Bridal Club Magazine

Bridal Lingerie Glossary

Babydoll: A loose fitting nightgown which usually reaches just below the hips. A babydoll is usually sleeveless, with spaghetti straps or cap sleeves and is often made of silk or sheer material like chiffon or lace, and is characterised by having a tight band just underneath the bust. A babydoll may have a split down the middle, beginning below the bust. Extra frills and ruffles are sometimes featured on a babydoll.

Body stocking: A close-fitting one-piece garment made of stretchy, sheer material, much like regular stockings for the legs. A body stocking often reaches down to the ankles and features a high neckline with full-length sleeves. Some body stockings also feature a cheeky peep-hole (often to make going to the bathroom a wee (ha!) easier). 

Boy legs:  These are worn by women, not boys, and are also known as boy shorts, tap panties or booty shorts. Boy legs are a style of low-cut underwear which entirely cover the hips and flatter most women's 'booties'! Boy legs come in a range of colours and styles, some featuring frills, ruffles and/or lace panels. 

Bra: Whilst an everyday bra is designed to offer comfort and support, a lingerie bra is inherently different. Post-dress-drop, your bra may not stay on for very long so practicality isn't necessarily the key. Lingerie bras are designed to wow your man so they may include push-up features, revealing half cups, lace, ribbons, bows, jewels, tassels, vibrant prints, and/or frills. 

Brocade: A rich fabric, with an intricately embossed pattern, popularly used in corsets and bustiers. 

Bustier: A close-fitting strapless top, which hugs a woman's figure and pushes up her breasts to add extra cleavage. Many bustiers feature boning, to add extra support and shapeliness. Traditionally, a bustier was worn in addition to a corset but nowadays, they are often incorporated into one piece.

Charmeuse: A lightweight fabric popularly used in chemises and other lingerie items. The fabric is woven with silk threads to give a shiny satin appearance on the front. Cheaper versions sometimes substitute the silk for polyester. 

Chemise: A chemise is similar to a babydoll in that it is a short sleeveless nightgown. However, a chemise tends to be a little tighter fitting than a babydoll. Much like a babydoll, a chemise isn't buttoned up or fastened but is a one-piece slip-on garment and can be worn with or without a bra.

Corset: Also known as a waist cincher. Traditionally, a corset was worn around the trunk of a woman's body. It featured whale boning and was laced up to restrict the woman's waistline. These days, corsets aren't as restrictive but do offer support and shapeliness. They usually feature wire boning, or elastic, and often incorporate a bustier. Some corsets lace up whilst others are fastened or buttoned. A one-piece corset is strapless and may push-up the breasts to add extra cleavage. Corsets come in a range of colours and may feature brocade fabric, lace, ruffles and/or tassels. Corsets are sure to turn the heat up in the bedroom, no matter what style you choose.

Garter belt: There are two varieties of garter belts: one which is removed from the bride's thigh and thrown to the eligible bachelors at the wedding reception, and one that is a band which wraps around the hips and sits over the underwear. As it was originally intended to suspend a woman's stockings to keep them from slipping, it features ribbon suspenders which clip on to the top of the stockings, adding sexy seams to the bride's bare thighs. 

G-string:  Also known as a thong. A g-string is a style of underwear with no rear coverage, but merely a thin band connecting the waistband to the front of underwear, hence the 'string' reference. A g-string also offers minimal coverage at the front, so very little is left to your husband's imagination. Some women find g-strings uncomfortable so seamless or cotton g-strings are a good option but they are also available in lace or even vinyl. 

Fantasy costume: A fancy-dress costume with a sexy twist. For couples who like role playing in the bedroom, naughty costumes are available in a wide range of characters from nurses to school teachers to pirates. However, for a playful wedding night surprise, you might like to dress up in a fantasy bridal costume, with a barely-there dress, veil and bouquet. 

Feather tickler: They say there's a fine line between pleasure and pain and if your man likes to toe that line, a feather tickler might be just the trick for some fun bedroom games. Feather ticklers are readily available from most adult shops or you might even be given one on your hen's night. 

Fishnet: An open mesh style of fabric, resembling a stretchy fishnet. Fishnet fabric is often used in stockings to add sex appeal but for really daring brides, you might like to try a full body stocking made entirely of fishnet fabric.

Monokini: Get the image of Borat in his mankini out of your head! A monokini is a sexy, albeit very daring, piece of lingerie and comes in a range of styles. More modest monokinis are sleeveless one-pieces which may feature large cut-outs from the side, front or back panels. However, a bolder version of a monokini resembles a high-cut bikini bottom with super-stretchy sides which are pulled over the shoulders, providing very minimal nipple coverage as they stretch over the breasts. 

Nipple covers: Adhesive circles which stick to the nipples in lieu of wearing a bra. Confident brides can add shock factor to the dress-drop with nipple covers featuring wild prints, glow in the dark features, or tassels. 

Panties: Also known as underpants or underwear. Panties are worn under everyday clothing and cover the waist and/or hip area. Lingerie panties can be worn with a bra or combined with another style of lingerie top. Panties come in every conceivable colour and can be made of cotton, nylon, silk, lace, vinyl or leather. They can feature ruffles, ribbons, lace, bows, sequins, rhinestones, prints or any number of embellishments. 

Peep hole: Panties or undergarments that feature holes on the breast or genital areas. 

Shelf bra:  A type of bra which offers support under the breasts, usually in the form of a band of elastic, but no coverage to the nipples. A shelf bra can be a nice surprise for your husband if you are aiming for shock factor. 
Suspenders: The clip on ribbons which attach the garter belt to a woman's stockings.

Suspendered bottoms: Underpants which feature suspender ribbons. A garter belt is not needed if you have suspendered bottoms. 

Teddy:  A sleeveless one piece garment, similar to a bathing suit. A teddy can be made of a variety of fabrics such as silk, nylon, chiffon, lace, leather or vinyl. Teddies come in a multitude of designs, with backless options, revealing side panels, wrap-around straps or even naughty peep-holes. There are a range of teddies to choose from for demure brides right through to ravishingly sultry brides.