A Little Lingerie Lingo

When shopping for lingerie online, some of the item descriptions can be confusing, especially for those purchasing a gift for that special someone and are not familiar with all the lingerie terms used to described a particular fabric or style. So, let's cover some of these terms so you can be better informed when choosing your lingerie.

First, some commonly used fabrics you may not recognize. These are charmeuse, chiffon, jacquard, lace and satin. When you see these terms, the material/fabric of the item is being described. Charmeuse is a very satiny, very soft and flowy non stretch fabric. This fabric is typically used for chemises and camisoles, slips, gowns, robes, short sleeping sets, and even blouses.

Chiffon is a fabric of sheer silk or rayon. It is a lightweight material with a slightly rough feel to it. It can be made from cotton, silk or synthetic fibers, but is usually associated with silk or nylon and can be dyed to most any shade you like. Chiffon is very delicate and must be hand washed very gently. Lace is a delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open web-like pattern. A Jacquard fabric has a pattern of some kind pressed into the solid background. It can be a flat or a raised pattern. It can be of any type fabric such as a knit or a spandex. Satin is a smooth fabric, as of silk or rayon, woven with a glossy face and a dull back.

Now lets discuss a how they describe an item having some sort of decoration on the fabric - this is called embroidery. So if you see an "embroidered lace babydoll", you know it's a lace babydoll with some kind of decoration or enhancement. You may also see the term 'appliqué'. This is a decoration or ornament made by cutting pieces of one material and applying them to the surface of another.

Men, if you are buying for your beautiful woman and she's self-conscious about her breasts hanging a little, you need to be familiar with the terms 'underwire'. Bustiers, bras, and other 'underwire' items have wire sewn into the fabric under the breasts to add support. You may also see items with 'boning'; these are rigid plastic or metal strips sewn in shape wear to give structure, support and body contouring.

There are several other fabrics available which you may be familiar with, such as silk, rayon and of course leather. There are also many other terms which we did not discussed, but the ones we went over will give you a little more familiarity with what's out there. Happy lingerie shopping!