Many men do not even know what the different names for lingerie are referring to, let alone know how to get the size information they will need to purchase the correct size. This guide to buying lingerie will help you men navigate that section of the store!
Herein you will learn the differences between the different kinds of lingerie, such as the chemise, camisole, baby-doll, teddy, corset, bustier, dress, various box sets and costumes. The issue of how to determine size is also discussed below the descriptions—and for those thinking of exploring cross-dressing, a "gentleman's-size-to-woman's-size" guide is included as well. At last! Mysteries solved!
Types of lingerie:
Chemise - a form-fitting dress that falls around the hips that extends below the waist with bra cups, that usually includes mesh and often have garter straps.
See more.
Camisole - a form-fitting sleeveless top with thin straps that comes down to the waist. Many women feel comfortable wearing a camisole as a day-time OR night-time shirt (or "top.")
Baby Doll - Fitted breast portion that is free-flowing below the breasts and generally "flares" near or below the waist. Often comes open in the front.
Teddy - Top and bottom are one piece (similar to a one piece bathing suit) with less material. Most of the time, there are underwires in the breast portion. The underwear portion of the teddy is often a thong style.
Corset - A corset has two purposes: to create an hourglass figure and to add emphasis to the cleavage, having real lacing on the back and some kind of boning. Those with plastic boning cannot be tied as tightly as those using the metal boning, but they certainly can look terrific! See more.
Corset - tight-lacing - Have metal "boning" that allows much tighter adjustments to be made, and they are usually hand-made to order from the finest materials. We stock them in the store, but do not sell online - we really need the wearer to come in to try these on to get the right sizing!
Bustier - A corset-like item, except there is no "cinching" lacing. A bustier adds wonderful emphasis to the look of a woman's breasts, and feels ultra-sexy to wear!
Dresses - Dress that falls below the hips with heavier material than other lingerie. Usually shapely and stylish - sometimes suitable to wear in public as a party dress.
Lingerie Sets - Lingerie outfit with multiple pieces that often comes all together in a box. Usually comes with panties and sometimes with hose or other accessories.
Bodystockings - Usually sheer nylon or fishnet material covering from shoulders to ankles, with some also covering the feet and/or arms. Sometimes with open-crotch or open-breast.
Costumes - Outfits for the purpose of Role-Play or fantasy fulfillment - or just for fun! For example, "Cop," "Maid," "Mistress," etc.
Click Here to See Our Size Guides for Women's Sizes
Corset sizes are partly derived from the bra size. Above a"C" cup you would most likely go up a size, but this is why you really have to try them on to tell for sure.
Example: If you're a 34-D, you would most likely wear a 36-size for a low-end corset. The higher end corsets go by waist size minus 6 for plus size and minus 4 for a small to a large. So a person with a 32" waist would wear a size 28-4=24 for a steel-boned. For a plus-size with a 38" waist, 38-6=32.
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"Cross-Dressing" Guidelines:
For men doing conversions using pants sizes, subtract 21 from the men's size you normally wear and that is the waist size of the women's jean or pant that will come closest to fitting you. "Misses" sizes are even numbers, "Juniors" are odd numbers. (So, for example, if you wear a size 36 waist in pants, minus 21, you'd typically be either a 14 or a 16 … but possibly an 18! … since lingerie sizes always come in even ("Misses") numbers, OR, really most often, as simply "Small," "Medium," or "Large.")
Otherwise, get a tape measure and do the measurements of bust, waist and hips and consult the charts at the link above.
In general, once you've calculated your size, the following would apply:X-Small would be sizes 2 - 4
Small would be sizes 6 - 8
Medium would be sizes 10 - 12
Large would be sizes 14 - 16
X-Large would be size 18
XX-Large would be size 20
These are using the "Misses" sizing charts. They also make woman's "Talls" for women over 5'8" (torso measurements are adjusted accordingly), using the same guidelines but designated as "Tall". We seldom see any lingerie fitting that sizing concept, however. "Misses" sizes also come marked as "Petite" for women below 5'4".
Additionally, there is also a designation of "Woman's" sizes, usually marked with a number and an "X" following it, like "1-X," "2-X," etc. The size might alternately be followed by a "W" after it instead, like "12W"
1-X - Size 14W - 16W
2-X - Size 18W - 20W
3-X - Size 22W - 24W
4-X - Size 26W
Women and men are built differently, with a woman's waist being higher than a man's, and their torso's are longer. An advantage of this is a taller man who cannot find a "taller" cut can wear a woman's pants size lower on their hips that were meant to be worn up higher on a woman's waist.
One of the best tips I've seen is to go to a thrift store and buy a bunch of woman's clothing that comes close using the calculations included here, and try them all on, making note of the actual sizes that work best (and feel best!) for your body type and size. Then return to our sizing charts to work out the best lingerie sizes for you! Remember, it usually comes down to Small, Medium or Large and the "Plus" sizes.
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How to Measure For Bra Size:
These guys do it better than we could possibly explain it, so just go to this link!
Bra Size Calculator
We hope this has been ultra-helpful to you!
[Thanks to Tamara and Matt for helping with this article!]
