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Lillia
Terms and Definitions
Babydoll
A babydoll is a woman's short nightgown sometimes with lace, ruffles, bows and
ribbons, optionally with spaghetti straps. Sometimes they are made of sheer
cloth like chiffon. It is said the name comes from the 1956 movie "Baby Doll"
starring Carroll Baker in the title role.
Back Closure
This term is used when describing how a bra closes. Traditionally, a back
closure bra has two rows of hook and eye closures and three adjustments. Full
figure and strapless bras usually have three rows of hook and eye closures as
well as three adjustments.
Backless
A bra designed with a low cut adjustable back band.
Balconette
Another name for a demi cup bra. More often a balconette also includes a little
padding to enhance bust size.
Basque
A name given to any tight-fitting bodice garment worn by women. Examples of
basques include corselette and merrywidow.
Bikini
A pantywear style whose waistband rests below the navel, and on the hips.
Usually has a high-cut leg line. The sides can be anything from a string to a
thicker side panel. Back coverage depends on the style of the bikini. Bikinis
are a super comfortable medium coverage silhouette that won’t show thru under
heavier fabrics like denim or wool.
Body Briefer
A shapewear style that looks like a one-piece bathing suit. It has a snap crotch
(also called gusset closure) and a control panel at the tummy for support.
Boning
Rigid plastic strips sewn in shape wear to give structure, support and body
contouring. It is usually sewn in vertically for tummy and waist support. Its
name comes from the fact that actual bones were originally used to give support.
Boy Leg brief
Reminiscent of hot pants, this style brief has legs that come to the top of the
thigh. The waist sits low on the hips, and the back has full coverage. It is
usually seamed in the center front and back for definition. Worn under
hip-hugger style bottoms or short skirts to give a smooth line from waist to
hip.
Boyshort
Resembling a short this panty is sometimes also called a culotte or hot pant.
Offering full coverage in a modern silhouette, boyshorts are a perfect everyday
alternative and offer comfortable coverage under skirts. They are also popular
teamed up with a camisole and worn around as loungewear.
Bra
The shortened word for brassiere. A woman's close-fitting undergarment which is
worn to support and give contour to the breasts.
Bralette
A bralette is an unlined, soft cup bra. It resembles a very short crop top.
Bralettes are primarily used as a teen bra or sleep bra because they do not
offer a significant amount of support.
Brief
A panty whose waistband rests at or just below the navel, provides full back
coverage, and may have a high-cut leg.
Bump Pad
A pad that is built into the bottom of the cup to push the breast up and out.
Bustier
A bosom-to-hip corset-style garment, usually trimmed in lavish lace. Additional
features may include detachable garters, flexible boning, optional shoulder
straps, and a lace-up closing. This garment is usually worn by a woman for the
visual enjoyment of the man in her life.
Cami Top
Made of microfiber, this camisole-looking shapewear gives a seamless, toned look
under knits. It gives very light control and is a perfect solution for sheer,
form-fitting tops in order to reveal the least amount of lines or seams.
Camisole
A light piece of women's underwear for the top half of the body, with thin
straps that go over the shoulders. Today, a camisole can also be worn as
outerwear.
Catsuit
A full-body stocking. Generally long sleeved and made out of stretchy material.
Was made popular in the 1960's Avengers television series by actress Diana Rigg.
Center Gore
The center gore is the piece of fabric, which connects the cups of a bra at the
center front.
Chemise
The name given to the first undergarments ever worn by women. Designed
originally to protect the skin from outer garments, it later was used as night
wear. It is a one-piece, loose straight-hanging to the floor undergarment that
comes in one size. Today a chemise may be defined as a short, flowing gown
usually with thin straps and an A-line silhouette.
comfort straps
Comfort Straps are wider than average straps and are usually padded or lined.
They help to more evenly distribute the weight of the breast, and thus increase
the comfort of the wearer. Comfort straps are very helpful feature for any woman
who has experienced shoulder pain due to her bra.
contour bra
A contour bra has cups that hold their shape. The cups are always padded or
lined and they have an underwire. Contour bras are similar to a molded bra,
except molded bras may not have cups with padding or underwires. Contour bras
are a perfect choice for any woman seeking a sculpted silhouette, as they offer
a significant amount of coverage and control. A contour bra can also add
definition (not size) to the breast, a smooth shape, and elimination of nipple
contours. A good choice for in-between bra sizes, or a woman with uneven
breasts..
control brief
A panty shaped like a brief but designed to flatten the tummy and give support
while providing a smooth silhouette.
convertible
A convertible bra has straps, which can be worn in six different configurations:
conventional, halter, one-shoulder, off-the-shoulder, criss-crossed, and
strapless.
cookie
A padded insert in the cup of a bra. Though usually made of fiberfill, it can
also be made with water, oil or a gel. Cookies help to change the shape of the
breast. They also help when one breast is smaller than the other. Placing a
cookie in the bra cup of the smaller breast will give you a more even look.
corselet
Also spelled corselette, it is a woman's support undergarment that combines a
girdle with a bra.
corset
A woman's support undergarment that is boned and close fitting. It is almost
always hooked and laced. It begins either above or just below the bust and
extends down to the waist or below the hips. Usually garters are attached at its
base.
culotte
A wide leg version of a boyshort.
décolleté
A bra style with a very low-cut front panel to create a dramatic
cleavage-enhancing look.
demi cup
A demi cup (or demi) style bra means a contoured underwire design with a large
portion of the upper half of the cup being cut away to expose the upper part of
the breasts. The shoulder straps are also set farther apart (wide -set). Such
bras are often referred to as being d‚collet‚ and are worn when the top of a
garment is cut low, wide or square. Men find this style bra very attractive on
women. Can also be called a balconette or a shelf bra.
foam cup
Padding in the cup of the bra is made of foam. Such padding does not bunch up
during washing and gives a smooth look to the cup.
foundations
A pre-war term for shapewear, these undergarments were called foundations
because of their similarity to concrete. Ladies who wore them were seen as
"solid citizens" while those who refused came to be known as "loose women."
Today's shapewear fits and feels like a second skin--coaxing your curves into
their smoothest, sleekest, most naturally perfect state.
french cut
Another name for high-cut brief.
front close
A bra that closes in the center front with either a plastic barrel closure or a
hook and eye closure. A good style for plunging or v-necklines.
full cup
A full cup bras completely covers most of the breast, offering both more
coverage and more support than a demi cup bra. A full cup bra will not cause a
crease or indentation along the top of the breast.
full figure
Women who wear bras sizes 32-36DD and 38-42C-DD and larger are classified as
full figure women. Bras made in these sizes are usually designed to give
additional support. Common features include padding, wider shoulder straps and
triple hook and eye closures.
full support
A bra with this characteristic will have banding under the cups, substantial
side wings, and closures with two or more hooks.
g-string
A bikini panty with virtually no back coverage. It consists of a small front
panel held to the body entirely with strings. Worn to prevent panty lines under
tight-fitting garments. Less coverage than a thong.
garter
A strap hanging from a garter belt or bustier to support stockings (not
pantyhose), It is also the term used for a band worn around the arm to hold up a
shirt sleeve, or around the knee to hold up socks.
garter belt
A belt worn around the waist with four clips or garters to keep stockings (not
pantyhose) up and in place. A garter belt can be purchased in a variety of
colors. Lingerie fashion etiquette dictates that the color and design of the
garter belt match the stockings and panties.
girdle
The name given to any undergarment that is close fitting, often boned and
usually elasticized, that extends from the waist to below the hips. With the new
fabrics and construction techniques available, this word has become somewhat
obsolete and has been replaced with the word shaper or shapewear.
gusset closure
The name given to a hook and eye or snap crotch closure. Usually seen on body
briefers or body suits.
halter
A bra style featuring straps that fasten behind the neck. This bra is perfect
for backless dresses. This bra style can many times also convert to criss-cross
or one-shoulder configurations.
hi-cut brief
Also known as a "French cut" brief, this panty is high-cut on the leg and sides
yet offers full coverage in back.
hi-cut Rio
A panty style similar to the string bikini, but with moderate back coverage that
looks more like a "v" instead of the "u" which is found in full coverage backs.
Many times, the waistband in the high-cut Rio is nothing more than a 1" to 2"
piece of elastic.
hi-waisted brief
Shapewear with a brief panty and a high waist to give shaping and support to the
waistline.
hipster
A mid coverage panty, which rests lower on the hip than a brief. the rise is
shorter, so the waistline of the hipster is well below the navel. A hipster is a
perfect solution for wearing under low cut jeans.
inner sling
Inner slings are a support feature. They are also known as support panels. An
inner sling can be a curved strip of fabric which follows the natural curve of
the bra similar to an underwire, except soft. This fabric is rigid and sewn
inside the cup to provide additional support. An inner sling can also go around
the entire breast circumference, or just be panels on the sides of the breast.
interlining
A padding, or stiffening fabric, either sewn to the wrong side of the lining or
the inner side of the outer shell fabric. The interlining is used primarily to
provide warmth.
light support
A bra frame style featuring cutaway wings with little or no banding under the
cups.
lined cup
A bra with a lining in the cup. This lining gives additional support and added
opaqueness to the cup.
long leg
A type of shapewear with a brief top and half legs that give support and control
down the thighs. Usually a "leg gripper" is sewn along the leg ends to keep the
leg from curling up.
long line
A midriff-slimming bra with to-the-waist panels for extra smoothing. This can
offer the shaping of a corset.
low rise
The rise is the measurement between the waistband and the first horizontal seam
of a panty. The average brief or panty has a 9" rise. A low rise is when the
rise measurment is 7" or less.
maternity bra
A bra designed for women who are pregnant. May or may not have a design feature
for easy access breast-feeding.
merrywidow
Another type of corset. It is often strapless and comes to a point in the center
front. It can also come with detachable garters to wear with stockings.
Micro-Fiber
Very fine Nylon or Polyester filaments that, when woven, produce light soft and
breathable fabrics ensuring comfort and durability.
minimizer
A minimizer bra is designed to de-emphasize a full bustline. Worn by
large-busted women (size C and larger), such bras reduce the bustline while at
the same time giving a smooth natural look. Most minimizers on the market are
made of strong microfiber. A well-fitting minimizer will not give you a "uni-boob"
look.
molded
Molded bras have cups which are machine molded. The cups are shaped to give the
breast a natural look. Molded bras are usually unlined and may be either soft
cup or underwire. They are seamless to create a smooth siohouette, unless
overlaid with lace.
multiway
See convertible bra.
nursing bra
A bra with specially designed cups that open to allow access to a baby for
nursing.
padded
A bra with padded fiberfill cups. The padding adds size and definition to give a
well-proportioned look to smaller bustlines.
pantliner
A pantliner is any undergarment that begins at the waist and extends down past
the mid-calf. A pantliner can be pantaloon-like and worn as a slip for unlined
pants, or it can be form-fitting to slim and smooth the legs. Can also be called
an underliner.
plunge
A plunge bra is designed to reveal more breast for a sexier look. Plunge bras
create the appearance of increased cleavage because of their deep (plunging)
front silhouette, angled cups and thin center gore. Plunge bras differ from
push-up bras in that they are not heavily padded.
push-up
A bra with additional padding at the bottom portion of the cup to lift the
breasts in order to give the illusion of greater breast size. The padding, if
removable, is known as a "cookie."
racer-back
This bra is named after racing swimsuits that also have straps meeting in a "V"
shape on the back between the shoulder blades. This bra style is an excellent
solution for sleeveless tops. It also prevents straps from slipping off the
shoulders.
rise
The rise is the measurement between the waistband and the first horizontal seam
of a panty. The average brief or panty has a 9" rise. A low rise is when the
rise measurment is 7" or less.
seamed
Any bra that has seams running though the cup. A seamed bra tends to give more
support than a seamless bra because seams determine the cup's exact shape and
size. The best supporting bra has seamed cups and made in 3 pieces.
seamless
A bra with cups that have been molded into a permanent shape and fit. This bra
gives a smooth and almost transparent look under clothing. They are particularly
suitable under revealing and tight-fitting tops.
shape enhancer
A shapewear garment that controls the tummy, and shapes the waist and sides. It
commonly has hook and eyes at the waist, and usually has boning to keep the
waist from rolling. Can also be called a waistnipper.
shelf bra
Another name for a demi bra.
soft cup
A bra with a molded cup and no underwire or padding. This lack of structure
makes it very comfortable to wear. Most popular with A and B cup sized women.
sports bra
A support bra worn during exercise that minimizes breast bouncing. Its design
includes wider straps, and broader cup coverage.
strapless
An underwire bra with wide sides, no straps or removable straps, and a triple
hook back. Many times silicone is stitched to the upper and lower edges of the
bra to keep it secure on the body. Mostly worn with strapless tops, evening
gowns or with tops where a normal bra would show.
stretch
Bras made with Lycra fabric, which lends a smooth, sleek look as well as freedom
in movement, comfort and fit.
string bikini
A bikini panty with high cut leg line, thin string sides and full back coverage.
support panel
A support panel is another name for an Inner sling. An inner sling can be a
curved strip of fabric which follows the natural curve of the bra similar to an
underwire, except soft. This fabric is rigid and sewn inside the cup to provide
additional support. An inner sling can also go around the entire breast
circumference, or just be panels on the sides of the breast.
t-shirt bra
Designed to appear invisible under form fitting clothing. T-shirt bras are
always seamless, have contour cups, and have no lace or ornamentation.
tanga
A tanga is between a bikini and a thong. A tanga has narrower back coverage than
a traditional panty, but is not as narrow as a thong. Tangas are a more common
silhouette in Europe. They are also a comfortable transition from a bikini
before attempting a thong.
tap pant
A panty styled like short shorts with a small flair at the hem. Frequently sold
with coordinating bra or camisole. May be worn as a slip for shorter skirt
styles.
teddy
A camisole and panty combined into one piece. It can be fitted to the body or
loose. Is worn either under clothing or as sleepwear.
thong
A panty with a narrow strip of fabric in the back that begins as a "v" shape at
the waistband and then tapers to a thin strip by the time it reaches the crotch.
This style panty is great if you want no visible panty lines and a smooth
appearance.
Thongboy
Features the comfort of a brief with the benefits of a thong. A thongboy
provides coverage over the top back cheeks, but quickly reduces to a thong style
when going through the crotch. Think of the thongboy as a boyshort with a thong
back panel.
triangle bra
A triangle bra has triangle shaped cups, which offer the perfect amount of
coverage/support for petite to average figures. Triangle bras may be padded or
lined but generally do not have underwires. Most have thin straps. the bottom of
the bra is many times gathered along a drawstirng-like base.
tummy shaper
Another name for a control brief.
underliner
See pantliner.
underwire
Bras with sewn-in molded wiring that runs underneath the breast in each bra cup.
This support feature helps to lift, separate and shore up the bustline for
better shape and extra support- especially for full-figured women. There are
many different types of materials used in underwire bras today. The underwire
can now be a flexible wire, a plastic coated piece of metal, or a molded plastic
shape.
waistnipper
Waist nippers offer firm control of the waist and tummy. They are a boned
garment that starts under the bust and goes down to the waist or over the hips.
Generally it closes in front with hooks. It is the perfect shapewear item for a
woman seeking to create an hourglass figure under slim fitting clothing.
wide-away
A bra style with widely-spaced shoulder straps to accommodate a boatneck or wide
squared neckline.
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