Lingerie Guide for your Boudoir Experience
Bra & Panty Sets
There are so many different options out there for sexy bra/panty sets out. When shopping for these, proper fit is extremely important. Be careful of push up bras as they often make you look unnatural. Make sure the area near your armpit looks nice and smooth and you are not coming out of the cups. That makes it more flattering in camera.
Corset
Corsets are meant to cinch your waist and give you killer curves. They usually have ties in the back that help create your shape. They are hard to put on, but don’t worry – I can help you! BUT remember you don’t want a corset that takes ages to get into as this just shortens your shoot time.
Bustier
A bustier is similar to a corset in coverage, but it has cups built in that give nice breast support. They don’t normally cinch the waist like corsets do, but there are some hybrid styles out there that combine a little waist cinching and breast lifting.
Teddy
A teddy is a garment that covers the torso and crotch in one garment. It is a similar style of garment to a one-piece swimsuit or bodysuit but is typically more sheer and definitely sexier.
Bodysuit
A close-fitting, one-piece stretch garment for women. They are considered clothing, but they are a great boudoir too!
Babydoll
A babydoll is a short, sleeveless, loose-fitting nightgown. It sometimes has formed cups called a bralette for cleavage with an attached, loose-fitting skirt falling, in length, usually between the upper thigh and the belly button.
Suspender Belts, Garters & Stockings
A Suspender Belt is a belt worn around the waist or hips with attached garters or fasteners to hold up stockings. Sometimes Garters are built into lingerie so a belt isn’t needed. There are two different types of stockings: Some have a rubber material on the inside to help them stay up.
This is REALLY important to know. If the stockings have the rubber inside they are NOT meant for garters. They are meant to be worn without them. The rubber allows them to stay up on their own. If you try to pair these stocking with garters, they are very hard to attach because of the thickness of them. Stockings without the rubber are much more desirable for garters. There is an art to attaching the stockings. Again, don’t worry, I can easily help you and teach you how it’s done.
Shapewear
Shape wear is a type of tight-fitting underwear intended to control and shape the figure. There are many beautiful options out there these days. (Not the ones that are meant to be hidden, but styles that flatter and are also pleasing to the eye).
SLIP
Think of them as dresses that are meant to be worn under a dress, often with cups built in for support. Some slips can fit into the shape wear category but many do not.
CLOTHING
Clothing is a fantastic option for boudoir! It might sound counterintuitive but think about a hot leather jacket; white shirt/blouse or ripped jeans and a sexy bra; or off the shoulder sweaters; or a sheer T-shirt. There are so many options for clothing that can be just as sexy, if not sexier than lingerie. You can also mix the two. Try a beautiful bra with a full skirt, a tank top with a lacey thong or high socks. Why not have fun and be creative?!
What Lingerie is right for me?
Now that you know a little more about the different styles, read below and determine which is the best for you! As a passionate boudoir photographer, I will be on hand to help and guide you before and during the shoot.
‘Abs’ olutely the right lingerie… Want to show off those hard earned abs and a little more skin. Bra and panty sets are a great option. Things to think about are the style of panty you choose (the amount of coverage) and what type of bra suits you best. I know its tempting to pull out a bra you might wear every day – but try to look for something a little sexier, special. Something that is meant to be seen!
Hey Ma’am….Need a lift? So you have had a baby, or lost some weight, etc… and you may feel you need some lift in the breast department. I know most women are tempted to go straight for push up bras… but resist the urge. Before you try on push-ups, look for demi cup bras, or underwire bras that offer strong support without adding too much size. This is typically more flattering proportion wise. Good support is more important than padding any day. This is not to say that there aren’t some good push up bras out there, just be really aware of how any bra fits and flatters.
Lets get to the bottom of this…. If a great tush shot is on your list, I recommend bottoms that show just enough, but not too much. I prefer cheeky or Brazilian bottoms over thongs. Many teddies and body suits are cut in the back to show off some tush. Those are a great option too! (beware of string teddies though – they don’t always flatter!)
Legs Legs Legs – lots of options… We all want long gorgeous legs. Here are a couple of tips for that! Look for high cut undies, teddies, bodysuits. The higher the leg opening the longer your legs will look. Also bring a pair of skin colored shoes with you. That will make your legs look even longer than they are. Need a lift but don’t want to show too much skin? Bustiers are for you! They offer amazing support while giving you a little more coverage, all while flattering your shape.
Want to Arm wrestle? Arms are sometimes a concern for women. Well, let’s ease that concern. Look for long sleeved body suits or throw a crisp white button down over some killer lingerie. Presto – no worry needed.
If you have some stretch marks or scars look for some more opaque materials, but stick with a style that will still show off your shape – like a bodysuit or a slip. The worst thing you can do is hide behind a lot of fabric – like a babydoll for example. It will only make you look heavier. We want to see your gorgeous shape no matter what you wear or how covered you are.
Shoes
Please bring at least one pair of black and one skin coloured heel with you. No ankle straps please. If you want to bring more shoes, fantastic!! Just keep in mind, the higher the heel – the better!!
Jewellery
Feel free to bring any jewellery you might want to wear. I can help you choose what looks nice with your outfit and what will flatter depending on the poses that we are going to work with.
Props
If you want to bring a prop or two to show off your interests and personality, that’s great. Just be careful that it doesn’t get too costume like. Less is always more.
Colours
Most colours work really well in camera. Some that do not include fluorescent colours and sometimes red and turquoise. If you like red, look for a deeper red – something not too bright. Black is always classic and looks great on everyone.
Brands
Here are some brands I love that deliver great quality and fit: Always bring more outfits with you than you plan to wear, this way we have options! I also recommend bringing at least one outfit totally out of your comfort zone. You don’t have to wear it, but you just might want to!
How to do coverage, correctly… Even though boudoir is about shedding layers, I do understand many women don’t want to show too much skin or they are concerned about parts of their body that they might not want to show off. Here are some tips to cover, boudoir style.
If you are worried about showing your stomach think of shapewear (the gorgeous kind! Not the kind that hurts!), Slips, bustiers and corsets. A beautiful lace robe over a bra and underwear is a great choice. So is a plain white tank top and lacey undies.