Lingerie Encyclopedia

A

Adhesive bra:

Adhesive bras are the ones that are best described as strapless, backless bras that stick to the underside of the breasts using a medical grade adhesive. Adhesive bras allow the user to hold up their breasts without the barriers of a typical bra. Some typical uses are for use with formal dresses, low neckline attire, bathing suites or any fun open back top.

B

Bra extenders: 

Bra extender is a type of strap which is used in your regular bra to extend the strap when your bra straps get compact and your bust size still fits perfectly. With these bra extenders you don’t have to throw your favorite bra just because the straps are not fitting you anymore.

Bralette:

Bralette is an amalgamation of a bra and a crop top. It is often crafted with pretty exotic laces and designed in sexy styles. Bralettes are usually non-padded and non-wired which makes them oh-so-comfortable. 

Balconette bra:

A balconette bra offers a rounded look and great support with less coverage than a full cup style. The straps tend to be a little wider-set and join at the side of the cup rather than the centre.

Bra accessories:

Bra accessories are teeny-weeny saviors that help us in times of need and emergency. They are accessories that can be attached or detached from/to your regular bras to give you the desired look, feel and fit.

Bra size calculator:

Struggling to find a perfect bra that does your cleavage and silhouette justice? This calculator will help you find the right size and perfect bra for you. 

Bridal bra:

A bridal bra is a type of undergarment typically worn under a wedding gown or other formal attire. There are many different styles and designs to choose from, but a bridal bra should complement the overall style of the wedding gown.

Beginner bra:

Beginner Bra is especially designed for beginners and teenagers. This bra is usually devoid of cup sizes unlike a regular bra. It also has no underwires or hook & eye enclosures with an easy to wear slip-on style for maximum comfort.

Band:

The numbers – like 32, 34, 36, 38 they tell you the band size – that’s the part of the bra that goes around your torso.

Bikini:

Probably one of the most common panties of all, bikinis are donned by women worldwide. They offer moderate coverage making them a popular choice as swim briefs. So, if you want to flaunt that hourglass figure on the beach, sexy bikini style panties are perfect for you.

Boy shorts:

you want higher butt coverage but also don’t want to skip the shorts, boyshorts turn out to be th e perfect alternative.They’re super comfortable to sleep in, highly breathable to lounge around, and also amazingly great to look at.

Bodysuit:

Bodysuit is an outerwear that can be teamed with pants and skirts for a fashionable look. However a bodysuit swimsuit is strictly used for swimming. 

Babydoll:

A babydoll is a short, sleeveless, loose-fitting nightgown or negligee, intended as nightwear for women. The garment is often trimmed with lace, ruffles, bows, and ribbons, optionally with spaghetti straps. It is made of sheer or translucent fabric such as nylon or chiffon or silk.

C

Cup size:

The size of that part of a bra that holds the breasts. The difference, in inches, between the girth just under the breasts and around the fullest part of the breasts converted into a letter – less than 1 = AA, 1 = A, 2 = B, 3 = C etc.

Cage bra:

Cage bras simultaneously offer enough support and lift your bust when multiple straps work together, but also ensure a comfortable and flattering fit. No matter what your shape or size is, you’ll find a cage bra that will fit you perfectly.

Clovia curve fit test:

If you’ve been facing back pain, it can be the result of you wearing an incorrect bra size. A loose fitting bra will not provide you with the required support and a tight fitting bra will make you feel uncomfortable all day long. Rectify that by wearing your correct size by taking this clovia curve fit test.

Cleavage:

Cleavage is the effect attained by pushing the breasts together until they touch or nearly touch. The best bra styles to get cleavage are push-up , plunge or padded bras .

Cup:

The cup of a bra is the fabric covering the breast. All bras have cups. There are two types of cups: underwired cups, non-wired cups.  Cups are made one of two ways: either seamless/smooth or cut and sewn.

Cycling shorts:

Cycling shorts are short, skin-tight garments designed to improve comfort and efficiency while cycling.

Camisole:

Camisole or cami is a loose-fitting sleeveless undergarment which covers the top part of the body. A camisole normally extends to the waist but is sometimes cropped to expose the midriff, or extended to cover the entire pelvic region.

Chemise:

A chemise is a dress designed to hang straight from the shoulders and fit loosely at the waist, sometimes more tightly at the hip.

C-String:

The C-string is basically a thin piece of string with fabric around it that can be moulded to fit the shape of your crotch.

D

Double layered cup:

Bras that have double layered cups conceal nipple show and protect your modesty. These double layered cups provide extra bulk and make your breasts look fuller. 

Detachable strap bra:

With this bra you can instantly turn your regular bra into a strapless or racerback bra in just a matter of seconds. With just a little adjustment, you can wear your everyday bra underneath all your off shoulder, broad neck, and other tricky outfits.

Demi bra:

A Demi bra gives your breasts the right shape and support by covering nearly half of your breasts and with a low center gore, these bras are great for women if they want to enhance their appearance and get a perkier cleavage.

F

Foam(padding):

Foam padding makes your chest appear bigger. This material is manufactured particularly to come up with the perfect padded bra to increase breast volume.

Full coverage bra:

A full coverage bra refers to the amount of cup coverage provided by a bra. Traditionally, a full coverage bra covers the entirety of each breast.

Front close bra:

No more struggling to rotate your bra around or reach behind you. These Front-closing bras are super easy to put on and take off because they fasten right between your breasts.

Full figure bra: 

Full figure bras, often referred as plus size bras are especially designed for women with heavy bust sizes. Such bras feature full cups, offering maximum coverage to the breasts. They have broader side wings to avoid side spillage and broader shoulder straps to lift your breasts and give you additional support.

G

G-string:

G-string consists of a thin strip of cloth covering the genitals with the back portion made up of a string-like piece of fabric that passes between the buttocks and connects with a very thin waistband.

H

Halter neck:

Halterneck is a style of women’s clothing strap that runs from the front of the garment around the back of the neck, generally leaving the upper back uncovered.

Hipster panty:

Hipster panties are usually designed in a way that flatters the figure. They sit a few inches below the waistline and sit perfectly on the hips.

High waist:

High Waist defines the silhouette of a garment sitting higher up between under the bust and the waist.

Hook and eye closure:

A hook-and-eye closure is a very simple and secure method of fastening garments together. It consists of a metal hook, commonly made of flattened wire bent to the required shape, and an eye of the same material into which the hook fits.

K

Kimono:

A kimono is a traditional formal Japanese robe known for its elaborate details. It is a long, loose traditional Japanese robe with wide sleeves, tied with a sash.

L

Low waist:

Low-rise is a style of clothing designed to sit low on, or below, the hips. The style can also be called low cut, hipster, or hip-hugger.

Lingerie:

Lingerie is a category of primarily women’s clothing including undergarments, sleepwear, and lightweight robes.

M

Mid waist briefs:

Mid-rise briefs feature a waistband that sits between the hips and the navel, just below the natural waist. Mid-rise briefs cover more of the lower stomach than low-rise briefs do, but not as much as high-rise briefs cover.

Monokini:

Monokini is somewhere between a skin-baring bikini and a modest swim dress. It has shoulder straps and a V-cut bottom that accentuates your legs. It’s a great pick for someone who dares to bare but still wants to look subtle and edgy.

Maternity Wear:

Maternity dresses and bras are specially crafted for pregnant women and all new moms, so they can feel confident and beautiful inside out. These pregnancy dresses and bras are designed to accommodate the changing physical constructs of pregnant women’s bodies for utmost comfort even during this sensitive period of life.

Minimizer bra:

A minimizer bra evenly divides your breasts over a wider surface which makes them look smaller. Because of its smooth, soft cups and wide bra straps a minimizer bra still provides all the comfort and support you need.

Mastectomy bra:

These bras are especially designed for women who have had breast cancer surgery. Mastectomy bras come with pockets in the cups to insert breast prosthesis. 

N

Non padded bra:

These bras come with no pads attached. They are designed to provide support for your breasts. If you simply want a bra to provide support and comfort to your breasts, you can opt for non-padded bras.

Nursing bra:

A nursing bra is a specialized brassiere that provides additional support to women who are lactating and permits comfortable breastfeeding without the need to remove the bra.

No sag bras:

Depending on breast size and one’s choice, many types of bras are suitable. If you do not like padding, the perfect bra for sagging breasts is an underwired push-up bra or a plunge bra. If you prefer padded bras, you can opt for a balconette bra or a padded push-up bra. The best bra for sagging breasts is a push-up padded bra with wiring.

Nipple Pasties:

Nipple pasties are small adhesive cups designed to conceal the nipple and areola. Also known as petals or nipple covers, pasties are ideal for low-cut or skin-revealing clothing that make wearing a bra difficult.

Non-Wired Bra:

A non wired bra is a bra that does not have an underwire in the cups. Non wired bras tend to be less structured making them comfortable to wear.

P

Padded bra:

Padded bras are the bras that have padding inside cups. These bras are made to make your breasts appear bigger and fuller.

Prosthesis:

Breast prostheses are breast forms intended to look like breasts. They are often used temporarily or permanently by women after mastectomy or lumpectomy procedures.

Plus size bra:

Plus size bras are basically designed for generous women with larger breasts focusing mainly on the coverage, support, and style so that the women with larger breasts will get what they want. In technical terms, the big size bra refers to a band size that ranges from 38 and above.

Plunge bra:

Plunge bras are low cut at the centre so they’re a great option under plunging necklines. The cups on a plunge bra are angled and the straps tend to sit wider on your shoulders as they join at the edge of the cups.

Push-up bra:

A push up bra is designed to lift the breasts up and enhance your cleavage. With closely fitted wires and comfortable padding, push-up bras lift the bust upward and towards the center of the chest.

Pantyhose:

Pantyhose, called sheer tights, or tights in the United Kingdom and a few other countries, are close-fitting legwear covering the wearer’s body from the waist to the toes.

R

Racerback:

Racerback is an article of clothing with a “T” shaped back behind the shoulder blades to allow ease of movement in sports. A racer back bra can be an excellent choice for wear under a tank top or similar thin-strapped top.

S

Sports bra:

A sports bra is a bra that provides support to a person’s breasts during physical exercise. These are available in three levels: low impact, medium impact and high impact depending on the type of exercise that you are performing.

Seamless bra:

A seamless bra has moulded cups, no seams and creates a very smooth finish under thin, tight clothes. Although bras with seams have more visible lines, they have other advantages such as being a better fit for women of bigger bust sizes.

Spacer bra:

The term ‘spacer bra‘ describes smooth T-shirt bras that are constructed from a dual layer foam fabric rather than a single layered dense lightly padded and moulded cup.

Strapless bra:

Strapless bras are the bras that do not have straps. You can wear them underneath your gorgeous tube and off-shoulder outfits without worrying about strap show.

Stick on bras:

Stick on bra, sticky bra, adhesive bra. Three words, one meaning: a bra without a band or straps that stick to your breasts. A stick on bra offers the support of a bra but is invisible.

Sexy bra:

Whether you want to channel your inner diva, boost your confidence level or spice things up in bed, a sexy bra is the ideal pick. Lace Non-Padded Non-Wired Bra, bralette, cage bra and a lot more other bras come under this category.

Stockings:

Stockings are close-fitting, variously elastic garments covering the leg from the foot up to the knee or possibly part or all of the thigh. Stockings vary in color, design, and transparency.

T

Thong:

The thong is a garment generally worn as either underwear or as a swimsuit. Thongs are almost always designed to cover the genitals, pubic hair, anus, and perineum, and leave part or most of the buttocks uncovered.

Tank top:

Tank top is a sleeveless shirt that is manufactured without sleeves. Depending on the style, they can be worn as undershirts, worn by athletes in sports such as track and field and triathlon, or as casual wear.

T-shirt bra:

A T-shirt bra is a padded bra you can wear under fitted T-shirts or any clothes when you’d rather have a seamless smooth look.

Tube bra:

A tube bra is a strapless bra with a thick band on top and bottom for better hold. A tube bra is often called a bandeau bra. It is similar to a strapless bra but does not have any closure. A tube bra or a bandeau bra is an easy-to-wear slip-on bra. They usually come with removable pads.

Transparent bra:

Transparent bras feature clear shoulder straps and back band which makes them an ideal solution for all your tricky outfits.

W

Wireless bra:

A wireless bra is also called a soft cup bra. It does not have wire for the support but depends on the cut and stitching of the fabric. So there is a larger band or the inner sling to support the bra.