Guide to Lingerie Styles

Corset

Corsets are specifically designed to reduce your waist, boost your bust and when laced up tight, they're a huge turn-on. Most corsets cover the bust whereas others (underbust corsets) expose the breasts.

Lovehoney recommends:

Coquette Zip Front Longline Corset with Suspenders

Bustier

Bustiers look more like a longline bra, and don't sit as far down the body as basques or corsets. Some feature figure-scultping boning, and some are soft, but they're best for shaping the upper part of your torso.

Lovehoney recommends:

Lovehoney Provocatease Black Fishnet and Lace Bustier Set (in base or plus size)

Basque

A basque is like a corset or bustier, but has cups and is made from lacier materials. Think of it a bit like a longer version of a bra. It may have plastic boning to give extra shape, but it won't reduce your waist.

Lovehoney recommends:

Lovehoney Wild Romance Navy Basque Set (in base or plus size)

Merry Widow

A merry widow is basque-like lingerie with built-in suspender straps extending from the hemline. Merry widows are a classic lingerie choice when paired with stockings and heels.

Lovehoney recommends:

Lovehoney Black and White Lace Peek-A-Boo Merry Widow Bustier (in base or plus size)

Catsuit

Make like Catwoman in a sleek, sexy catsuit! Catsuits are a full-body, tight-fitting suit that normally feature a zip along the front (and sometimes hold a crotchless secret!)

Lovehoney recommends:

Lovehoney Fierce Wet Look Zip-Around Catsuit (in base or plus size)

Mini Dress

A mini dress is just that - a dress with a shorter-than-normal hemline. Normally tight-fitting, a slinky mini dress can take you from nightclub to bedroom.

Lovehoney recommends:

Lovehoney Black Lace Keyhole Front Mini Dress (in base or plus size)

Babydoll

With cups and a full skirt, a babydoll is a playful and provocative piece of lingerie that enhances the bust and shows the legs. Because babydolls flare out from under the bust, a babydoll is great for drawing attention away from your tummy.

Lovehoney recommends:

Lovehoney Free Spirit Pink Lace Cut-out Babydoll Set (in base or plus size)

Flyaway

If you love the look of a babydoll but want to show off your stomach at the same time, a flyaway option is for you. It takes all the best features of a babydoll and makes them that little bit more exposing with a split front or back (or both).

Lovehoney recommends:

Lovehoney Unwrap Me Babydoll (in base or plus size)

Chemise

Chemises are practical yet sexy, and can be worn easily as nightwear or loungewear. They're loose fitting, with gentle tailoring at the waist and a slim fit at the hips for a slinky look. Chemises are flattering for all body shapes, so make an ideal gift.

Lovehoney recommends:

Lovehoney Parisienne Wine Lace Plunge Chemise (in base or plus size)

Body

A body is similar to a teddy, but much closer-fitting: it's shaped like a traditional one piece swimsuit, with the vest top and bikini style briefs in one. Showing off more of your legs than a teddy, a body is a great choice for those who want to display their curves in a cosy, close-fitting, all-in-one garment.

Lovehoney recommends:

Lovehoney Fierce Plunging Mesh and Leather-Look Body (in base or plus size)

Cut-Out Body

A more daring style of body, this slinkier, skimpier version of the one-piece features daring cut-outs and open sections to show off your skin. It's a confident look that's the perfect alternative to a traditional bra and knickers set, and perfect for creating jaw-dropping curves if you have a more athletic figure.

Lovehoney recommends:

Lovehoney Black Deep Plunge Fence Net Body (in base or plus size)

Teddy

A teddy (also called a playsuit) is bodysuit-like lingerie that combines a vest top and shorts in one. They are extremely sensual to wear and are perfect for flattering both athletic and curvy figures. They range from being fairly covering (great if you're body conscious) to very revealing, if that's your desired look.

Lovehoney recommends:

Lovehoney Barely There Sheer Green Crotchless Teddy (in base or plus size)

Briefs & Shorts

Briefs, French knickers, booty shorts and hot pants - with so many names, they can get confusing! All these types of knickers have a full front and a covered rear for a demurely sexy look.

Lovehoney recommends:

Thong

A modern classic, the thong leaves your bottom cheekily exposed. Perfect for avoiding VPL, a thong is highly erotic for the wearer as well as the onlooker, making this the perfect choice for bedroom or everyday wear.

Lovehoney recommends:

G-String

The main difference between a thong and G-string is the width of the fabric that passes between the buttocks - in a G-string it's barely there. The skimpy rear gives an even more revealing bedroom look.

Lovehoney recommends:

Hold-Ups

Hold-up stockings and thigh-highs have elasticated tops or gripping silicone material, so they stay in place without needing a suspender belt. Unlike tights, they make a feature of their tops which can be trimmed with lace, ribbon or PVC.

Lovehoney recommends:

Lovehoney Sheer Lace Top Hold Up Stockings (in base or plus size)

Stockings

Stockings need a suspender belt or straps on your lingerie to stay up, otherwise they will end up around your ankles. Matching your suspender stockings to your lingerie is an art form, but when it's pulled off the effects are eye-popping.

Lovehoney recommends:

Lovehoney Sheer Lace Top Thigh High Stockings (in base or plus size)

Suspender Belt

A suspender belt, sometimes called a garter belt, is a strip of fabric that fastens around the waist with straps that attach to suspender stockings to hold them up. They usually have 4 straps but some retro-styled belts have more straps.

Lovehoney recommends:

Lovehoney Love Me Lace Deep Suspender Belt Black (in base or plus size)

Bodystocking

Bodystockings are stretchy head-to-toe garments made from the same materials as tights. They're a fantastic base for outfits as well as a sexy all-in-one lingerie solution. Although they cover large areas of the body, the fabrics make them sexy and crotchless varieties don't stop play.

Lovehoney recommends:

Lovehoney Fishnet and Lace Bodystocking (in base or plus size)

Tights

With smoothing and shaping properties, tights are fantastic for creating a sexy silhouette. While many people find tights extremely sexy, they are usually worn as part of an everyday outfit rather than with a lingerie set. If that's the case for you, why not look at a crotchless design instead?

Lovehoney recommends:

Lovehoney Patterned Fishnet Suspender Tights (in base or plus size)