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Fashion Terms Defined

American Back

This refers to the amount of "rear" coverage offered by the swimsuit bottom, teddy, panty, etc.   An American bottom has a coverage area more than a Brazil bottom, but less than a Full bottom.

Animal Print

Fabric that has a printed pattern similar to the fur pattern of some familiar wild animals.   Common Animal Prints are Tiger, Leopard, Zebra and Cheetah.

Baby Doll

The essence of sexy innocence, this short mini gown usually has a hem that terminates just below the hip.   Most of the time, Baby Dolls come with matching panties, making a complete outfit.   A Baby Doll is longer than a crop top, but shorter than a chemise.

Bellbottoms

This 1970's retro style is back this season in the form of some very sexy pants.   Bellbottom pants are trousers flared or "belled out" at the ankles...styled after the traditional sailor's trousers.     Wear these and even Austin Powers will be under your spell...yah, baby!

Bike Shorts

Similar to boxer shorts but instead of being loose fitting, Bike Shorts (sometimes called Boxer Briefs) are close fitting.    Women voted this as their favorite men's underwear.

Bikini Panty

Bikinis give full coverage in the front and the back.   The sides are often cut high on the hip.

Bodystocking

Close-fitting body covering that is usually sheer or sheer with pattern.   Bodystockings usually cover feet, legs and torso.

Bodysuit

This is a garment that hugs the torso, it does not extend to the legs like the Cat Suit.   The Bodysuit can be either long sleeve, short sleeve or no sleeve.   The neckline can be high cut or plunging.   To put on a Bodysuit, you step into it like a one piece swimsuit, unzipping or unhooking the back and/or crotch.   Bodysuits made of very stretchy fabric often do not have the usual snap closure at the crotch.    The main benefit of a Bodysuit is that it will not blouse or pull out of the waistband of your skirt or pants, it remains form fitting but with freedom of movement.    Try wearing your Bodysuit with a jacket or suit.

Bolero Top

This is a long sleeve Crop Top with tassels sewn under the bustline and around the cuffs.   Inspired by the short jackets Spanish bullfighters wear.

Boning

Used to give a garment (usually a Bustier or Corset) support and body contouring.   Once actually constructed of bone, today's Boning is usually plastic strips slipped into sheaths sewn into the garment.  

Boxer Briefs

Similar to boxer shorts but instead of being loose fitting, Boxer Briefs (Sometimes called Biker Shorts) are close fitting.    Women voted this as their favorite men's underwear.

Boxer Shorts

Loose fitting men's underwear.   Named after shorts worn by competitors in boxing matches.

Brazil Back

This refers to the amount of "rear" coverage offered by the swimsuit bottom, teddy, panty, etc.   A Brazil back has a coverage area more than a Thong bottom, but less than an American bottom.

Burn-out

Fabric with an alternating solid and sheer design, often in a vertical stripe format but sometimes in a pattern design like a floral or animal print.

Bustier

A Bustier (pronounced boo-stee-AY) is a bra with fitted sides that extend down to the waist.   Partially thanks to the singer Madonna, this sophisticated and seductive garment has realized a renewed popularity in th '90's.   It is designed to shape and enhance the bust line, thus the French name Bustier.   Bustiers usually come with Garters (sometimes detachable) and matching Panties.   Add Stockings, long Gloves and a pair of high heels and he will be under your spell.

Camisole or "Cami"

The Cami is like a loose fitting mini-slip that stops at the waist.   Besides being worn under sweaters or blouses, the cami is usually paired with a matching panty or even a Tap Pant.    The Cami / Tap Pant combination makes a very comfortable yet seductive lounging outfit or pajamas.

Capri Pants

Sometimes called Peddle Pushers, Capri Pants are the current retro fashion from the 1950's.    (Some consider Capri Pants must go to mid-calf length, thus being a little longer than Peddle Pushers.)   Capri Pants go below the knee, but well above the ankle.   Named from the Mediteranean island of Capri.

Catsuit

This piece of apparel is called a Catsuit because it gives the wearer a sleek, cat-like apparence...but you have to give some credit to the character Cat Woman in the Batman comic/TV/movie series for some of its popularity. 

Charmeuse

Charmeuse (pronounced shar-MOOSE) is a wahsable, man-made, silk-like fabric.   Unlike silk, charmeuse does not have to be dry cleaned...making it a practical substitute for silk in some of today's easy-care lingerie.    A couple of short minutes in a warm dryer will remove any wrinkles.

Chemise

A Chemise (pronounced shuh-MEESE) is usually a short gown hemmed below the hip but above the knee.   Often they come with a matching panty.   They are held up by thin spaghetti straps, fit snugly at the bust and upper torso and fall loosely and flow flatterringly past the hips.   A Chemise is usually longer than a Baby Doll but shorter than a Dress.

Chiffon

Chiffon (pronounced shuh-FAHN) is a light weight, plain weave, sheer fabric.

Corset

A Corset has been used for centuries by women to cinch in and define the waist.   It has no shoulder straps, and may or may not have garters to attach to stockings.   Some Corsets have Boning sewn into them for more support and structure.   Many Corsets lace up the front, the back or both front and back, to give the wearer more figure contouring control.

Cowl Neck

A Cowl Neck is a neckline where the excess material is gathered and tucked in so as to form a provacative scoop neckline.

Crop Top

A Crop Top gives the appearance of a T-shirt or tank top that has been "cropped" by having the bottom one third cut off.

Demi-Cups

A Demi-cup Bra has cups (many have Underwires) that support but do not cover the breast...the nipples and the top half of the breasts are exposed.   This bra is perfect for plunging necklines, giving you support but leaving lots of bare skin.   This style of bra offers great support, while still giving the bra-less look under a sweater or blouse.   

Extenders

Extenders are pieces of material with hooks and eyes that attach to bras, corsets and bustiers to extend their circumference about 1" to 2" larger.

Fantasy Costumes

Fantasy Costumes help spice-up a relationship by promoting fun role-playing.   What a wild idea for parties, not to mention Halloween!

WONDER WOMAN
POLICE WOMAN
SCHOOL GIRL
INDIAN PRINCESS

Faux

The French word for fake or imitation.    Used to describe imitation leather and imitation fur.

Fishnet

Fishnet is a see-thru fabric with a more open weave than the standard sheer fabric.

Flippy or Flip (Skirt or Dress)

Flippy refers to a dress or skirt that hugs the waist but flares out at the hips...great style for stage dancing.

Full Back

This refers to the amount of "rear" coverage offered by the swimsuit bottom, teddy, panty, etc.    Having a coverage area more than an American Back, the Full Back offers the most coverage.

Garterbelt

A garterbelt is a garment (usually lace) that wraps around the waist and has 4, 6 or 8 garters hanging from it...a very sexy way to hold up stockings.

Garterbelt Hose

Garterbelt Hose are stockings with their own garterbelt attached.

Garters

Garters are elastic straps with hook attachments the hang from the bottom of a garter belt and some bustiers and teddiettes that attach to stockings to hold them up.

Gown

Usually extending well below the calf, Gowns are longer that dresses.   They give a woman a long, sleek look.

G-String

G-String Panties have a small front panel of material held to the body by strings.

Half-cups

A Half-cup bra has cups that support but only cover half of the breast, covering the nipples but exposing the top half of the breasts.   This bra is perfect for plunging necklines, giving you support but leaving lots of bare skin.

Halter Top

A top that is held up by straps going around and behind the neck rather than over the shoulders.   The halter format can also be found in dresses, gowns, teddies, chemises and bras.

Keyhole

Keyhole refers to an opening in a garment usually around the cleavage area or upper back.    So named because it is supposed to resemble and keyhole opening in shape, although it is more of a teardrop shape in reality.   Keyhole openings are usually used in conjunction with a high neck or Mandarine Collar.

Lining

A smooth, soft fabric underneath or Lining another layer of fabric.   This is done if the top fabric is sheer and the wearer desires a more modest look, or if the top layer looks great but feels a little rough to the skin.

Lurex

Lurex is the name of a shiny, irridescent fabric.   It comes in various colors, in either solids or patterns.    When viewed from different angles, the shiny fabric pattern and appearance changes.

Marabou

Fluffy Marabou feather accents trim apparel, shoes and fans.   Feathers are harvested from the wing covers and tail of the large Marabou Crane native to Africa (birds are raised in domestic flocks and not harmed).   Because of its "contemplative" posture, the Marabou Crane got its named from "marabout", referring to a Moslem hermit or holy man, especially the Berbers or Moors of North Africa.

Opaque

Opaque means non-transparent, the opposite of sheer.

Open Bust

Usually found in bras or teddies, this Open Bust type of garment allow the breasts to be fully exposed.

Open Weave

This type of Open Weave fabric is see-thru, with much wider weave openings than a fishnet fabric.

Panty Hose

A one-piece garment combining Panties and Hose (Stockings).   Panty Hose can be opaque, sheer or patterned.   They can be sheer only to the top of the leg or all the way to the waist.

Peignoir Set

A Peignoir Set (pronounced PEN-wah) usually includes a long or short gown with a matching robe.

Push-up

Created to enhance cleavage, Push-up cups can be found in bras, bustiers, dresses and gowns.   The cups are usually molded and padded underneath and on the side to push the breasts up and together.   Push-up cups usually give the illusion of one cup size larger.

Sheer

Sheer is used to describe fabrics that are see-thru, such as Chiffon.   The opposite of Opaque.

Shelf Bra

A Shelf Bra has cups (many have Underwires) that support but do not cover the breast...the nipples and the top half of the breasts are exposed.   This bra is perfect for plunging necklines, giving you support but leaving lots of bare skin.   This style of bra offers great support, while still giving the bra-less look under a sweater or blouse.   

Slide Top

The Slide Top is a style of Tri-top or Triangle Top that allows the cups to slide on the bodice string to adjust to personal needs...wider apart or closer together, narrower cups or fuller cups.

Stockings

Thigh high leg coverings that are available in sheer, fishnet, patterns and opaques.   Stockings come with back seams and without, with bows and without.  Garters attach to the top to help keep the stockings up.

Stay-up Stockings

Stay-up Thigh High Stockings usually have wider bands at the top.   Multiple elastic or silicon bands around the inside of the top part of the stocking grip the thigh helping the stockings to stay up without garters.

Strappy

Strappy garments have many straps as a conspicuous part of the garment style.

Tap Pant

The Tap Pant is a panty with a slightly gathered and elasticized waistband with short, loose-fitting legs.    Usually teamed up with a Cami Top for a comfortable, flattering lounge set or pajama.   Named after the pants female tap dancers used to wear back in the 1930's and 40's.

T-Back or T-Bars

This refers to the amount of "rear" coverage offered by the swimsuit bottom, teddy, panty, etc.    Having a coverage area less than a Thong Back, the T-Back offers the least amount coverage.

Teddiette

Similar to a Teddy, a Teddiette comes with garters that are sometimes detachable, and is worn with Stockings.

Teddy

Similar to a Bodysuit, a Teddy is a one piece garment that acts as a top and bottom.   Teddies do not have garters and are usually held up with thin spaghetti shoulder straps.

Thong

This refers to the amount of "rear" coverage offered by the swimsuit bottom, teddy, panty, etc.   An Thong Back has a coverage area more than a T-Back bottom, but less than a Brazil bottom.

Tri-Top

The Tri-Top or Triangle Top is the top part of most bikinis.   It consists of two triangles to cover the breasts, a halter tie and bodice strap that hooks or ties around the back or sometimes in front.

Underwire

Underwires are rigid u-shaped rods arcing underneath the base of some bra cups.   Used for support and structure, underwires give the wearer a more pushed-up bust appearance, enhancing cleavage.