Glossary of 22 Most Exotic Lingerie Terms

Baffled by all those lingerie words and looking to find some meaning? Here are the 22 most exotic lingerie terms and what they mean. 

The world of lingerie is often packed with exotic terms that can make you feel lost. 

Though these universal lingerie descriptions are used to convey design highlights or features, they remain unfamiliar to many. 

This glossary of the 22 most exotic lingerie terms will help you to understand these different features, so you can make better decisions.

Exotic Lingerie Terms Glossary 

• Babydoll – A short, loose-fitting, see-through, and sleeveless nightgown. It usually stops above the knee, somewhere around the thighs, and comes with panties to match. Some designs will include formed cups, while others keep it simple.
• Balconette Bra – Also known as balcony bras, from men in theater balconies looking down at women. This type of bra is designed to highlight a woman's bust by offering a low cut and smaller cup size to create a push-up effect. They are great for lower-cut dresses and tops, as well as for women with broad shoulders. The opposite of this design would be a full-cup bra.
• Bandeau – A strip of cloth worn around the chest to form a bra. They are commonly made from elastic materials and designed to snugly fit the breasts, so as not to slip down.
• Basque – From French, a tight-fitting and contoured piece of clothing covering a woman's torso and extending down to the waist. But where corsets feature laces for tightening and shaping, basques generally come with hook and eye fastenings. They are not designed to alter a woman's shape, just to highlight it.
• Bustier – This is a form-fitting top that combines a bra with shapewear. Its goal is to highlight the bust by tightening the waist and pushing up the breasts. Unlike corsets, which are usually rigid, bustiers are flexible. Also, unlike basques that reach down to the hips, bustiers only reach down to the ribs or waist. Bustiers can also be worn as outerwear with skirts and even jeans.
• Camisole – A sleeveless and loose-fitting undergarment that covers the torso down to the waist, and hangs from shoulder straps. They can be worn with panties or as innerwear underneath sheer tops. Camisoles are made from nylon, silk, cotton, or silk.
• Chemise – From the French word for a shirt, it is women's nightwear that looks like the older French versions, but is more revealing and delicate. They are nearly identical to babydolls, except they are tighter at the waist and have no cups.
• Bra Cookies – These are pads designed to be inserted or removed from bras. They are helpful for women with uneven breasts to achieve similar breast sizing, especially with push-up bras.
• Corset – Centuries-old shapewear for men and women, used to train and hold a person's torso in the desired shape. They can help with smaller waists to look skinny, to create a larger bottom or breasts, to support the back, or for other medical reasons.
• Corselette – The combination of a girdle with a brassiere.
• Girdle – Elastic form-fitting undergarment that covers the lower torso and downwards below the hips. It is made from elastic material and came into fashion around the 1890s, surpassing the corset.
• Gusset – The extra fabric layer in the crotch area of mostly women's panties. They help to shape and reinforce the area against stress and are often made from breathable or moisture-wicking fabrics to help keep the genitals ventilated and fresh.
• Halter – A style of underwear that is suspended by a strap around the back of the neck. It might cover the torso, often leaves the back open, and includes panties. The name is taken from animal halters and there are various styles of halter lingerie.
• Body Harness – A fetish style featuring different lingerie designs that are made from thin straps. Though they mimic the bondage harness style of the BDSM crowd, body harness lingerie is more comfortable, often not made from leather, and designed to be underwear.
• Hipster – A blend of boy shorts and bikini briefs.
• Hosiery – Collectively refers to stockings, pantyhose, and tights. That is, all garments worn on the legs and feet.
• Kimono – Lingerie designed in the style of Japan's national dress. It is wrapped in front and usually comes with a belt. Kimono lingerie can reach down to the waist or go full length to the feet.
• Knickers – French and Brazilian knickers are two similar but distinct types of briefs. French knickers are like shorts and are available in different lengths. They often cover most or the entire bum and have a loose-fitting, open style. Brazilian knickers use less fabric, show more bum, and fall between a thong and a classic granny brief.
• Negligée – Woman's nightgown, usually made from soft, and often see-through fabrics. They are traditionally long dresses, but can also be shorter, include lace trimmings, or feature more than a single layer of sheer fabric.
• Pasties – These are those adhesive nipple covers that can be worn in place of a bra. Many have the famous X-pattern, although there are numerous variations. Pasties are also helpful when going braless in a decent dress, as they hide the nipples. They can be worn for fashion and some are even designed as push-ups.
• Scallops – Lace trimmings that give lingerie their fragile, elegant look.
• Teddy – A combination of a camisole and a panty in one garment to cover the torso and crotch. Also called a body or a carminicker, a teddy can be bareback, made from lace, and usually have shoulder straps or a halterneck design. Teddys are worn by stepping into the leg holes. 

Conclusion 

We've come to the end of this list of the top 22 exotic lingerie terms and you should have hopefully learned a thing or two. 

Life can be beautiful with the right partner, but the right lingerie can make things even better.