Lingerie Lingo: 6 Sexy Underthings

by Aly Walansky

Don’t know a corset from a chemise? We share the must-have styles and looks for every woman’s boudoir.

Corset

“The corset was seen all over the runways for 2010 making it the absolute must-have lingerie piece of the season,” says a lingerie expert at Frederick’s of Hollywood. The dual functionality of the corset is what’s so appealing. Pair it with skinny jeans and a blazer, or an of-the-moment pencil skirt, and you’re set for a night on the town!  Looking to have a sexy night in? Pair it with garters and stockings and you’re all set.  An added bonus: The corset takes two to three inches off the waistline!

A fabulous bra

Every girl needs a great bra, and for many this means a bra that lifts and supports all while still looking sexy.  Frederick’s of Hollywood Exxtreme Cleavage is a great option for most. The push-up pads add great cleavage for smaller chested women, but can be removed for those who don’t need quite as much help. The Extreme comes in a ton of fun colors and prints.

Stockings

Many women are unsure of the difference between stockings, thigh highs, tights, and pantyhose, says Treacle, editor TheLingerieAddict.com. While they all fall under the category of leg wear/hosiery, each term does refer to different things.

Stockings require a garter belt to stay up.  They’re most often made of nylon, not silk, and if you want to go full-on Bettie Page pin-up, then buy the kind with the back seam.

Thigh highs stay up with a strip of silicon or elastic inside the welt (the dark, reinforced band of nylon at the top of the stocking).  Properly fitted thigh highs don’t require a garter belt to stay on the leg, and, in fact, make sure not to wear one with these as the thick silicone or elastic can warp your garter clasps.

Tights are opaque hosiery with an attached panty that comes up to about the waist.  They’re frequently worn in the winter and can be made of nylon, wool, or cotton.

Pantyhose are the sheer version of tights and the modern-day replacement for stockings and thigh highs.  Most people have some experience wearing these.  The lower the number (i.e. denier), the sheerer the pantyhose, making these a great option for that smooth, barelegged look in the summer.

T-shirt bra

This is a basic necessity that a woman could easily wear under a variety of clothes day to day, says Ellen Shing, the designer of Lula Lu Petite Lingerie.  The goal of the T-shirt bra is uninterrupted comfort – none of the usual push-up/molded/underwire embellishments apply.

Nude thong

No one wants panty lines, and a classic nude thong is perfect for summer whites and keeps panty lines at bay, shares Shing.

Lace bra

A lot of women think that lace bras can’t be worn under most clothes so they prefer smooth cup bras. However, there are lace bras out there with very flat lace so that when worn under T-shirts and tops, the lace is barely noticeable, which means you can give yourself a sexy boost without sacrificing functionality, says Shing.

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