Lingerie Glossary

Introduction

Walking into the world of lingerie can sometimes feel like learning a new language. Balconette, gore, teddy, bustier, encapsulation… what does it all mean? Understanding this vocabulary is the first step to becoming a truly empowered shopper, allowing you to identify exactly what you want and need.

Consider this your personal lingerie dictionary. We’ve compiled a comprehensive, A-to-Z list of the most common terms you’ll encounter, explained in simple, clear language. Bookmark this page, and you’ll never feel confused in a fitting room or while shopping online again. Knowledge is power, and it’s time to become fluent in the language of lingerie.

The A-Z Glossary

A

  • Apex: The highest point of a bra
    Asymmetrical Breasts
    cup, where the strap joins the cup.
  • Asymmetrical Breasts: A very common condition where one breast is larger than the other.

B

  • Babydoll: A short, loose-fitting nightgown or negligee, often with supportive cups and a flowing skirt that ends above the knee. A playful and romantic style.
  • Balconette Bra: A style of bra with
    Balconette Bra
    shorter cups (demi-cups) and wide-set straps. It offers a beautiful, uplifted, rounded look and is great for “full on bottom” breast shapes.
  • Band: The part of the bra that wraps around your torso. It provides 90% of the bra’s support and should fit snugly and horizontally across your back.
  • Bandeau: A simple, strapless band of fabric worn around the bust. Typically offers light support and is best for smaller cup sizes or as a layering piece.
  • Bodysuit: A form-fitting, all-in-one lingerie piece that covers the torso. It can be soft and lacy or function as firm-control shapewear.Bodysuit
  • Boning: Thin strips of plastic or steel sewn into the seams of a garment (like a corset or longline bra) to provide structure and support.
    Skims Sculpting Bodysuit With Snaps
    Bodysuit
  • Bralette: A wire-free, unlined, and unstructured soft bra. Modern plus-size bralettes are designed with wider bands and smart construction for comfortable, light support.
  • Briefs: A style of panty that offers full rear coverage. They can be high-waisted, mid-rise, or low-rise.
  • Bustier: A type of longline bra that extends down to the waist or hips, featuring boning for structure. It provides excellent shaping and support.

C

  • Cage Bra: A fashion-forward style featuring multiple straps that create a “cage” or harness-like effect.
  • Chemise: A soft, sleeveless slip-style nightgown that typically ends mid-thigh.
    Chemise
  • Control Level: A term used for shapewear to describe its shaping power, ranging from Light (smoothing) to Medium (shaping) and Firm (sculpting).
  • Convertible Bra: A versatile bra with detachable straps that can be rearranged into different configurations (halter, racerback, one-shoulder, strapless).
  • Corset: A structured garment with steel boning and a lace-up back, designed to dramatically cinch the waist and shape the torso.
  • Cotton: A natural, breathable, and hypoallergenic fiber perfect for everyday underwear and sensitive skin.
  • Crotchless Panty: A style of panty with an opening in the gusset, designed for intimate moments.
  • Cup: The part of the bra that holds the breast tissue. Cups can be seamed or seamless, lined or unlined, padded or non-padded.

E

Encapsulation Sports Bra

Encapsulation: A style of sports bra with two separate, defined cups. It supports each breast individually to reduce bounce, rather than compressing them together.

 

F

  • Full Cup Bra
    Front-Closure Bra: A bra that fastens at the front with a clasp or hooks, making it easier to put on and take off. Often features a racerback design.
  • Full Cup Bra: A bra style where the cups are designed to fully cover and contain the entire breast, offering maximum coverage and support.

G

  • Part Of Bra
    Garter Belt (Suspender Belt): A band worn around the waist or hips with straps (garters) that clip onto thigh-high stockings to hold them up.
  • Gore: The center panel of a bra that sits between the cups. On a well-fitting underwire bra, the gore should lie flat against your breastbone.
  • Gusset: The crotch panel of a pair of panties, almost always lined with a soft, breathable fabric like cotton for hygiene.

H

  • Hosiery
    Hosiery: A category that includes pantyhose, stockings, and tights.
  • High-Waist: A style of panty or shaper that sits at or above the natural waist, offering tummy coverage.

L

  • Lace: A decorative fabric used for
    Longline Bra
    beauty and, when blended with spandex, for comfortable stretch.
  • Longline Bra: A bra with a band that extends further down the torso, providing extra support and a smoothing effect.

 

M

  • Minimizer Bra
    Marabou: Fluffy trim made from turkey feathers, used to add Old Hollywood glamour to robes and babydolls.
  • Microfiber: A soft, smooth, and durable synthetic fabric (usually nylon/polyester) used for seamless garments like t-shirt bras.
  • Minimizer Bra: A bra designed to reduce the forward projection of the bust, creating a more streamlined silhouette under clothing.
  • Modal: An exceptionally soft, cool-to-the-touch, and drapey fabric made from beech tree pulp. Perfect for pajamas and loungewear.
  • Moulded Cup: A bra cup that has been heat-molded into a permanent, rounded shape. These are often called T-shirt bras.

P

Pantyhose
  • Pantyhose: A sheer garment that covers the body from the waist to the toes.
  • Plunge Bra: A bra with a low, narrow center gore and angled cups, designed to be worn with deep V-necks.
Robe

R

  • Racerback: A bra style where the straps are angled and meet in the center of the back, preventing them from slipping off the shoulders.
  • Robe: A garment worn over sleepwear or lingerie for warmth and modesty.
Strapless Bra

S

  • Satin: A fabric with a glossy, smooth finish, used to create a feeling of luxury.
  • Seamless: A garment constructed without visible seams, designed to be invisible under clothing.
  • Shapewear: Undergarments designed to smooth, shape, and sculpt the body.
  • Shelf Bra: A daring style of bra with a strong underwire but only a small “shelf” of a cup, leaving the top of the breast and nipple exposed.
  • Sister Sizes: A system of alternate bra sizes with the same cup volume. To find a sister size, go down one band size and up one cup size (e.g., 40G -> 38H), or vice-versa.
  • Sports Bra: A bra specifically designed to reduce breast movement and provide support during physical activity.
  • Strapless Bra: A bra designed to be worn without shoulder straps, relying on a very firm band and often silicone grippers for support.

T

  • T-Shirt Bra: A bra with smooth, seamless, moulded cups designed to be invisible under fitted clothing.
    Teddy
  • Teddy: A one-piece lingerie garment that combines a camisole and panty, typically with a looser, more comfortable fit around the midsection than a bodysuit.
  • Thigh-Highs (Stay-Ups): Stockings that end at the upper thigh and stay in place with a silicone gripper band at the top.
  • Thong: A style of panty with a minimal back, designed to eliminate visible panty lines.

U

  • Underwire: A rigid wire (usually metal) sewn into the bottom of the bra cup to provide lift, separation, and support.