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A Guide to Choosing the Right Types of Lingerie for Your Body

Great lingerie isn’t just an accessory—it’s a celebration of your body, your personal style, and your confidence. This means that the right pieces don’t just fit your body—they showcase it, helping you feel as beautiful as you look. So whether you want to highlight your curves, balance out your proportions, or simply slip into something that makes you feel unstoppable, this guide will help you find the right type of lingerie for your body.

Three women with different body shapes posing in lingerie

1. Hourglass: Embrace Your Curves

1. Hourglass: Embrace Your Curves

An hourglass figure typically features a narrower waist with a fuller chest and wide hips, creating the visual image of a figure 8. When choosing lingerie for this body type, you’ll want to define and highlight your waist while maintaining the proportions between your bust and your hips.

Flattering Fits: Corsets, bustiers, high-waisted underwear, wrap-style lingerie
Pro Tip: Pieces with boning or structured support can enhance your natural silhouette.

2. Pear-Shaped: Balance and Highlight

2. Pear-Shaped: Balance & Highlight

Having a pear-shaped body type indicates wider hips and a narrow upper body. Choose types of lingerie that add volume to your upper body and shoulders while skimming over the hips to create a balanced look. Remember, you want to avoid adding more volume to your hips. So stay clear of low-waisted panties or frilled bottoms that might widen the horizontal line of your hips.

Flattering Fits: Flowing or A-line babydolls and chemises, balconette bras 
Pro Tip: Draw the eye upward with embellished or detailed tops.

3. Apple-Shaped: Define the Waist

3. Apple-Shaped: Define the Waist

Apple-shaped bodies can be identified by their curvy build with narrower shoulders and tapered legs. Choosing lingerie for this type of body structure involves enhancing your curves while defining the waist for a more intentional and sculpted look.

Flattering Fits: Empire waist babydolls, sculpting bodysuits, plunging necklines 
Pro Tip: Pick designs with tummy control or ruching for a more flattering fit.

4. Petite Frame: Lengthen and Enhance

4. Petite Frame: Lengthen & Enhance

If you have a petite frame, look for lingerie that draws the eye vertically and helps create the illusion of longer legs and a more elongated torso.

Flattering Fits: High-cut bodysuits, delicate stockings and thigh-highs
Pro Tip: Choose lighter, flowy fabrics and avoid structured designs that can overwhelm your frame.

Red lacy bra lying on white bedspread

5. Full Bust: Support With Style

5. Full Bust: Support With Style

Those with a full bust require supportive lingerie that offers lift and provides structure. These types of lingerie pieces are ideal for comfort while helping you look sexy.

Flattering Fits: Full-coverage underwire bras, balconettes, longline bralettes
Pro Tip: Adjustable straps with thicker chest bands will offer extra support without compromising on visuals.

6. Small Bust: Enhance and Flaunt

6. Small Bust: Enhance & Flaunt

Finding the right type of lingerie for your body can make even a small bust appear fuller. Choose padded bras and embellished fabrics to create the illusion of more volume while adding a touch of rounded softness to your natural features.

Flattering Fits: Padded bras, triangle cups, ruffled or lace-trimmed bralettes 
Pro Tip: Plunging necklines or bold textures can help add dimension to your chest

7. Athletic Build: Soften and Adorn

7. Athletic Build: Soften & Adorn

An athletic build is a powerful form that can be pleasing to pair with delicate lace, and softer, less structured lingerie styles. This helps to soften any hard, muscular planes and adds curves to create a more fluid effect.

Flattering Fits: Cutout teddies, matching sets, wrap-style lingerie
Pro Tip: Adorn your athletic frame with details like ruching, lace, or scalloped edges for a softer, feminine touch.

8. Pregnant or Post-Natal: Flowy and Relaxed

8. Pregnant or Post-Natal: Flowy & Relaxed

Whether you’re currently expecting or have recently given birth, wearing the right type of lingerie can help you feel beautiful while your body undergoes major physical changes and heals itself. Choose soft fabrics and flowy silhouettes that offer freedom of movement with elegant draping.

Flattering Fits: Satin bralettes, relaxed fit panties, A-line babydolls
Pro Tip: Flowy fabrics with gentle drapes can flatter your recovering body with a touch of elegance and luxury.

The best type of lingerie for your body is whatever makes you feel luxurious and sexy. So play around with different styles, experiment with fabrics, and most importantly—wear what you love and flaunt it with confidence.