The Essential Lingerie Glossary: Terms You Should Know

Navigating the world of lingerie can feel like a maze, especially with all the different styles and terms. Whether you're hunting for something special or just curious about your options, knowing the lingo can make things much easier. That’s why we’ve put together this handy glossary to help you make the best choices and add the perfect pieces to your collection.

 

A

Adhesive Bra: Sticks directly to your chest, giving support without straps or a back band. Ideal for backless or strapless outfits. Also known as stick-on bras or sticky bras.

Adjustable Shoulder Straps: Straps on bras that can be lengthened or shortened for a custom fit, ensuring your lingerie fits snug and provides the right support.

Arched Centre Panel: A U-shaped section at the front of a bra that offers a better fit and comfort, especially for rounder tummies. Allows for greater movement and less digging-in.

 

B

Babydoll: A short, often sleeveless, loose-fitting nightgown with a fitted bodice and flowing skirt, blending comfort and allure together.

Back Closure: The fastening mechanism on the back of a bra that typically uses hooks and eyes, allowing for an adjustable fit.

Backless: Lingerie or clothing designed without a back, perfect for low-back or backless dresses and tops. Often includes adhesive cups or other support solutions.

Balcony Bra: A bra designed with wide-set straps and a lower-cut cup that creates a square neckline. Offers a natural lift, perfect for low-cut tops. Also called balconettes.

Bandeau: A strapless, band-like bra or top that wraps around the chest. Ideal for off-shoulder outfits or as a layering piece.

Bands: The fabric around your ribcage, connected to the cup, also known as wings. Find your perfect band size in our bra measuring guide.

Basque: A form-fitting bodice that extends down to the hips, often with boning for structure, enhancing your natural silhouette.

Bikini Knickers: A classic style of underwear that sits on the hips with medium coverage on the back. Versatile and comfortable for everyday wear.

Body Shaper: Garments designed to smooth and shape your silhouette, available in various styles for different areas of the body.

Bodywear: Garments designed to be worn close to the skin, such as bodysuits and slips which are functional and fashionable.

Boning: Stiff strips inserted into fabric to provide structure and support, often used in corsets and various bras.

Boy Shorts: Underwear that offers full coverage with a lower leg cut, resembling men's boxer briefs. Also called boy leg pants or knicker shorts.

Bra: In a range styles, each offering different levels of support, shape, and coverage. From everyday basics to lacy numbers for special occasions, there's a bra for every need.

Bralette: Lightweight bras without underwires, made from soft, stretchy fabrics. Offering a natural shape, perfect for lounging or casual wear.

Brazilian Knickers: Sexy, low-rise fit with moderate coverage, sitting lower on the hips with a cheeky cut at the back.

Briefs: Underwear that provides full coverage of the backside, sitting on or just below the waist. A classic, comfortable choice for everyday wear.

Bum Lifting Knickers: Specially designed to enhance and lift the appearance of your backside, often with padding or shaping elements.

Bump Pad: Padding inserted into bra cups to add volume and enhance cleavage, often removable for flexible enhancement.

Bustier: A form-fitting garment like a corset but shorter, covering the bust to the waist. Often includes boning for enhanced bust and waist support.

Butterfly Slide Closure: A decorative and functional fastening mechanism on the front of bras or lingerie tops, adding a unique design element and ease of wear.

 

C

Cami Bra: Combines the elements of a camisole and a bra, offering light support with the coverage of a cami top. Ideal for layering or wearing alone.

Centre Panel: The fabric piece in a bra that connects the cups at the front. Also called a centre gore, these help ensure a good fit while providing breast separation and support.

Chemise: A loose-fitting, sleeveless dress or slip, often used as nightwear. Chemises are lightweight and comfortable, perfect for sleeping or lounging.

Comfort Straps: Wider and often padded to distribute weight evenly across the shoulders, reducing pressure and discomfort. Perfect for everyday wear.

Compression Bra: Designed to press the breasts against the chest, providing support and reducing movement, commonly used in sports bras for high-impact activities.

Contour Bra: A bra with shaped and moulded cups, often with light padding to provide a smooth, rounded look. Ideal for a sleek silhouette under clothing.

Control Underwear: Another type of shapewear designed to smooth and shape the body, providing a streamlined silhouette. Available in various styles for different areas of the body.

Convertible Straps: Bra straps that can be detached and rearranged in different configurations, such as halter, criss-cross or strapless, offering versatile styling options.

Cookies: Removable padding inserts placed inside bra cups to add volume and enhance cleavage, allowing for a customisable fit and appearance.

Corselet: A one-piece garment combining a bra and girdle, offering support for the bust and shaping for the waist and hips. Vintage-inspired and stylish.

Corset: A structured garment that cinches the waist and supports the bust, creating an hourglass figure. Modern corsets can be both functional and decorative.

Corset Bra: Combines the shaping features of a corset with the support of a bra. Perfect for special occasions when you want extra support and a defined shape.

Cross-Back Bra: A bra with straps that crisscross at the back, offering additional support and a unique look. Ideal for athletic activities or under racerback tops.

Cup Size: Measures the volume of the breasts, determined by the difference between the bust measurement and the band size. Find your cup size in our bra measuring guide.

Cut and Sew Bra: Made from multiple fabric pieces sewn together, offering a tailored fit and often more support than moulded bras.

 

D

Darts: Sewn-in folds in fabric providing shape to garments, commonly used in bras and bodices to contour and fit the bust.

DD+ Bra: Specifically designed for larger busts to provide the necessary support and coverage. Available in various styles to ensure comfort and style for all body types.

Décolleté: Refers to the low neckline of a garment that reveals the upper chest. Lingerie designed for décolleté styles enhances and frames this area beautifully.

Demi-Cup Bra: A bra with cups that cover about half to three-quarters of the breast, providing uplift and cleavage without full coverage. Ideal for lower-cut tops.

 

E

Encapsulation Bra: Bras where each breast is given maximum support within its own cup, providing better shape and support compared to compression bras.

 

F

Foam Cup: Bra cups made from foam to provide shape and modesty without additional padding. Creates a smooth silhouette under clothing.

French Knickers: Loose-fitting underwear with a wider leg, often made from delicate fabrics like silk or lace. Both comfortable and luxurious.

Front Closure: Bras that fasten at the front rather than the back, offering ease of wear and a smoother back.

Full Brief Knickers: Offer maximum coverage and comfort, sitting high on the waist. A great everyday option.

Full-Cup Bra: Fully covers the breasts, providing maximum support and coverage. Perfect for everyday wear.

Fully Adjustable Strap: Can be lengthened or shortened along its entire length for a precise fit, particularly useful for achieving optimum comfort and support.

 

G

Girdle: Shapewear worn around the waist and hips to smooth and shape the figure, providing support and a streamlined silhouette.

Girdling Knickers: Knickers with shaping panels to smooth and support the tummy and hips, offering a flattering fit under clothing.

Gore: The centre panel of a bra connecting the cups, ensuring proper separation and support. A well-designed gore enhances the fit of a bra.

G-String Knickers: Minimal design with a narrow waistband and a small fabric piece at the back. Ideal for wearing under tight clothing to avoid visible panty lines.

Gusset: Fabric piece sewn into the crotch of underwear or tights for comfort and a better fit.

Gusset Closure: Fastening mechanism, often with snaps or hooks, located in the crotch of bodysuits or some lingerie items, providing convenience and ease of wear.

 

H

Halter Bra: A bra with a strap that wraps around the neck, leaving the shoulders and back mostly bare. Ideal for halter neck tops and dresses.

Hidden Underwire: Underwire encased within the fabric of a bra, providing support without visible wires, offering a smooth appearance and added comfort.

High-Impact Sports Bra: Designed to provide maximum support and minimise breast movement during high-intensity activities. Often featuring robust construction and additional support elements.

High-Leg Knickers: Feature a higher cut on the leg, elongating the appearance of the legs and providing a comfortable fit.

High-Waisted Knickers: Sit above the hips, offering more coverage and a vintage-inspired look that’s both flattering and comfortable for everyday wear.

Hipster Knickers: Underwear that sits low on the hips, offering a modern and comfortable fit. Hipsters provide moderate coverage and are perfect for low-rise trousers.

Hook and Eye Closure: The fastening method used on most bras consisting of small hooks and corresponding eyelets. This closure type offers adjustable fitting. 

I

Inner Sling: Additional fabric or structure inside the cups of a bra, providing extra support and shaping, particularly beneficial for larger busts.

Inseam: An inseam is a seam that joins two pieces of fabric along the inside, often used in the construction of lingerie to create a smooth and tailored fit.

Interchangeable Straps: Straps that can be removed and replaced with other variations, offering customisation and versatility for various looks.

Intimates: A general term for lingerie and underwear.

Italian Thong: A type of thong with a minimal back and a low-rise front, offering minimal coverage and a sleek look.

 

J

J-Hook: A small hook-on bra straps that allows the straps to be converted into a racerback style, providing additional support and versatility.

 

K

Keyhole Back: A lingerie design featuring a cutout at the back, adding a decorative and sexy element to the garment.

Knickers: Knickers is a general term for underwear, covering all styles from briefs to thongs.

 

L

Leotard Back: A leotard back, or U-back, is a bra design where the straps meet a wide, scoop-shaped back band. This design offers extra support and stops the straps from slipping.

Lift Bra: Designed to enhance and lift the breasts, and often features padding or shaping elements to create a more pronounced cleavage.

Light Support Bra: Offers gentle support without underwires or heavy padding, ideal for lounging or low-impact activities.

Lined Cups: Bra cups with an additional layer of fabric for added support and opacity. Lined cups provide a smooth look under clothing.

Lingerie: Intimate apparel, including bras, knickers, bodysuits and more.

Longline Bra: Extends below the bustline, providing additional support and shaping of the torso. Offers a smooth silhouette and can be worn as outerwear.

Low-Rise Knickers: Underwear that sits below the natural waistline, perfect for low-rise jeans and skirts.

 

M

M Frame: A supportive structure shaped like an “M” that provides additional lift and separation for the bust. This design is perfect for fuller busts.

Mastectomy Bra: Specifically designed for women who have undergone mastectomy surgery, often featuring pockets for breast prostheses.

Matching Set: Coordinated lingerie items, typically including a bra and knickers, designed to be worn together for a polished, put-together look.

Maternity Bra: Provides extra support and comfort for pregnant women, often featuring adjustable features to accommodate changes in breast size.

Maternity Briefs: Designed to provide comfort and support during pregnancy, with stretchy fabric and a higher waistband to accommodate a growing belly.

Merry Widow: A type of corset that combines a bra, a waist cincher, and sometimes garters, offering shaping and support.

Mid-Rise Knickers: Sit between the hips and the waist, offering a comfortable and flattering fit for everyday wear.

Mini Brief: Also called a minikini, these knickers offer minimal coverage, sitting low on the hips with narrow sides.

Minimiser Bra: Designed to reduce the appearance of the bust, often with wider straps and shaping features to provide support and a sleeker silhouette.

Moulded Cups: Seamless cups shaped by heat rather than stitching, offering a smooth, rounded shape and a sleek appearance under clothing.

Multi-Tab Bra: A bra with multiple loops or tabs for attaching straps in various configurations, offering versatile styling options.

Multiway Bra: Bras with adjustable and removable straps that can be configured in different ways, making them versatile for various outfits.

 

N

Negligée: A lightweight, sheer nightdress, often adorned with lace or other delicate details. Negligées are both comfortable and alluring.

Nipple Cover: Nipple covers, usually called pasties, are adhesive pads used to conceal the nipples under sheer or tight-fitting clothing.

Nursing Bra: Features easy-to-open cups for breastfeeding, providing convenience and support for nursing mothers.

Nursing Tank: A tank top with built-in nursing features, combining the functionality of a nursing bra with the coverage of a tank top.

 

O

Open Bust: Lingerie that leaves the bust exposed, often featuring underwire or other support elements.

Open Gusset: Underwear or bodysuits with an open crotch area.

 

P

Padded Bra: Bras with extra padding in the cups to enhance shape and provide additional coverage.

Padded Strap: Straps with additional cushioning to optimise comfort and prevent digging into the shoulders.

Panties: A common term for women's underwear, available in various styles and cuts.

Pants: Another word for underwear.

Pasties: Small adhesive coverings worn over the nipples, often used with backless or sheer tops.

Period Pants: Designed with absorbent materials to soak up blood and discharge. They're a reusable, comfortable alternative to traditional sanitary products.

Plunge Bra: Features a deep V-shaped front, ideal for low-cut tops and dresses, enhancing cleavage without full coverage.

Post-Surgery Bra: Post-surgery bras are designed for those who have undergone an operation, providing gentle support and comfort. They feature soft fabrics and front closures.

Pregnancy Bra: Pregnancy bras offer extra support and accommodate the changes in breast size during pregnancy.

Push-Up Bra: Include padding at the bottom or sides of the cups to lift and enhance cleavage, providing a fuller, more dramatic look.

 

Q

Quarter-Cup Bra: A bra with cups that cover only the lower part of the breast. This design offers minimal coverage, often used in erotic lingerie.

R

Racerback Bra: Features straps that cross or converge in the back, providing extra support while staying hidden under racerback tops.

Reinforced: Reinforced areas in lingerie include additional stitching or fabric to enhance durability and support, particularly in high-stress zones like the underband or straps.

Removable Straps: Straps that can be detached, allowing the bra to be worn in different styles or with strapless outfits.

Restricted Stretch: Restricted stretch refers to fabric or straps that have limited elasticity, providing more controlled support and stability.

Rigid Straps: Rigid straps do not stretch, offering maximum support and stability, ideal for those needing additional lift and control.

 

S

Seamless Bra: A bra designed without seams, providing a smooth appearance under clothing without any skin-irritating seams.

Seamless Knickers: Knickers designed without seams, offering a smooth look under clothing. They're perfect for avoiding visible panty lines.

Shapewear: Shapewear is designed to smooth and shape the body, creating a streamlined silhouette. It's available in various styles for different areas of the body.

Shaping Knickers: Provide smoothing and shaping for the waist, hips and thighs, offering a sleek finish.

Shelf Bra: A bra with a built-in shelf or underband that provides minimal support without full cups. Often found in camisoles or tank tops.

Side Boning: Vertical supports on the sides of a bra, providing additional structure and preventing the band from rolling up.

Side Sling: An internal panel that extends from the outer side of the cup towards the centre, offering extra support and shaping, particularly for larger busts.

Silicone Gripper Elastic: Silicone gripper elastic is a strip of silicone added to the edge of lingerie to prevent slipping and ensure a secure fit. Often used in strapless bras and hold-ups.

Slip-On Bra: Slip-on bras are easy to wear, often without hooks or clasps. They're perfect for lounging or light activities, offering comfort and ease.

Soft-Cup Bra: These do not have underwires but still offer gentle support with a more natural shape.

Sports Bra: Designed for physical activity, sports bras provide support and reduce breast movement while you’re active. Available in various levels of impact support.

Strap: A band that goes over the shoulder or around the neck to support the bra. Straps can be adjustable, convertible, or detachable for versatile wear.

Strapless Bra: Designed to be worn without shoulder straps and often feature silicone or other elements to stay in place.

String Briefs: A type of underwear with thin, string-like sides, achieving minimal coverage.

Support Panel: A support panel is an extra piece of fabric or structural feature added to lingerie to enhance support, commonly found in bras for fuller busts.

 

T

Tanga: A style of knicker with a narrow back and low-rise front, providing minimal coverage while remaining comfortable. Similar to Brazilian knickers.

Teddy: A one-piece garment that combines a camisole with knickers, often designed with lace and sheer fabrics for a sexy look.

Thongs: Minimalist underwear with a narrow strip at the back, preventing visible panty lines and offering an alluring appearance.

Torsette: A torsette is a shaping garment designed to be worn over your own bra, offering control for the torso while allowing flexibility in bra choice.

Transversal Seam: A transversal seam runs diagonally across the cup, delivering a natural shape and support. This seam type is commonly used in cut and sew bras.

Triangle Bra: Features triangular cups with a simple, minimalist design. Often without underwire, these are ideal for smaller busts and a relaxed fit.

T-Shirt Bra: Uses smooth, moulded cups for a seamless look under tight-fitting tops, providing a natural shape and great coverage.

Tummy Control Underwear: Offers extra support and shaping for the midsection, helping to create a smooth and streamlined look.

 

U

Underbust Band: The band that runs around the ribcage under the bust, providing support and stability for the bra.

Underbust Corset: A corset that starts under the bust and extends to the hips, offering waist cinching and shaping.

Underwear: Underwear or undies is the general term for garments worn next to the skin, including knickers, bras, shapewear and more.

Underwire Bra: Underwire bras, also called wired bras, have a semi-circular wire in the cups of a bra, providing lift and support. They're available in various styles to suit different finishes beneath clothes and to support every cup size.

Unlined Cups: Bra cups without additional padding or lining, creating a much more natural shape. Perfect for a lighter, breathable feel.

 

V

VPL: Visible Panty Line. The outline of underwear that’s visible through clothing. Seamless or thong underwear can help prevent VPL.

V-String: Similar to a thong but with even less coverage, these feature a thin strip of fabric at the back. Ideal for avoiding panty lines.

 

W

Waist Cincher: A garment designed to cinch in the waist and create an hourglass silhouette. Usually with boning for added structure.

Waspie Corset: A shorter corset that focuses on cinching in the waist, typically worn around the midsection.

Wide Set Straps: Positioned further apart on the shoulders, offering a different fit and look compared to standard bra straps.

Wireless Bra: Also known as soft cup bras, these still provide support without underwires, making them much more comfortable and natural-looking.

 

X

 

Y

Yoke: The fabric piece at the top of a garment, such as a bodysuit or a chemise, which provides structure and shape.

 

Z

Zip Front Bra: Bra with a front zipper closure, adding convenience and a stylish detail. Ideal for sports bras and post-surgery garments.

 

#

2-Section Cup Bra: A bra made with two fabric pieces stitched together to form each cup. This design includes a horizontal or vertical seam, providing a natural shape and moderate support.

3-Section Cup Bra: A bra with cups made from three separate pieces of fabric, offering a tailored fit and excellent support.

4-Section Cup Bra: This bra features four distinct fabric panels per cup, often including a side panel for additional support and shaping. This design offers enhanced lift and a more defined shape, making it suitable for larger busts and those seeking extra structure.

 

With this glossary at your fingertips, you'll be ready to dive into the world of lingerie with confidence and flair. Explore our collections and find the perfect pieces to enhance your wardrobe and celebrate your style.