The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide to Lingerie

Are you interested in diving into the world of sexy lingerie but have no clue where to begin? We get it. It can be easy to get confused or overwhelmed, especially when there are so many great styles and pieces to choose from!

Let Moeflavor guide the way to choosing the perfect lingerie pieces that will have you feeling special and confident. Whether you want to mix things up with your PJs for Valentine’s Day or you’re just celebrating yourself, the right intimates can change your whole perspective. 

In this guide, we’ll talk about the difference between structured and unstructured lingerie, what the heck hosiery actually is and why you should wear it, and the best lingerie you can find at Moeflavor. 

Are you ready? Let’s get into it.

Structured Lingerie: What Is It?

Have you heard of this term before? Structured lingerie is pretty much just what it sounds like. This type of lingerie will have more shape, some underwire, and boning throughout the bodice. Think corsets, bustiers, bodysuits, and even mini dresses and rompers.

Feel familiar now? We’ve all heard these terms before, but we’ll dive in a little further to find out all the spicy details regarding these different styles. First up, let’s take a look at one of the more well-known pieces: corsets.

Corsets

Have you ever worn a corset before? A lot of dresses and tops are designed with a similar shape to corsets since they’ve inspired many different clothing items.

Actual corsets have been around for centuries, and their popularity hasn’t slowed down much. The main reason people have loved them is for the shape they give. Creating an hourglass shape has always been in style, and wearing a corset does just that. Wearing a corset will cinch in your waist and give support underneath your bust for a gorgeous look.

Bustiers

A bustier is similar to a corset, but there are a couple of key differences. While a corset is worn to cinch in the waist for that hourglass figure, a bustier’s main goal is to support and lift the bust.

When shopping, you can spot a bustier by the waist length. Unlike corsets, these pieces will normally stop at the natural waist, which makes them great options for wearing as a crop top if you want to create a daring outfit for going out.

Basques

This piece of lingerie may be a little less common, but you’ve probably seen them while lingerie shopping. Traditionally, basques were worn underneath clothing to add shape and support to the body while still remaining pretty modest.

Basques have boning throughout the bodice to give body support and add lift to the bust. Today, you can wear a basque as lingerie, and you’ll have the perfect amount of support, coverage, and sexy shape.

Mini Dresses

The mini dress might just be our favorite piece that we’ve mentioned so far. A mini dress can be worn as lingerie or as a statement outfit if that’s a look you like. Mini dresses are included in the structured category because they’re usually more form-fitting and have more structure than, say, a loose shift dress.

A great example of a mini dress is our personal favorite, the soft spring cow set, which is a super kawaii version that looks great in and out of the bedroom. Want to feel sexy and flirty? This set is definitely for you.

Bras

Many of us think of bras as a necessity, but they make for wonderful lingerie, too. You have so many styles to choose from, including: 

• Demi bras
• Strapless bras
• T-shirt bras
• Underwire bras
• Balconette bras
• Bandeaus
• Triangle bras
• Lace bras

What Is Unstructured Lingerie?

Now that you’ve got the gist of what structured lingerie is, that leads us to the question above. What do you think of when you think unstructured? There are stunning lingerie pieces that fit into this category, like lace babydoll pieces, chemise, and panties.

Simply put, unstructured lingerie includes pieces that don’t give you a ton of support and are more loosely fitted. These are great options if you want a piece that will be comfortable while still being sexy. You might also find nightwear and pajama sets like camis, loungewear, and even longline bralettes within this category. 

So, let’s talk specifics. 

Babydoll Lingerie

Babydoll lingerie typically looks like a pretty, lacy bralette attached to a flowy, sometimes sheer nightgown. These are delicate, soft, and give the quality of mystery. If you’re someone who enjoys feeling alluring but wants a little bit more coverage and all-night comfort, then this is a great option for you.

We love that babydoll pieces come in a wide range of materials, like silk, chiffon, lace, and more. These aren’t your basic pieces, and they’re far from traditional. You can definitely spice these up with the right accessories, too, like a fun headband or some stunning stockings.

Chemise Lingerie

You probably know this type of lingerie more commonly as a slip. Chemises are similar to babydolls but are even less structured. Choose this style if you love the look of silky nothingness. Chemises are usually made out of cotton, silk, or satin and can be worn as lingerie or simply as sleepwear.

Wearing a chemise feels like you have nothing on, which, let’s be honest, is a great feeling, especially if you’re in the mood to feel the best in your own skin. Embrace your beautiful body and let it all loose with this comfy lingerie style.

Panties

You may not think they’re included in the world of lingerie, but panties can be worn with a gorgeous push-up bra or lace bralette or underneath a lace teddy or one-piece for added spice. Panties fall under this category because they don’t give structure and aren’t as complex as hosiery.

What’s great about choosing a cute pair of panties is that you can mix and match them with other lingerie pieces, and they’re easy to wear under your everyday clothing as well, in case you want to wear your lingerie ahead of time.

Plus, you have a ton of options. You can go for a little more coverage with boyshorts or bare all with crotchless panties or unlined floral lace panties. Whether you prefer a cheeky style, a high-waist option, or a g-string, there’s something out there for everyone to feel amazing in. 

Some more of the most popular underwear styles include the following: 

• Thongs 
• Hipsters
• High-waisted underwear

Panties bring us to our next topic, which is hosiery. Let’s chat about our favorite hosiery items.

What Is Hosiery?

When you hear the term hosiery, you might think about pantyhose. While there’s a time and place for those, there are also some sexier, more bold choices of hosiery that we want to mention. If you’ve ever seen or purchased hold-ups, stockings, or garter belts, then you’ve already gotten familiar with hosiery.

All three of these items are amazing pieces to add to your lingerie collection because they can be worn several different ways and add the perfect amount of detail to any look.

What Are Hold-Ups?

Hold-ups are very similar to stockings, as they are thigh-high socks. The difference is that, unlike stockings, they don’t need to be held up by a garter belt. Hold-ups have a tighter band that hugs the thigh nicely and keeps them in place.

You can wear hold-ups alone or paired with a mini dress, skirt, or babydoll. The styling options are endless, and no matter how you wear them, your look will be just the right amount of naughty.

Stockings

As mentioned above, stockings are long socks held up by garter belts, also sometimes called tights. This means they aren’t tightly fitted around the leg, but attaching them to a garter belt only adds to the look.

Our favorite stockings are thigh-high sheer stockings, and we love to pair them with a devilish lingerie set or panty set for an extra bedroom outfit. You can also mix it up with a fishnet option if you’re feeling extra luxe. 

Have you worn a pair of stockings before? If you haven’t, they’re a must-have for anyone’s lingerie collection.

Garter Belts

This leads us to our last piece of lingerie to mention. Garter belts are sex appeal with a purpose. While you can definitely wear them on their own, their purpose is obviously to hold up stockings or other socks.

Garter belts are amazing for adding strappy detail that will leave anyone in awe, yourself included. Put on a pair to feel like the strong diva you already are.

Lingerie At Moeflavor

By now, you’ve probably guessed that we’re huge fans of all things lingerie. After all, we do carry original designs of kawaii and waifu-inspired lingerie — for all sizes. If you haven’t already, head to our site to pick out your next favorite piece that you won’t want to take off.

Here at Moeflavor, we love that lingerie has many purposes. Feel free to wear it on its own in the bedroom or out and about. These pieces pair wonderfully with your everyday clothing items like jeans or an oversized cardigan, which we love to see on the streets.

Go ahead, dive into the lovely little world of lingerie, and don’t be afraid to try something new!

Sources:

Lingerie Resource | Vintage Fashion Guild

Difference Between Basque and Bustier | Difference Between

A Breakdown of ALL the Types of Underwear You Might Need in Your Lingerie Drawer | Cosmopolitan