Lingerie has its own vocabulary, and it is not always obvious where one style ends and another begins. A teddy and a bodysuit can look almost identical on a hanger. A babydoll and a chemise share a silhouette until you notice where the fabric falls. Knowing the difference makes shopping calmer, and it makes it far easier to build a drawer you actually reach for.
This is a plain guide to the main style families, what distinguishes them, and how to think about choosing between them.
Sets: the everyday foundation
A lingerie set pairs a bra with a coordinating brief, thong or short. It is the most versatile category, because the two pieces are designed together and can still be broken up and worn separately.
Sets suit anyone who wants a considered look without much thought in the morning. They are also the easiest entry point if you are rebuilding a drawer from scratch, since a coordinated set does more work than two unrelated pieces.
Browse the Lingerie Sets edit to see how different bra shapes change the character of an otherwise simple pairing.
What to look at
- Bra structure, from soft triangle cups to underwired and moulded shapes
- Brief cut, which changes coverage more than any other single detail
- Whether the pieces are sold together or separately
Teddies and bodysuits: one-piece silhouettes
A teddy is a one-piece that combines a bra shape with a brief, usually cut close to the body. A bodysuit follows the same principle but tends to read as something you could layer under clothing as well as wear on its own.
The appeal of a one-piece is the unbroken line. There is no waistband to interrupt the silhouette, which is why these styles are often chosen for occasions where lingerie is the outfit rather than the layer beneath it.
The Teddies & Bodysuits collection covers both, from sheer and strappy through to more structured cuts.
Babydolls and chemises: softer and looser
Where teddies hold close, babydolls and chemises fall away from the body. A babydoll is typically short, with a fitted bust and a flared, floating hem. A chemise is a straighter slip shape that skims rather than flares.
Both are worth considering if close-fitting lingerie is not comfortable for you, or if you simply prefer movement in a garment. They also cross over easily into sleepwear.
The Babydolls & Chemises edit sits between lingerie and loungewear, which is part of why it is such a practical category.
Corsets and bustiers: structure and shape
Corsets and bustiers are the most structured pieces in most drawers. A bustier is a fitted, bra-topped garment that ends around the waist or hip. A corset is more rigid and more sculptural, often with boning through the body.
These are statement pieces. They are usually chosen for a specific occasion rather than for daily wear, and they reward taking your time over sizing and closure style.
See the Corsets & Bustiers collection for the range of structure available, from lightly boned to firmly shaped.
Sleep-leaning styles
Not every piece needs to be an event. Nightgowns, slips and lounge pieces are lingerie in the broadest sense, cut for comfort and for sleeping rather than for display.
If most of your wearing happens at home, this is often the most useful place to spend. The Nightgowns & Slips and Sleepwear & Lounge edits are built around that idea.
How to choose between them
Rather than starting with the style name, start with the question underneath it.
Ask what the piece is for
Something worn under clothing every day has different demands than something worn once for an occasion. Both are worth owning; they are rarely the same garment.
Ask how you like to feel in clothes
Some people feel best in something close and structured. Others feel best in something loose that moves. Neither preference is more correct, and it is the single most reliable predictor of what you will actually wear.
Ask what you already own
Most drawers are unbalanced in a predictable way, usually heavy on one category and empty in another. Filling the gap tends to be more satisfying than adding a fifth version of something you already have.
A note on fit
Style names describe shape, not fit. Two babydolls from different makers can sit quite differently, and structured pieces in particular vary. Check the size information on the individual product page, and treat any general guidance as a starting point rather than a rule.
Where to start
If you are unsure, begin with a set. It is the most adaptable category and the easiest to build around later. From there, add a one-piece if you like a clean silhouette, or a babydoll or chemise if you prefer something softer.
The full Women's Lingerie collection brings all of these together in one place, which makes it easier to see the families side by side and work out which language is yours.
