Lingerie for Dummies

Lingerie is a wonderful item that I believe every women should own. You’d be surprised what pieces a woman has hidden within her closet which she has yet to pull out for you. Lingerie is empowering, makes a woman feel instantly sexier and stronger. But it can confuse a man. What on earth is a teddy? How does she put that on? How on earth do I get this thing off of her?! So here’s your little guide on what types of lingerie there are and how to purchase an item without insulting or misjudging your lady.
So, let’s review the terminology concerning lingerie styles:

Camisole

The camisole is generally a set, a spaghetti strap tip with fairly short shorts. The camisole top will usually reach right at the waist and women can often wear this piece under a shirt, sweater or jacket for added layering.

Chemise/Slip

This item is usually a short dress with an empire waist (meaning that the dress is tightest right under the breasts). They are considered light, fun, and flirty. This is probably one of the most comfortable pieces of lingerie, one in which she can also sleep in easily without feeling like she’s going to strangle herself. It can come in a wide variety, thousands of different types of fabrics, patterns, and designs and usually reaches mid to upper thigh.

 

Probably one of the most popular forms of lingerie, this is the innocent flirting with naughty look. The baby doll chemise is a really short nightgown, usually skirting the top of the thigh and just barely showing the lady’s behind. Like a regular chemise, the baby doll has an empire waist but the fabric that trails down from the breasts is usually see-through and floats away from the rest of the body. This fits a woman best if she is rounder or larger, that way it is covering her midsection. But if your woman is self conscious yet thin, don’t go for an overly flowy baby doll chemise, that will make her feel even larger.

 

Teddy lingerie essentially looks like a bathing suit. If you’ve never seen your lady wear something like this or speak of a piece of lingerie such as a teddy then I would not advise choosing a teddy for her on your first go. It is a unique item which is not that common. It can be a bit complicated to have fun with it on. You can push the bottom part to the side but, if you don’t like that idea, then she has to take it completely off which sort of makes the lingerie pointless. It can be very attractive though, depending on your woman’s body type.

 

Bustier/Corset

The bustier and corset are fairly similar. Both are form fitting tops, often laced or fastened at the back. The corset is often a bit longer, hitting the tops of the hips, whereas a bustier hits the waist. This piece of lingerie works to create a more emphasized hourglass figure. Good for a fully figured woman, it will cinch in her waist and push up her ample upper endownments.

Garter

A garter belt is essentially a lacy belt with straps which attach to thigh high tights. These can be extraordinarily sexy and extraordinarily tedious. Back in the day, women wore these because thigh high tights were common, but they were not made to be attractive. Now the belts are made of fabrics which are not always the most comfortable. But they can be worn for those fun moments you want to add a little spice to the bedroom. Fantastic for tall and slim women…can you say legs for days?!

 

Moving along….how should you go about purchasing an item for your special lady? Good question my friend. Here’s the deal, Victoria’s Secret is the epitome of female lingerie. Yes, I’d assume it’s intimidating to walk in there, in which case I apologize if you feel uncomfortable entering the hallowed pink halls of VS. But don’t be. Us women shopping in there know what you’re doing. Just like we know what one another are doing when we lift up a scanty piece of bedroom lingerie. We, at least most of us, think’s it’s cute to see a guy walk in. We know you’re anxious and unsure of what’s going on, so most of us would be willing to help if you just asked. Yes, of course there’ll be the few in there who’ll watch you like a vulture, just ignore them. What you’re doing is awesome. You’re willing to walk through a store tailored to women in order to do something nice for your lady!
My greatest advice for any lingerie/ladies store you visit is to ask a sales associate for help. You can wander through all you want but an employee can help point you to the things which are more common and popular…ie the safer route. Also, come prepared.
Here are the most important measurements you need to know when it comes to a woman’s clothing:

• Number size: there are two types of sizing for a woman. The number size is the first one to know. Look through her clothes, particularly her shirts. Most women’s clothing goes in increments of 2 starting at 00-20+. The average American woman is a size 12 but do not think your woman is average! For example, I am a size 4, if my boyfriend came home with a size 12 chemise I would be mildly offended. The shirts are the most important size to look at (rather than pants) because most lingerie items are more fitted around the top but definitely note what the pants sizes are if you’re planning on getting something that is more fitted.
• General size: extra small, small, medium, large, extra large, 2x, etc. It’s good to have a general idea of what size your lady is. At the very least you should know this size because then whoever you ask can help you find an appropriate size for her. For example, if you know your lady generally wears a small, then she’s probably a size 2, 4, or 6. Narrows down the sizes drastically! So definitely take note of her general size.
• Bra Size: Very important, particularly if you’re getting a piece of lingerie that is fitted on top or has a built in bra. Trust me, you need to know this. Now it may look complicated but it really isn’t. Steal a peek at your lady’s bra, on the tag should be a number and a letter. The number references the length of bra, and the circumfrence of her rib cage where her bra will wrap around. The letter references her cup size (yes, we have cups too, they just hold our breasts rather than any anatomy parts further below). The average bra size in America is anywhere from a 36B to a 38C. Getting a misfitting bra can not only lead to discomfort but sheer frustration. And unlike clothing where you can sort of guess if it’ll fit her or not, you will not be able to guess whether a bra will fit your lady just by looking at it. And going up to a sales associate and saying, “well she has pretty big boobs” will not help whatsoever.

Just remember, the wrong size can offend her very easily. And because the infamous “sex talk” probably did not include a how-to guide to women’s lingerie sizing, you’re already at a loss before you even begin. Buying a item that is too small might make her feel a little flattered since you thought she was smaller than she actually is BUT it could also make her feel self conscious about her body. Trying on something and finding it too small makes her notice her critical areas where she feels uncomfortable and sensitive about her weight and body. Buying her something that is too large is the exact opposite. She may be mildly offended that you thought she was larger then her actual size but, when she tries it on, she’ll feel better knowing at least she gets to go down a size (something almost any woman wants). So be careful!