Fashion Terms — the Apparel Search fashion terminology directory
Loungerie is a relatively new fashion term (2010/2011) that defines lingerie-like apparel and underpinnings that were intended to remain inside the boudoir. Items that can be classified as loungerie include camisoles, slip dresses, garter tank tops, and lace-top stockings, which were originally designed to remain underneath it all. Rather than being tucked beneath another layer of clothes such as cardigan sweaters, low-cut dresses and sheer apparel, these items are worn on the outside as a romantic, feminine fashion statement. The trend can be traced back to the 1930s, when designers began introducing slip dresses with a fitted bust and narrow fit after the flapper movement relaxed rigid corset rules, and it returned in the 1980s and again in the 1990s.
Loungerie Fashion Term by Apparel Search - Fashion Terms of Interest to the Fashion Industry
Fashion Terms Fashion Terms Directory Fashion Terms by Category Comfy Undies Lingerie Stores
Loungerie is a relatively new fashion term (2010/2011) that defines lingerie-like apparel and underpinnings that were intended to remain inside the boudoir. Some fashion items that can be classified as loungerie include camisoles, slip dresses, garter tank tops, and lace-top stockings, which were originally designed to remain underneath it all.
Rather than being tucked beneath another layer of clothes such as cardigan sweaters, low-cut dresses, and sheer apparel, these loungerie items are doing more than playing peek-a-boo. Sexy, romantic, and feminine, these loungerie-like items are making quite a fashion statement as they are being worn on the outside rather than as a layering piece. The trend can be traced back to the 1930s when the “flapper” movement had relaxed its rigid rules about wearing restricting corsets. At that time, designers began introducing slip dresses, which had a fitted bust and a narrowly fitting dress.
Although this term is a recent addition to the fashion dictionary, the trend for flaunting outerwear on the outside is certainly not a recent contribution to fashion. Aside from its debut in the 30s, the loungerie look also made a comeback during the 80s when Madonna flaunted the bra-look while performing on stage. During the “Like a Virgin” era, millions of young girls around the world emulated Madonna as they flaunted bras worn as outerwear, as well as lace and fingerless gloves, fishnet stockings, and tulle skirts.
During the 90s, satin slip dresses with adjustable straps became quite popular again. Women often layered them over t-shirts. Pop icon Gwen Stefani is also renowned for wearing underwear-inspired looks during this era.
Flaunting underwear on the outside is certainly a trend that has proved that it has staying power. In fact, pop icon Rihanna took fashion cues from Madonna when she wore a Zac Posen dress with a cone bra in 2008. A host of other designers and brands introduced slip dresses, among them Stella McCartney, Juicy Couture, Benetton, and beyond.
Written for Apparel Search by Regina Cooper February 2011.
What is lingerie? Learn more about lingerie in our fashion product influence section.
Fashion Terms: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Few styling ideas return as reliably as this one. Each return has its own uniform: the 1930s slip dress with its fitted bust, the 1980s stage look built from bras, lace, fishnet and tulle, the 1990s satin slip dress worn over a t-shirt, and the 2000s red-carpet version in designer dresses with built-in cone bras from designers such as Zac Posen, with slip dresses also introduced by Stella McCartney, Juicy Couture, Benetton and others. The pattern underneath the cycle is that a garment category designed to be hidden carries a charge when shown — and loses it once everyone shows it, which is why the trend rests and then returns.
The difference between loungerie as fashion and simply wearing underwear in public is construction and intent: a slip dress is cut to be seen, with finished edges, deliberate straps and fabric that works as a dress, and it is styled with outerwear pieces rather than hidden under them. That is also why the term was needed at all — neither lingerie nor loungewear describes a boudoir piece doing an outerwear job. Product-focused readers can compare the women's lingerie guide and the women's loungewear guide linked on this page for the construction and fabrics of the underlying categories.
A term from 2010/2011 for lingerie-like apparel — camisoles, slip dresses, garter tank tops and lace-top stockings — worn on the outside as visible fashion rather than underneath other clothes, where such underpinnings were originally designed to stay.
Slip dresses appeared in the 1930s as corset rules relaxed. Madonna brought underwear-as-outerwear back in the 1980s Like a Virgin era, with bras worn as outerwear, lace and fingerless gloves, fishnet stockings and tulle skirts; satin slip dresses layered over t-shirts returned in the 1990s, and Rihanna took cues from Madonna in a Zac Posen cone bra dress in 2008.
Lingerie is the undergarment category itself, and loungewear is clothing made for relaxing at home. Loungerie names the styling move between them: undergarment-style pieces presented as outerwear. The lingerie guide and loungewear guide linked on this page cover the two neighboring categories.