and elastic. Theyre also water- and oil-resistant.
Stay-Up Stockings
Stockings that have a wide gripper top that clings to the thigh, eliminating the need for garters.
Stockings
Sheer, thigh-high leggings that are held up by garters.
Tank top
A tank top is a sleeveless upper garment with wide shoulder straps and a low neck.
Teddiette
Like a teddy, except teddiettes come with garters (sometimes detachable) and are worn with stockings.
Teddy
Teddys, like bodysuits, are one piece garments. Teddys do not have garters. They may be boned or otherwise constructed with built-in support. Todays teddys are adorned with ribbon and lace and made of fine materials.
Thong
A panty with only a narror strip in the back which forms a "V" as it tapers to the crotch.
Underwire
Underwires are rigid insertions at the base of bra cups used for support, structure, and a push-up breast appearance.
Velvet
Velvet is a fabric made of silk, cotton, nylon, or other such material, that has a thick, close, soft pile, producing a fell of luxury.
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