Lingerie Fabric Guide

The Secret of Lingerie is in the Fabric Choice

Although the range of fabrics and materials are familiar to women, there are times when men are making purchases for the love of their lives and are in a quandary as to the subtle, or not so subtle differences are in fabrics used.

The following is a list of current fabrics and materials currently used in lingerie garments and boudoir attire and this list is outlined only as a primer.

Boning - A strip of stiff material placed in certain areas of the garment to help structure a desired look or support. Seen in many bustiers and bras.
Burn-Out - A sheer opening woven into the material.
Charmeuse - A soft wool, cotton, silk, or rayon yarn with protruding pile.
Chiffon - A sheer, soft fabric, especially if made of silk.
Denier - A unit of fineness of silk, rayon, or nylon yarn. Denier increases as the thickness of the fiber increases.
Faux - Imitation, such as faux silk or faux leather.
Fishnet - A coarse open-mesh fabric often seen in fishnet stockings.
Jacquard - A fabric of intricate weave or pattern.
Lurex - A trademark used for metallic yarn or thread.
Lycra - A spandex synthetic fiber. LYCRA® is very stretchy and is used in tight, body hugging garments like catsuits and sexy dresses.
Mesh - A woven knit, or knotted material of open texture with evenly spaced holes.
Netting - A net fabric with which to cover or enclose.
Patent Leather - Leather with a hard smooth glossy surface.
Poly - A polymerized plastic or something made of this, especially a polyester fiber, fabric, or garment.
Rayon - Any of a group of smooth textile fibers made from regenerated cellulose by extrusion through minute holes.
Ribbed - Vertical ridges in a garment.
Spandex - Any of various elastics, stretchy textile fibers made chiefly of polyurethane.
Tricot - A plain wrap-knitted fabric like of nylon, wool, rayon, silk, or cotton with a close in elastic knit.