Basic Lingerie Types
Lingerie has been around for a while, but a few
are no longer being used today (such as bloomers).
Things like corsets and and half-slips are not as
popular anymore as they once were – however, they
still enjoy being under the spotlight every now and
then for recreational purposes. Below are the more
common kinds of intimate apparel for women these
days:
The Bra-and-Panty Set
The most well-known underwear worldwide. These
can be bought as a complete set with matching colors,
or as separates. For bras alone, there are over a dozen
types ranging from push-ups to balconettes. Each of those
serve a unique function in providing support as well as a
beauty advantage. Panties come in different assortments
too: such as thongs, G-strings, control briefs, and boyshorts
to name a few.
Corsets and Bustiers
Corsets go as far back as the middle of the 1500's. Their
main purpose is to give a woman the coveted hourglass
figure. They're typically made of hard boning structure such
as wood or steel; though modern ones are more flexible
because of mesh panels. Bustiers were famous during the 1900's
for giving women a fuller top. These two are actually confused
with one another. Here's a neat trick to keep in mind though:
corsets are longer, reaching to the hips or lower; while bustiers
are shorter, reaching only to the ribcage or the waist.
Camisoles
Also called 'camis', these are delicate (sometimes sheer)
undergarments worn to give a woman a seamless look over
any clothing. It provides only light support but looks best under
see-through tops.
Girdles
These are close-fitting undergarments, usually worn from the
waist to below the hips. Nowadays, people refer to them as
'shapewear', though their function has not changed.