Walk into the lingerie section of any store, or scroll through an intimates website, and you will encounter a vocabulary that can feel completely foreign. Babydoll, teddy, chemise, bodysuit, bustier, bralette. If you have ever stared at a product description and wondered what exactly you were looking at, this guide is for you.
We have spent over 25 years in intimate apparel manufacturing at Lune d'Or. This is the glossary we wish existed when we started.
The Core Types of Lingerie
Bodysuit
A bodysuit is a one-piece garment that covers the torso and snaps, hooks, or closes at the crotch. It can be worn as lingerie or, increasingly, as outerwear under blazers, with trousers, or beneath high-waisted skirts.
The bodysuit is one of the most versatile pieces in intimates. Styles range from minimalist and seamless to heavily embellished lace. Construction quality matters enormously in a bodysuit because the garment needs to stay in place across a full range of movement while the crotch closure withstands daily use.
At Lune d'Or, our bodysuit collection is built on the same construction standards we apply to wholesale intimate apparel, which means hardware that holds, seams that lie flat, and fabric that keeps its shape. Example: Maya Cutout Bodysuit.
Chemise
A chemise (pronounced sheh-MEEZ) is a loose, slip-like garment that falls anywhere from mid-thigh to knee length. It typically has thin straps and a relaxed fit through the body. The chemise is one of the oldest garment forms in Western fashion history, and for good reason: it is genuinely comfortable and effortlessly elegant.
A well-made chemise in quality satin or lace can transition from sleepwear to a layered outfit piece with the right styling.
Teddy
A teddy is similar to a bodysuit in that it is a one-piece garment, but it tends to be more lingerie-specific in its design, often featuring open or semi-open construction, lace panels, and decorative rather than functional structure. A teddy is less likely than a bodysuit to be worn outside of intimate contexts. Example: Desire Jardin Ouvert Teddy.
Babydoll
A babydoll is a short, loose lingerie set consisting of a fitted top and a full, flared skirt that falls just above or at the hip, typically paired with matching underwear. The silhouette is deliberately playful and flirty. Example: Natalia Sequin Babydoll.
Babydolls work across a wide range of body types because the flared skirt creates volume and softness without requiring a precise fit through the waist and hip. The emphasis is on the bust and décolletage, which the fitted top frames.
Bra and Panty Set
The most foundational form of lingerie. A matched bra and underwear set can range from purely functional to heavily embellished. The quality differentiator in luxury sets is the lace (hand-finished vs. machine-trimmed), the hardware (solid vs. hollow rings and sliders), and the fabric composition.
Bralette
A bralette is an unstructured, wireless bra, typically made of lace or soft fabric. It provides light support and is as much a fashion piece as a functional one. Bralettes are commonly worn visibly with low-cut or open-back garments.
Bustier
A bustier is a structured, fitted top that provides shape through boning or internal structure. It typically covers from just below the bust (where it begins providing support) through the waist. A bustier can be worn as a top or as foundation lingerie under formal wear. Example: Noir Éclipse Bustier Set.
Corset
A corset is a structured, boned garment designed to cinch and shape the waist. Traditional corsets lace at the back and use steel or plastic boning to hold their shape. Modern corsets range from purely aesthetic to functional waist-training designs. The key difference between a corset and a bustier is structural: a corset cinches, a bustier supports. Example: Carolyn Embroidered Corset Set.
Garter Belt and Stockings
A garter belt is a waist-worn belt with suspenders (straps with clips) that attach to the tops of stockings to hold them up. Worn as a set with stockings, it is one of the most iconic forms of romantic lingerie. The garter belt sits at or just below the waist and is typically worn over underwear but under stockings. Example: L’Interdit Open Bra & Garter Set.
Robe
A lingerie robe is a loose, often belted garment worn over other intimates or as sleepwear. Luxury robes are typically made from satin, silk, or fine lace. A well-made robe is one of the most practical luxury purchases in this category because it is worn frequently and visible beyond the bedroom.
Sleepwear
Sleepwear as a lingerie category includes everything designed primarily for sleeping in comfort. This includes pajama sets, sleep shirts, sleep shorts, and nightgowns. The distinction from daywear is primarily in the fabric weight and relaxed construction, though luxury sleepwear is increasingly made to be seen.
How to Choose Between Types
For versatility and everyday wear: Bodysuits, bralettes, and chemises offer the most styling flexibility.
For occasion dressing: Babydolls, teddies, and lace bra sets are most specific to intimate settings.
For sleepwear that feels special: A quality satin chemise or robe is the luxury sleepwear upgrade most worth making.
For structured support: Bustiers for everyday shaping, corsets for dramatic waist definition.
The best lingerie wardrobe includes at least one piece from several of these categories so that you have the right option for any occasion. Browse the full Lune d'Or collection to find pieces built to the standards of a brand that has been making intimate apparel for over two decades.
