Lingerie Glossary

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·         Garter
A garter is a band of elastic, worn around the leg to hold up a sock or stocking.

·         Garter Belt
A garter belt is a belt that wraps around the waist, and has clasps that attach to stockings to hold them up.

·         G-String
A bikini panty with virtually no back coverage. It consists of a small front panel held to the body entirely with strings. Worn to prevent panty lines under tight-fitting garments. Less coverage than a thong.

·         Gown
A gown could be any of a number of women's outer garments, such as an elegant formal dress, or a dressing robe, that comes down all the way to the ankles.

·         Girdle
The name given to any undergarment that is close fitting, often boned and usually elasticized, that extends from the waist to below the hips. With the new fabrics and construction techniques available, this word has become somewhat obsolete and has been replaced with the word shaper or shapewear.

·         Gusset Closure
The name given to a hook and eye or snap crotch closure. Usually seen on body briefers or body suits.

·         Halter top
A halter top is a woman's top that goes behind the neck and across the back, with the arms, shoulders, and back left bare.

·         Hi Cut Brief
Also known as a "French cut" brief, this panty is high-cut on the leg and sides yet offers full coverage in back.

·         Hi Cut Rio
A panty style similar to the string bikini, but with moderate back coverage that looks more like a "v" instead of the "u" which is found in full coverage backs. Many times, the waistband in the high-cut Rio is nothing more than a 1" to 2" piece of elastic.

·         Hi Waisted Brief
Shapewear with a brief panty and a high waist to give shaping and support to the waistline.

·         Hipster
A mid coverage panty, which rests lower on the hip than a brief. the rise is shorter, so the waistline of the hipster is well below the navel. A hipster is a perfect solution for wearing under low cut jeans.

·         Inner Sling
Inner slings are a support feature. They are also known as support panels. An inner sling can be a curved strip of fabric which follows the natural curve of the bra similar to an underwire, 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.

·         Interlining
A padding, or stiffening fabric, either sewn to the wrong side of the lining or the inner side of the outer shell fabric. The interlining is used primarily to provide warmth.

·         Jacquard
A fabric of intricate weave or pattern.

·         Long line
A long line bustier goes further down than a normal one, usually as far as the hips.

·         Lurex
A trademark used for metallic yarn or thread.

·         Light Support
A bra frame style featuring cutaway wings with little or no banding under the cups.

·         Lined Cup
A bra with a lining in the cup. This lining gives additional support and added opaqueness to the cup.

·         Long Leg
A type of shapewear with a brief top and half legs that give support and control down the thighs. Usually a "leg gripper" is sewn along the leg ends to keep the leg from curling up.

·         Long Line
A midriff-slimming bra with to-the-waist panels for extra smoothing. This can offer the shaping of a corset.

·         Low Rise
The rise is the measurement between the waistband and the first horizontal seam of a panty. The average brief or panty has a 9" rise. A low rise is when the rise measurment is 7" or less.

·         Maternity Bra
A bra designed for women who are pregnant. May or may not have a design feature for easy access breast-feeding.

·         Merrywidow
Another type of corset. It is often strapless and comes to a point in the center front. It can also come with detachable garters to wear with stockings.

·         Micro Fiber
Very fine Nylon or Polyester filaments that, when woven, produce light soft and breathable fabrics ensuring comfort and durability.

·         Mesh
A woven knit, or knotted material of open texture with evenly spaced holes.

·         Minimizer
A minimizer bra is designed to de-emphasize a full bustline. Worn by large-busted women (size C and larger), such bras reduce the bustline while at the same time giving a smooth natural look. Most minimizers on the market are made of strong micro fiber. A well-fitting minimizer will not give you a "uni-boob" look.

·         Molded
Molded bras have cups which are machine molded. The cups are shaped to give the breast a natural look. Molded bras are usually unlined and may be either soft cup or underwire. They are seamless to create a smooth silhouette, unless overlaid with lace.

·         Multiway
A multiway bra has straps, which can be worn in six different configurations: conventional, halter, one-shoulder, off-the-shoulder, criss-crossed, and strapless. 

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