Glossary of Terms
A
Adjustable Back: The back of a garment, usually a bra, corset or bustier which has multiple settings to allow for individual sizing preferences. Typically, adjustments are made with hook-and-eye closures or lacing.
B
Back Fastening: This term is used when describing how a bra closes. Traditionally, a back fastening bra has two rows of hook and eye fastenings and three adjustments. Full cup and strapless bras usually have three rows of hook and eye fastenings as well as three adjustments.
Balconette Bra: More often than not, a balconette style bra also includes a little padding to enhance bust size.
Banded Underwire: A bra with a banded underwire has an extra piece of fabric below the under wire to give extra control.
Basque: A name given to any tight-fitting bodice garment worn by women usually fastened at the back. Examples of a basque include a corset and corselette.
Bra: The shortened word for brassiere. A woman's close-fitting foundation garment consisting of shoulder straps, two cups, a centre panel, an under-bust band, sides, and a back which is worn to support and give contour to the breasts. Bra types are quite varied, depending on style, function, and materials. Styles include front fastening, strapless, convertible, push-up, full-cup, three-quarters cup, half-cup, long line, underwire, padded, soft-cup, and T-shirt Bra.
Bra Cup: The fabric in a bra that surrounds and supports the breasts.
Bra Size: A bra size is made up of a number (in inches or centimetres), determined by measuring around the body over the largest portion of the breasts (e.g. 34, 36, 38, etc.); and a letter, determined by measuring under the breasts, then calculating the difference between the two numbers (e.g. B, C, D, etc.). Examples of bra sizes would be 34B, 36C, 38D, etc. We have from a 28 to a 52 and AA to K Cup.
Bra Types: There are numerous bra styles but these are the most common;
Full cup bras: a type of bra that usually has an underwire or plastic boning holding them up. They can be worn by women of any breast size, and are specially suited for those with larger cup sizes as they offer excellent support.
Push-up bra: Lifts the breasts to create cleavage.
Underwire bra: Metal wires in the lower edges of the bra cups support the bust.
Bustier: A bra style top that usually goes all the way to the waist but may be cropped or go to the hips. A bustier may have shoulder straps or be strapless. Bustiers may or may not have supportive boning and detachable garters. The purpose of a bustier is to provide a sexy top with bust support and shape to the waist. Sizes are usually based on the women's bra size.
C
Cami or Camisole: Originally created as an undergarment to wear under blouses, suits, etc. that covers from bust to waist. Camisoles are usually sleeveless and offer little if any breast support, though some styles now have a built in bra for additional support. Camisoles are now often worn as sexy tops. It can be worn under sheer blouses or in place of a blouse. A camisole makes a great sexy lingerie gift since there is no sizing difficulty associated with it since it can be worn in many different ways.
Chemise: A straight-hanging short lingerie or lounge gown with thin straps on the shoulders used as sleepwear. A chemise usually extends down to the thigh in length. Panties and a robe are common matching items that are found with a chemise.
Clear Straps: Transparent straps on bras made from stretch synthetics worn with garments where strap invisibility is needed. Clear straps can be at the shoulders and also between the cups in order to accommodate plunging necklines.
Cleavage: The separation or hollow visible between a woman's breasts when a low-cut garment is worn.
Control Brief or Control Panty: A panty shaped like a brief but designed to flatten the stomach, bottom or waist and give support.
Convertible Bra: A bra that is designed with straps that may allow a variety of styles. The straps may be moved, removed and adjusted to create looks such as halter, strapless, cross back or open back bra. Also known as a Multiway Bra.
Corset: Type of tight-fitting, body-enhancing undergarment used to create an hour glass-shaped figure shape. Today, corsets are more comfortable but are still usually boned and laced. It is designed to make women look slimmer by pulling in the waist and lifting the breasts. Most corsets have lacing at the back, making the corset adjustable. Most corsets have garters for stockings and many have detachable garters.
Corselette: An undergarment that is a combination of a light corset and a brassiere.
D
Day Sheer: Term used for stockings knit out of nylon greater than 15 Denier for a more durable wear while maintaining a near ultra sheer appearance. Normally 30-denier nylon thread is used in these stockings
Denier: This is the thickness of one thread of nylon used in making hosiery. The lower the number in denier, the lighter and finer the yarn, and thus the sheerer the stocking. 15-denier fabric is very thin and transparent. A hair from the average human head is about 50 Denier.
E
Elastane: A fabric designed to add stretch to clothing and lingerie. Elastane is often used as a component in making stretch jeans and other types of clothing that is designed to be stretchy but holds it's shape.
Elastic: A band of rubber or latex that has the ability to stretch and then return to it's original size.
F
Fake Fur, Faux Fur, Fun Fur: Man made fur. This is not taken from animals so it is animal friendly and vegan friendly. This fabric can exactly imitate true animal fur or come in a wide variety of colors, patterns and textures. Offers an excellent fur alternative.
Foundation Wear: An old term for shape wear, this term refers to a woman's supporting undergarment, such as a corset or girdle worn to give shape to the contours of the body. Restrictive and uncomfortable in the past, today's shape wear fits and feels like a second skin and smoothing and creating curves or helping hide figure flaws.
Full Brief: A panty style with a waistband that rests at the natural waist and has full bottom coverage with a low cut leg line.
Full Cup Bra: A bra with the fabric cup covering the entire breast. A full cup bra completely covers most of the breast, giving more coverage and more support. A full cup bra will not cause a crease or indentation along the top of the breast.
G
Garter: An elastic band worn around the top of a stocking and leg to keep it from slipping down, as in a wedding garter.
Girdle: Any undergarment that is close fitting, sometimes boned and usually elasticised, that extends from the waist to below the hips. With the new fabrics and designs available, the term girdle is rarely used and has become replaced with the word “shaper” or “shapewear”
G-String: A panty, similar to a thong, with a small front area connected with thin, elastic string in back and around the waist leaving the buttocks exposed.
Gusset: The triangular or rectangular lining in the crotch area of the panty or shape wear. A gusset is usually made of cotton.
H
Half Cup Bra: A bra in which the top half of the breasts are exposed and the nipples may or may not be covered.
Half Slip: A slip is an undergarment worn under clothing if it is sheer or to prevent clinging. A half-slip serves the same purpose as a full slip but it is cut like a skirt, whereas a full slip is cut like a dress.
Halter Neck: A dress, bra or undergarment style where the fabric wraps behind and around the neck for support. Halters may tie, hook, clasp or be a solid piece of fabric that slides over the head. In the case of a bra, ideal when wearing a backless dress. See Multiway bra.
High Cut Brief: This panty is high cut on the leg with a full coverage back.
High Waist Brief: Shapewear with a brief style panty and a high waist to give shaping and support to the waistline.
Hook & Eye: A closure or fastener used to secure bras, corsets, some shape wear and other garments. The fastener includes a small hook secured to one side of the garment that grasps a small loop (the eye) secured to the other side.
Hold-Ups: Stockings with rubber grips inside the tops that help to prevent them from slipping down the legs. These stockings are usually worn without a suspender belt, but they can usually be worn with a suspender belt, if desired. Stockings with a rubber grip inside the top that helps to prevent them from slipping down the leg.
Hosiery: Leg wear, body wear, or lingerie that may include socks, stockings, bodysuits, bodystockings, and pantyhose.
Hygene Strip: A temporary lining inside the crotch area of the brief. Usually made of plastic which can easily be removed.
J
Jersey Knit: Any knit fabric that has a smooth, flat face and a more textured, but uniform back. Used for panties, briefs, t-shirts, socks and other garments.
K
Knee Highs: Short hosiery that comes up to just below the knee. Most are styled with elastic tops and stay up without the help of garters.
L
Lace Top Hold Ups: Hold ups that have a lace material sewn onto the top of the hold up.
Lace Top Stockings: Stockings that have a lace material sewn onto the top but unlike hold ups, they need a suspender belt to keep them up
Legshaper: Shape wear piece designed to hold a women's legs in particular form.
Lined Cup: A bra with a lining in the cup. This lining gives additional support and added opaqueness to the cup, as in “lined lace cup”.
Lining: A layer of fabric sewn into the underside of a garment designed to add comfort, create smooth lines, or to add opaqueness to sheer fabrics.
Longs: Type of long, ankle length, fitted drawers, as in Sloggi Long. Also referred to as “long johns”
Longline Bra: Bra whose fabric extends down to the navel or waist for a bodice effect. This can offer the shaping of a corset.
Loungewear: Clothing suitable for lounging, such as pajamas, slips, robes, etc
Low Back Bra: Bra with low back strap designed to be worn with backless dresses - see Multiway Bra
Lycra: An extremely elastic fibre made of synthetic fibre widely used in lingerie and all other types of clothing as it helps clothing to retain it’s shape while giving the clothing additional stretch and give.
M
Maternity Bra: Type of bra that provides extra support, and is expandable, using stretch fabric, to grow with the expectant mother as her pregnancy matures.
Merino Wool: Type of soft wool that is gleaned during the sheep's second or third shearing. After the third shearing, wool grows back coarser and thicker. This type of wool is usually softer and less scratchy than other wools.
Mesh: Type of fabric, often made of synthetic, that is full of small openings like a net. Used for lingerie/underwear as fabric for a full piece or as inserts. Mesh can be sheer or semi-sheer.
Microfibre: An extremely fine synthetic fiber that can be woven into textiles with the texture and drape of natural-fibre cloth but with enhanced stretch, wash-ability, breath-ability, and water repellency.
Minimiser Bra: Type of bra that shapes the breasts outward to reduce projection, while maintaining support. This type of bra is designed to make your breasts look smaller.
Moulded Cup Bra: Type of bra that has cups that are machine molded. Molded Bra cups are shaped to give the breast a natural look. Molded Bras are usually unlined and may be either soft cup or under wire. They are seamless to create a smooth silhouette, unless overlaid with lace. Ideal for wearing under T-Shirts.
Multiway Bra: A bra that can be worn in a number of ways; conventional, strapless, with or without straps under strapless or halter neck tops.
N
Non-Wired Bra: Type of bra with no under cup wires designed for increased comfort. Some Non-Wired bras give light to moderate support, for petite to average figures. Other styles may furnish full support.
Nursing Bra: A nursing bra is an extra-support bra that comes with removable flaps on the cups, allowing a new mother to nurse her baby without totally removing her bra.
Nylon: A synthetic fiber that, along with polyester, make underwear fabrics more easily washed and wrinkle-resistant.
O
Opaque: Material or fabric that is impervious to light and cannot be seen through, meaning the fabric is not sheer.
Over Knee: Stockings meant to rise up just over the knee. Shorter than standard thigh high stockings.
P
Padded Bra: Type of bra with padded cups. Padding is designed to add size and definition for a well-proportioned look to smaller bust lines.
Pantie Styles: The main pantie styles are:
- Bikini: Top of the pantie is below the waist.
- Boy Shorts: Style similar in shape to boy's underwear
- Briefs: Top of the pantie is at the waist.
- French Knickers: Leg opening extends higher than normal.
- G-String: The rear panel is very small, usually smaller than a thong and may be nothing more that a thing strip of elastic.
- String Bikini: A narrow strip of fabric or elastic joints the front and rear panels. Also called “string side”
- Thong: Minimal coverage on the rear, usually a string or narrow band of material or elastic.
Pantie: A general term for women's underwear. Panties come in a variety of styles (see above)
Pantyhose: Nylon, silk or other material that stretches to fit next to the skin and covers legs from hip to toe, or with open foot.
Piping: A twisted cord covered with a biased-cut fabric that is sewn into seams or garment edges as decoration.
Polka-Dot: A fabric pattern with evenly spaced dots of a contrasting colour spaced throughout.
Polyester: Synthetic, man-made fabric with great ability to stretch and resist wrinkling.
Polyamide: A wrinkle resistant synthetic fabric.
Plunge Bra: A plunge bra is designed to expose more of the breast for a sexier look. Plunge bras create the appearance of increased cleavage because of their deep (plunging) front, angled cups and thin centre gore. Plunge bras differ from push-up bras in that they are not heavily padded.
Pull-on Bras: Type of bra made in a stretchy material and is designed to pull on. This type of bra does not have of hook and eye closures.
Push-up Bras: A push up bra uses padding and wires to push the breasts up, enhancing the cleavage, making the breasts look larger and fuller.
R
Racer Back: Style of bra named after racing swimsuits that also have straps meeting in a V shape on the back between the shoulder blades. Usually on sports bras.
Rayon: A synthetic, silk-like fabric, but less expensive than silk. This fabric does not trap heat against the body, and absorbs moisture. It is a comfortable fabric against skin, making it popular for lingerie.
Reinforced & Reinforced Heel & Toe: The stress areas such as the toe or panty portion which have been strengthened with yarns of heavier denier. Hosiery with extra or heavier fabric in the heel to enhance durability. Hosiery with extra or heavier fabric in the toe. Hosiery with a reinforced toe is more resistant to runs starting in the toe area than is hosiery without a reinforced toe.
Removalable Pads: Bra padding that can be removed from the bra cups.
Ribbed: Fabric that has raised vertical lines woven into the knit
S
Sarong: A loose-fitting skirt-like garment, formed by wrapping a strip of clothing around the lower part of the body. Often used as a swimwear cover.
Satin: A smooth fabric of silk or rayon that has a glossy face, a dull back, and a slippery feel.
Scallop (Edges): An ornamental curved border on fabric or lace. A decorative fabric edge shaped similar to a line of scallops lined up edge to edge.
Scoop Neck: U-shaped curve at the neckline that can be a variety of sizes or depths.
Seamless Bra: A seamless bra uses a single piece of fabric for the cups, so there's no stitching on the cups.
Shape Enhancer: A shapewear or foundation garment that controls the stomach plus shapes the waist and sides. It usually has hook and eyes at the waist, and boning to keep the waist from rolling. A shape enhancer can also be called a “waist cincher”.
Shapewear: Modern term for fitted women's underwear, especially a girdle. Shapewear is designed to hold a part of the body in pleasing or desired shape.
Sheer: Thin, fine and transparent fabric.
Shorts: (Also see Boy Shorts): All types of short trousers and 'boy' shorts in our lingerie sections
Side Support Bras: Bras with a side panel for extra support. Gives the effect of pushing the breasts forward and upwards but not to the extent that a Balcony or Balconette bra would. Creates a neat side line to the body.
Silk: Fine lustrous fibre made from the cocoons of silkworms and used to make thread and fabric. Silk fabric is sometimes used for men and women's underwear and other clothing. A natural fibre produced by silkworms that is revered for it’s luxuriously soft feel.
Slip: A woman's undergarment of dress length with shoulder straps.
Soft Cup Bra: A soft cup bra uses elastic under the cups for support, as opposed to wire.
Sports Bra: A sports bra is specially designed to eliminate bounce (as much as possible), for use in any activity that involves a lot of movement. The cotton-lined cups are high at the front and sides for support, and they have a comfort under band with non-curl elastic to stop it from riding up. Some styles do use hook and eye closures. Some are made from breathable material to offer additional comfort.
Stockings: Hosiery providing coverage from over the knee or mid-thigh to the toes. Almost all modern stockings stretch and can be worn without a suspender belt, but because the stockings may still slip down the leg, a suspender belt is recommended as it will keep your stockings up!
Strapless Bra: A strapless bra has no shoulder straps, and is especially designed for wear with evening gowns and other sleeveless wear.
Stretch: Any clothing or lingerie item that is made with Lycra fabric, which lends a smooth, sleek look as well as freedom in movement, comfort and fit.
Support Panel: A support panel is another name for an inner sling. An inner sling can be a curved strip of fabric that follows the natural curve of the bra similar to an under wire, except soft. This fabric is rigid and sewn inside the cup to provide additional support. An inner sling can also go around the entire breast circumference, or just be panels on the sides of the breast. Support panels are also used in maternity clothing and foundation lingerie.
T
Thermal Underwear: Long sleeve pullover or long underwear made in thick cotton or cotton blend with a waffled texture designed to retain heat for winter wear.
Thong: An underwear style with a thin fabric back that rests between the buttocks. A panty with a narrow strip of fabric in the back that begins as a "v" shape at the back waistband and then tapers to a thin strip by the time it reaches the crotch. This style panty is great if you don’t want panty lines.
Tie Belt: The sash or fabric used to tie a robe or dressing gown that holds it closed.
Tie Side: Garment ties or unties at the side or sides, usually on certain swimwear bottoms.
T-Shirt Bra: Type of seamless, contour cup bra designed to appear invisible under form fitting clothing. T-shirt Bras are usually absent of lace.
Tummy Shaper: Sometimes called a "tummy tamer", this shape wear garment is designed to hold in or flatten a woman's stomach.
Tummy Tamer: See Tummy Shaper.
U
Undergarment: A garment designed to be worn under another piece of clothing. This is also referred to as lingerie or underwear.
Underwear: Clothing or an article of clothing worn next to the skin and under other clothing. Examples of underwear include: briefs, panties, bras etc.
Underwire: A strip of flatted steel wire (or other man-made material) sewn into the underside of each cup of a bra, used for support and shape.
Underwired Bra: An under wire bra has a wire that runs under the cups for extra support.
V
Viscose: A type of rayon with a soft and silky feel made from cellulose, often from cotton plants.
V Neck: Neckline on a t-shirt that dips into a "V" in the front.
W
Waist Cincher: A fitting garment worn around the waist to help control and smooth your mid-section. As a foundation garment or shape wear, it is perfect for creating an hourglass figure under tight fitting clothing.
Welt: The top portion of the stocking, were the suspender belt is to be attached. This area is made with a heavier gauge of nylon, doubled over and finished closed.
Wings: Side panels of a bra typically found in the larger or plus size cups that provide support in the bust area and under the arms.
Wool: Fibre or fabric made from the fleece of sheep or lamb. Wool also refers to all animal hair fibres, including the hair of the Cashmere or Angora goat or the specialty hair fibres of the camel, alpaca, llama or vicuna.
Woven Fabric: Fabrics composed of two sets of yarns. One set of yarns, the warp, runs along the length of the fabric. The other set of yarns, the fill or weft, is perpendicular to the warp. Weaving the warp and the fill yarns over and under holds woven fabrics together.
Z
Zip Front: Garment with zip closure that opens and closes in the front.