baby doll A short sleep or lounge gown consisting of formed cups with a loose fitting
skirt, sometimes comes with matching panties.
back closure This term is used when describing how a bra closes. Traditionally, a back
closure bra has two rows of hook and eye closures and three adjustments. Full figure
and strapless bras usually have three rows of hook and eye closures as well
as three adjustments.
backless A bra designed with a low cut adjustable back band.
balconette Another name for a demi cup bra. More often a balconette also includes a little
padding to enhance bust size.
basque A name given to any tight-fitting bodice garment worn by women. Examples of
basques include corselette and merrywidow.
bikini A pantywear style whose waistband rests below the navel, and on the hips.
Usually has a high-cut leg line. The sides can be anything from a string to a thicker
side panel. Back coverage depends on the style of the bikini.
bodice The upper sleeveless part of a dress that covers the breasts.
body briefer A shapewear style that looks like a one-piece bathing suit. It has a snap
crotch (also called gusset closure) and a control panel at the tummy for support.
boning Rigid plastic strips sewn in shapewear to give structure, support and body
contouring. It is usually sewn in vertically for tummy and waist support. Its
name comes from the fact that actual bones were originally used to give support.
boy leg brief Reminiscent of hot pants, this style brief has legs that come to the top of
the thigh. The waist sits low on the hips, and the back has full coverage. It
is usually seamed in the center front and back for definition. Worn under hip-hugger
style bottoms or short skirts to give a smooth line from waist to hip.
bra The shortened word for brassiere. A woman's close-fitting undergarment which
is worn to support and give contour to the breasts.
brief A panty whose waistband rests at or just below the navel, provides full back
coverage, and may have a high-cut leg
bustier A bosom-to-hip corset-style garment, usually trimmed in lavish lace. Additional
features may include detachable garters, flexible boning, optional shoulder
straps, and a lace-up closing. This garment is usually worn by a woman for the
visual enjoyment of the man in her life.
camisole A short loose fitting top that ends at the waistline. Sometimes worn visibly
under an open jacket or wool clothes to protect the skin.
cami top Made of microfiber, this camisole-looking shapewear gives a seamless, toned
look under knits. It gives very light control and is a perfect solution for sheer,
form-fitting tops in order to reveal the least amount of lines or seams.
catsuit A full-body stocking. Generally long sleeved and made out of stretchy material.
Was made popular in the 1960's Avengers television series by actress Diana
Rigg.
chemise The name given to the first undergarments ever worn by women. Designed originally
to protect the skin from outer garments, it later was used as night wear.
It is a one-piece, loose straight-hanging to the floor undergarment that comes
in one size. Today a chemise may be worn as a dress.
cookie The name given to the removable pad in a padded bra.
contour bra This bra type includes lightly padded fiberfill cups to add definition to
the breast, a smooth shape, and elimination of nipple contours.
control brief A panty shaped like a brief but designed to flatten the tummy and give support
while providing a smooth silhouette.
convertible A convertible bra has straps, which can be worn in six different configurations:
conventional, halter, one-shoulder, off-the-shoulder, criss-crossed, and
strapless.
corselet Also spelled corselette, it is a woman's support undergarment that combines
a girdle with a bra.
corset A woman's stiff piece of underwear designed to make women look slimmer by
pulling in the waist and lifting the breasts; lacing at the back makes the corset
adjustable. Have garters for stockings.
crop top A very short top that stretches just below the breasts.
décolleté A bra style with a very low-cut front panel to create a dramatic cleavage-enhancing
look.
demi cup A demi cup (or demi) style bra means a contoured underwire design with a large
portion of the upper half of the cup being cut away to expose the upper part
of the breasts. The shoulder straps are also set farther apart. Such bras are
often referred to as being d‚collet‚ and are worn when the top of a garment is
cut low, wide or square. Men find this style bra very attractive on women. Can
also be called a balconette or a shelf bra.
dressing gown A long robe to wear over nightwear.
flutter A panty that is elastic on top and loose on the bottom.
foam cup Padding in the cup of the bra is made of foam. Such padding does not bunch
up during washing and gives a smooth look to the cup.
foundations a pre-war term for shapewear, these undergarments were called foundations
because of their similarity to concrete. Ladies who wore them were seen as "solid
citizens" while those who refused came to be known as "loose women." Today's
shapewear fits and feels like a second skin--coaxing your curves into their smoothest,
sleekest, most naturally perfect state.
french cut Another name for high-cut brief.
front close A bra that closes in the center front with either a plastic barrel closure
or a hook and eye closure.
full figure Women who wear bras sizes 32-36DD and 38-42C-DD and larger are classified
as full figure women. Bras made in these sizes are usually designed to give additional
support. Common features include padding, wider shoulder straps and triple
hook and eye closures.
g-string A bikini panty with virtually no back coverage. It consists of a small front
panel held to the body entirely with strings. Worn to prevent panty lines under
tight-fitting garments. Less coverage than a thong.
garter A strap hanging from a garter belt or bustier to support stockings (not pantyhose),
It is also the term used for a band worn around the arm to hold up a
shirt sleeve, or around the knee to hold up socks.
garter belt A belt worn around the waist with four clips or garters to keep stockings
(not pantyhose) up and in place. A garter belt can be purchased in a variety of
colors. Lingerie fashion etiquette dictates that the color and design of the garter
belt match the stockings and panties.
girdle The name given to any undergarment that is close fitting, often boned and
usually elasticized, that extends from the waist to below the hips. With the new
fabrics and construction techniques available, this word has become somewhat
obsolete and has been replaced with the word shaper or shapewear.
gusset closure The name given to a hook and eye or snap crotch closure. Usually seen on body
briefers or body suits.
half cup bra Half of the breasts and the nipples are covered.
halter A bra style featuring straps that fasten behind the neck. This bra is great
for backless dresses.
halter top A sleeveless short top that is held in place by a narrow band of cloth round
the back of the neck. No shoulder straps are necessary.
high-cut brief Also known as a "French cut" brief, this panty is high-cut on the leg and
sides yet offers full coverage in back.
high-cut Rio A panty style similar to the string bikini, but with moderate back coverage
that looks more like a "v" instead of the "u" which is found in full coverage
backs. Many times, the waistband in the high-cut Rio is nothing more than a 1"
to 2" piece of elastic.
high-waisted brief Shapewear with a brief panty and a high waist to give shaping and support
to the waistline.
interlining A padding, or stiffening fabric, either sewn to the wrong side of the lining
or the inner side of the outer shell fabric. The interlining is used primarily
to provide warmth.
lined cup A bra with a lining in the cup. This lining gives additional support and added
opaqueness to the cup.
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 from curling up.
long line A midriff-slimming bra with to-the-waist panels for extra smoothing. This
can offer the shaping of a corset.( A bustier that extends to the hips)
maternity bra A bra designed for women who are pregnant. May or may not have a design feature
for easy access breast-feeding.
merrywidow Another type of corset. It is often strapless and comes to a point in the
center front. It can also come with detachable garters to wear with stockings.
minimizer A minimizer bra is designed to de-emphasize a full bustline. Worn by large-chested
women, such bras reduce the bustline while at the same time giving a smooth
natural look.
molded cup A sculpted bra cup designed to mold to the shape of your breast. It is lightly
padded and seamless creating a smooth silhouette, unless overlaid with lace.
multiway See convertible bra.
nursing bra A bra with specially designed cups that open to allow access to a baby for nursing.
padded A bra with padded fiberfill cups. The padding adds size and definition to
give a well-proportioned look to smaller bustlines.
pantliner A pantliner is any undergarment that begins at the waist and extends down
past the mid-calf. A pantliner can be pantaloon-like and worn as a slip for unlined
pants, or it can be form-fitting to slim and smooth the legs. Can also be
called an underliner.
peignoir A dressing gown made of very thin material. Usually comes with a matching
robe.
plunge A plunge bra is designed to reveal more breast for a sexier look.
push-up bra A bra with additional padding at the bottom portion of the cup to lift the breasts
in order to give the illusion of greater breast size. The padding, if removable,
is known as a "cookie."
racer-back This bra is named after racing swimsuits that also have straps meeting in
a "V" shape on the back between the shoulder blades. This bra style is an excellent
solution for sleeveless tops. It also prevents straps from slipping off the
shoulders.
robe A loose piece of clothing; sometimes reaches the ground.
seamed Any bra that has seams running though the cup. A seamed bra tends to give
more support than a seamless bra.
seamless A 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 are particularly
suitable under revealing and tight-fitting tops.
shape enhancer A shapewear garment that controls the tummy, and shapes the waist and sides.
It commonly has hook and eyes at the waist, and usually has boning to keep the
waist from rolling. Can also be called a waistnipper.
shelf bra Another name for a demi bra.
silicone cup bra Cups that contain silicone padding instead of fiber padding.
slit A narrow cut in the fabric usually made for ease of movements or sex appeal.
soft cup A bra with a molded cup and no underwire or padding. This lack of structure
makes it very comfortable to wear. Most popular with A and B cup sized women.
sports bra A support bra worn during exercise that minimizes breast bouncing. Its design
includes wider straps, and broader cup coverage.
strapless A garment without usual narrow bands of material over the shoulders.A tank
top. A sleeveless shirt. An underwire bra with wide sides, no straps or removable
straps, and a triple hook back. Many times silicone is stitched to the upper
and lower edges of the bra to keep it secure on the body. Mostly worn with strapless
tops, evening gowns or with tops where a normal bra would show.
stretch Bras made with Lycra fabric, which lends a smooth, sleek look as well as freedom
in movement, comfort and fit.
string bikini A bikini panty with high cut leg line, thin string sides and full back coverage.
tap pant A panty styled like short shorts with a small flair at the hem. Frequently
sold with coordinating bra or camisole. May be worn as a slip for shorter skirt
styles.
teddiette A teddy with attached garters to keep stockings from falling down.
teddy A camisole and panty combined into one piece. It can be fitted to the body
or loose. Is worn either under clothing or as sleepwear. Usually with high cut
legs and a thong in back.
tummy shaper Another name for a control brief.
thong A panty with a narrow strip of fabric in the back that begins as a "v" shape
at the waistband and then tapers to a thin strip by the time it reaches the
crotch. This style panty is great if you want no visible panty lines and a smooth
appearance.
underliner See pantliner
underwired bra A bra with a thin wire sewn into the lower portion of the cups for additional
support. Especially suitable for larger breasted women.
waistnipper See shape enhancer.
wide-away A bra style with widely-spaced shoulder straps to accommodate a boatneck or
wide squared neckline.
|
