Clothing Definitions — definitions of garments and clothing terms from Apparel Search
Lingerie is a term derived from the French language for women's undergarments. The word comes from linge, linen, and originally covered the linen underclothing from which the category grew. Lingerie today includes bras, briefs, slips, camisoles, bodysuits, corsetry and fine nightwear, typically made in lighter, finer fabrics than everyday clothing. This page explains the term, the garments grouped under it, and the materials and construction that distinguish lingerie from basic underwear, in plain product terms.
Examples of types of items of lingerie include
Corset by bone
Corsage by elastic
Merry widow
Teddy
Bra / Brassier| The above article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/lingerie). 11/13/04 |
The category is best understood garment by garment. The brassiere provides support and shaping and is sized by band and cup. Briefs and their variants cover the lower body in cuts from full brief to thong. A slip is a smooth under-dress worn to stop outer fabrics clinging and to even the silhouette, and the camisole does the same job for the torso alone. The bodysuit combines top and brief in one piece with a fastening at the crotch, giving an untucked line under close clothing. Corsetry, including the corset and girdle, shapes by structure and elastic tension. Nightwear in fine fabrics, such as the negligee and peignoir, is grouped with lingerie when it is made and sold as part of the same department.
Construction standards explain the price range. Seams are finished flat or enclosed so nothing rubs the skin; elastic is soft-backed; lace is applied so its edges lie smooth; and straps, hooks and wires are covered or cushioned at contact points. Care follows from the materials: silk, lace and elastic all degrade in hot water and tumble heat, so lingerie is generally washed cool, often by hand or in a mesh bag, and dried away from heat. Fit matters as much as fabric, particularly for bras, where most support comes from the band rather than the straps, and a fitting is recommended when size changes. The department is organised product-first in stores for the same reason: shoppers choose by garment type, size and function, then by fabric and decoration.
Lingerie is the category of women's undergarments and fine nightwear, including bras, briefs, slips, camisoles, bodysuits and negligees. The term is derived from the French linge, meaning linen.
Lingerie is typically made from fine, light fabrics such as silk, satin, lace, mesh and stretch microfibres, chosen for a smooth feel under clothing and for decoration as well as function.
Underwear is the general functional category. Lingerie is the finer end of it: garments made with more delicate fabrics, lace and finishing, where appearance is part of the product as well as fit and support.