YOUR CHEAT SHEET LINGERIE GUIDE
What to wear for your boudoir photography session!
YOUR PERSONAL Boudoir Shoot LINGERIE GUIDE
Congratulations on booking your boudoir photo session with Boudoir Studios New York. We are confident that it will be an amazing experience for you!
One of the keys to success is bringing a stellar wardrobe with you that not only is beautiful but flatters your body as well. We have put together a cheat-sheet lingerie guide for your boudoir shoot that will help you shop for and know what outfits to bring with you to your session. We hope you find it helpful.
In this guide you’ll find:
an intro to lingerie types and what we like about each one
accessories and props ideas
creative inspiration for textures and color
non-lingerie outfits you already have
a mini guide for the guys
Please feel free to ask us questions at any time to help you through the process!
INTRO TO LINGERIE!
“I’ve Never even worn lingerie before!
Perhaps this is you - if so, you’re not alone!! Many of our clients tell us they have never worn lingerie before and it can be overwhelming to navigate for the first time! Or, perhaps you’re a veteran lingerie-wearer, but need to know what outfits look good on camera. Either way, we’ve got you covered with this Intro to Lingerie:
Bodysuits
Think bodacious bodysuits. This is a close-fitting, one-piece stretchy garment, also called a teddy. Some versions are considered clothing, but they are great for boudoir! Bodysuits are actually one of our favorites to photograph! We mentioned bodacious as they truly can be bold and beautiful statement pieces, while on the other hand they can be quite simple and demure too. They hug you in all the right places while elongating your legs and giving your bum just the lift it needs for the photos.
There are so many styles of bodysuits - long sleeved or straps; lace or sheer tulle; with breast support or without; simple or detailed - and more! Bodysuits can be layered either with a bra and panty set underneath or with a robe over.
Bodysuits are recommended for ALL body types!
Bra & Panty Sets
Think bare necessities. There are so many different options out there for sexy bra/panty sets. When shopping for these, proper fit is extremely important. Be careful of push-up bras, as they often make you look unnatural. Make sure the area near your armpit looks nice and smooth and you are not coming out of the cups. We’ve found that the best ones to photograph are those that are form-fitted with or without an underwire for support.
Bra & panty sets can range from simple and basic to detailed and extravagant - go for whatever look inspires you! And bra & panty sets go great with: jewelry, heels, thigh-highs, a robe, a dress shirt, a garter belt, props, a kimono, a t-shirt, etc. Bra and panty sets are so versatile that we recommend them for ALL body types, with perhaps the addition of accessories or clothing that can help cover your tummy if you’d prefer not to reveal your tummy.
Some things to keep in mind:
Make sure there is no gap in your cup size which is a common issue with push-up bras. Consider lightly padded bras, bralettes and demi-cups as alternative options.
The band/straps need to fit well too, make sure they don’t cut into your skin.
If you are large-busted and want support, make sure you choose bras with an underwire.
Bustiers & Corsets
Think curvy corsets and bold bustiers. Corsets and bustiers are meant to cinch your waist and give you killer curves. Corsets usually have ties in the back that help create your shape. They are hard to put on, but totally worth it (don’t worry, we’ll help you!). A bustier is somewhat of a combination of a teddy and a corset in coverage, but it has cups built in that give nice breast support. They provide a mild cinch of the waist like corsets do, but there are some hybrid styles out there that combine waist cinching and breast lifting.
When purchasing corsets be mindful of their length. The best ones are those that come all the way down to your undies and even overlap a bit, as these provide the curve cinching without causing unflattering bulges in your skin around the love handle area. Some corsets actually do not cover the breasts and you can choose to pair it with a bra or not.
Corsets and bustiers are great for med-large busted women who want to enhance their hourglass figure. Also a great choice for anyone who wants to hide their mid-section but still show off that sexy feminine silhouette!
Body Stockings
Think bad-girl body stockings. Body stockings are great when you want to express a wild and edgy side of you. These can be a full head-to-toe piece, mimic a teddy or be a short dress with or without stockings attached. They are snug to your body and are usually made of nylon or fishnets. There are a lot of varieties that you can get these in, but whichever way you go they are quite revealing and give off an edgy nude look. If you want to tone down the edginess, pair a body stocking with a bra and panty set.
Body stockings are a good choice for ALL body types, with the recommendation to add a supportive bra if you want to ensure breast perkiness.
Nightwear and Slips
There are so many sexy options in nightwear and slip categories that are a great choice for a softer, classic look. As a general rule, fitted is better than loose, that’s the number one thing to keep in mind with these types of outfits as some versions can be loose and flowy, which we don’t recommend.
CAMISOLES
Think cozy camis. Camisoles come in many styles such as slips and negligees. They are usually made with sensual fabrics such as lace or silk. To keep things sexy in bed while being ultra-comfortable, camisoles make the perfect nightwear. For a boudoir session, it communicates a soft and intimate invitation that is both sexy and pretty.
ROMPERS
Think relaxing rompers. A beautiful mixture of sexy, comfy, and chic. Like a teddy, this is also a one-piece. It is more like a cami and tap shorts combined into one. The shorts are a loose version of cheeky boy shorts. Rompers can be a stylish alternative to camisoles and slips that bring together loungewear, style, and sex appeal all in one.
CHEMISES/SLIPS
Think captivating chemises. It’s the age-old undergarment gone sexy with style. Usually it is best described as a slip with no sleeves that comes down to just above your knees. It can either be snug to your curves or loose. This is a great option for you to communicate either a conservative or a provocative look with modesty.
Babydolls
Think beautiful babydolls. A babydoll is a short, sleeveless, loose-fitting nightgown. It sometimes has formed cups called a bralette for cleavage with an attached, loose-fitting skirt falling, in length, usually between the upper thigh and the belly button.
Something to beware of with babydolls! While we strongly advise staying away from flowy, loose outfits, babydolls can be a great choice if they are sheer and still allow your form to show through. Don’t choose a babydoll if you want to hide your silhouette, it will only make you look wider than you are and produce the opposite results.
Babydolls are a good choice if you want to show off your shape with the added delicate mystery of a sheer covering.
ACCESSORIES AND EXTRAS
“What else should I bring to my boudoir session?”
The possibilities are endless! We’ve photographed so many unique ensembles including all sorts of accessories, props, shoes, jewelry, and more. Scroll down for inspiration and let your imagination run wild!
Jewelry
Jewelry can be a key component to your boudoir look. Whether it's wearing something simple, such as your wedding rings and a pair of stud earrings, or coordinating a statement piece with a large necklace, how much or how little jewelry you ought to bring is up to you. Sometimes we get so frazzled over what lingerie we are going to wear, we neglect our jewelry box! What better time to show off your dazzling collection than your boudoir session?
SHOES
We recommend that every client bring in a classic pair of pumps in black and/or nude. Having heels on during your session not only looks sexy, but they help accentuate your legs and give a more toned appearance. Don’t just focus on dressy pumps for your session. . . also consider high heel boots! If you love shoes, bring a lot of them!!! Don’t have a shoe obsession? No problem, simple bare feet will be more than enough to create those sultry photos.
Thigh-Highs & Garter Belts
A garter belt wraps around your waist and connects to your thigh highs to create a seriously sexy look! No need for those sticky thigh highs when you have a garter belt to hold them up! While many believe that you need a master's degree to get the thigh highs attached to the garter belt, rest assured you're in good hands with us and we can help you with these small details.
A word of CAUTION: When buying thigh-highs be sure to buy the ones without the rubbery material. Those are meant to stay up without the garters and, honestly, they are neither flattering for photos nor are they easy to attach to garters. The thigh-highs without the rubber are much easier to attach to garters. If you’re concerned, don’t worry we will help you snap them on. We are pros at it!
PROPS
Additional props are encouraged! There are limitless possibilities on what props can work for a boudoir session. . . but in case you’re looking for some ideas, here are a few that we have seen: Incorporate your hobby into the session, this may be a guitar, a soccer ball, sports jersey, bike, gun, book, etc. Or consider bringing some of “his” things in, such as his dress shirt, watch, flag, hat, uniform, etc.
Props can add such an element of interest to your images and help create a unique one-of-a-kind look. The idea is to think of private/personal interests or activities that you enjoy yourself or with your partner and incorporate that into your images.
Robes, Kimonos & Shawls
When in doubt, bring a robe! There are so many different varieties of robes from completely concealing to meshed and revealing! You can definitely pick a robe that is well within your comfort zone. We can use the robe with so many outfits or just by itself. A robe adds an incredible amount of versatility without changing into multiple outfits.
COLOR AND TEXTURES
Texture and color contribute so much to unique art of your images. We love the way lace looks in black and white photos, the richness of fur against smooth skin, and the glint of sequins or glitter that catch the light just so. Read on for inspiration!
COLORS
With color, keep two things in mind:
Look for contrast. The colors of your outfit need to contrast with your skin. If you have dark skin, then be sure to look for lighter colored outfits. If you have fair skin, then invest in darker colored lingerie. Stay away from outfits that are close in color to your skin tone.
Remember that dark colors minimize (“black is slimming”) and bright colors highlight. Only wear bold colors where you want to be highlighted.
While black is just a classic look and forever will remain timeless, colors can be beautiful too. Colors that are deep look really good. Red is a perfect example, a bright red outfit will detract from you, but a deep red is stunning. Dark jewel tones look amazing almost on all shades of skin. Earth tones that contrast your skin communicate an elegant look. For darker skin tones brighter yet pale colored undies look beautiful. Coral is a great choice if you want a bright look. You want to stay away from fluorescent and neon colors as well as large prints or patterns.
TEXTURES
Textures are so much fun! While we advise that you stay away from outfits with big or busy patterns, textures are a much more photogenic way to create some interest and excitement in your outfits. The possibilities are endless - feathers, sequins, leather, lace, ribbons, and glitter are just a few of the textures we love to see in photos! Check out the inspiration below:
Non-Lingerie OutfitS
Now that you’ve been informed about lingerie, let’s step away from lingerie and talk about some outfit options you probably already have (either in your closet or in your partner’s closet!) that you may not have thought of. So many “regular” clothes can be turned sexy - jeans, dresses, shorts, jackets, button-down shirts, tank tops, t-shirts (or wet tee’s!), your workout gear, sweaters and sports jerseys - to name a few!
SHEETS & YOUR BIRTHDAY-Suit
Finally, we can’t forget the one outfit that we ALL have - our birthday suit! Yes, it may take guts to own the skin you’re in, but if you’re willing to take the brave step, there is nothing more sexy than YOU in your bare form! Want to keep the essentials covered? Add a sheet or blanket!
Guide for the guys
This is our guide for all you men who are brave enough to embark on a boudoir journey - whether solo or with your partner. Masculine clothing options are not as complex as feminine clothing options, so for the guys we suggest some sexy boxers, name brand boxer-briefs or briefs (Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Dolce & Gabana, etc), jeans, button-down shirts (these look super sexy when being unbuttoned by your partner or yourself!), a muscle tank-top, or even your favorite t-shirt! Guys can accessorize with a watch, vest, or a tie.
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