One of the most common questions I’m asked by my clients is what they should wear for their boudoir photo shoot. To make things easy I’ve indexed this page by garment style to help you find boudoir lingerie ideas that play up your strengths and diminish your insecurities.
By diminishing these insecurities and enhancing your best assets, you will not only feel more confident for your photo shoot, but your final images will turn out better as well.
My goal with this post is to give you some boudoir outfit ideas for your specific body type and thus help you get the best boudoir photos possible from your photo shoot.
You can click the following popular styles for ideas of pieces to purchase. Each category also has info about how to best leverage each style for your specific body type.
- Bra & Panty
- Corset
- Stocking /Thigh High Socks
- Teddy / Bodysuit
- Gowns & Robes
- Chemise / Babydoll
- High Waist Panties
- Things You Already Have
- Plus Size Boudoir Outfit Ideas
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.
The Best Bras For Boudoir Photos
Probably the second most common thing I hear women mention at their boudoir consultations is nervousness about their chest. For some women it’s a lack of size they’re worried about, for others it’s a lack of perkiness which is common among mothers and mature women. In either case your breasts can be enhanced using the following options.
Push Up Bra Boudoir Lingerie Ideas
The classic solution for small breasted women is the push up bra. This bra style creates the appearance of increased cleavage through the use of angled cups containing padding. This design pushes the breasts inwards and upwards, towards the center of the chest giving the illusion of more volume.
If you are not a lean body type, bralettes might be a more flattering option if you are also small chested. This is because the narrow torso strap of push up bras can dig into the torso and cause the skin to roll over the narrow support band. Wider torso straps won’t dig into the skin as much and will generally be more flattering for women with higher fat content.
Push up bras are great for: Lean, small busted women who want their breasts to appear larger.
Examples
Bralette Boudoir Lingerie Ideas
A bralette is a lightweight bra without an underwire. These designs are usually unlined pull over styles that offer little if any real support.
Although this style won’t give you the illusion of more volume, the wide torso strap common with this style lingerie will show case your figure better if you aren’t a lean body type
Bralette tops are great for:
- Small busted women.
- Concealing fat around the upper torso.
Examples
Demi Bra (half cup) Boudoir Lingerie Ideas
For those of you who feel like you’re in the goldilocks range of bust size; not too big, not to small. Congratulations on winning the genetic lottery. To take things to the next level you can shape your bust further or diminish small size imbalances with a well fitted demi bra.
Sometimes referred to as a “half cup” the demi bra is a good general shaper and will help keep your bust modest in photos. Demi bras are basically a good all around bra that creates moderate cleavage and uplift.
Demi Bras are great for:
- Women who want to shape or lift an already nicely sized bust.
- Women who want to wear a bra for more modest photos.
Examples
Balcony Bra Boudoir Lingerie Ideas
Balcony bras have the cups cut horizontal which creates a lift upwards but not inwards. The front of these bras also tends to be cut low with the sides higher to expose maximum cleavage.
This design makes the balcony bra ideal for those who want to make their breasts appear perkier. Larger breasted mothers, plus size women, and those who’ve lost significant weight will see the biggest enhancement from balconette designs.
Balcony bras are great for:
- Large busted women
- Women worried about breast perkiness
- Plus size women
- Mothers
Examples
Corset Boudoir Lingerie Ideas
Corsets are best known for their ability to emphasize a curvy figure by reducing the waist and thereby exaggerating the size of the bust and hips. This post gives a brief overview of the major corset styles and how they’ll enhance your body.
I like the balconette and demi style corsets for women with larger breasts. Small chested women can benefit from high back corsets and other creative styles that embellish the size of the upper body.
Corsets are great for: All women
Examples
Underbust Corset Lingerie Ideas
Closely related to the waist cincher, underbust corsets differ in that they are generally contoured around the lower portion of the breasts. This makes underbust corsets ideal for drawing attention to your chest while simultaneously contouring your torso.
For those that don’t want to do topless photos, you can also pair underbust corsets with your favorite bra. Separating the corset and bra like this offers a high degree of customization as you’ll then get to choose exactly the bra style you want while also getting the benefits of the waist cincher.
Underbust coresets are ideal for:
- Mix and match customization with different bras.
- Women who want to show off their bust but conceal their tummy
Examples
Corset Hack!
Most of the time when you buy a budget corset, they come with a really shitty satin lace for the back that is cheap looking. A great way to upgrade this is with a long flat shoe lace. This easy hack is cheap, and will significantly upgrade your corset so it looks MUCH higher end.
Thigh High Stockings & Socks Ideas
Stockings are close-fitting, elastic garments covering the leg from the foot up to the knee or possibly part or all of the thigh. Stockings can be paired with most lingerie, but particularly compliment garter sets as they’re designed to connect to stockings with the lower straps.
Stockings and thigh high socks are the best lingerie styles to conceal varicose veins. Additionally these pieces also help smooth out upper thigh cellulite if this is something you’re sensitive about.
Even if you aren’t self conscious about your thighs or legs, stocking and thigh high socks can add an additional layer of elegance to your final photos by tying together the rest of your outfit. Thigh high stockings and stocks are great for all body types so long as you stay away from the cheapest quality options.
Whatever outfit you choose to pair your stockings with, make sure and choose a pair that compliments the color and style of the rest of your outfit.
Thigh high stockings & socks are a great choice for:
- Women worried about cellulite and or varicose veins.
- Enhancing the rest of your outfit (especially garter sets).
Examples
Teddy & Bodysuit Boudoir Lingerie Ideas
A teddy (also called a bodysuit) is a garment which covers the bust, torso and crotch in one garment. Teddies are put on by stepping into the leg holes and pulling the garment up to cover the torso and bust. It is basically the lingerie equivalent of a one-piece swimsuit, but is typically made of sheerer materials.
Teddies and bodysuits are great for: Women who want tummy concealment with light shaping and those who need bust support.
Examples
See Through Sheer Robes, Dresses & Gowns
Everyone thinking of doing a boudoir photo shoot should consider some sort of gown or robe. It’s simultaneously the sexiest and most conservative thing you can wear for your photo shoot.
For example, you can wear a robe over your favorite bra and panty set, teddy or chemise. If you’re more adventurous, I can also strategically pose you in a sheer lace gown wearing nothing else for a sexy implied nude set. My favorite is skimpy underwear under a sheer robe.
Whatever your preference, the open face nature of robes offers a lot of posing options for all body types. Conversely, everyone can benefit from the tasteful concealment that sheer gowns offer. Gowns and robes are also one of the only lingerie options that you can find with sleeves to help conceal upper arm insecurities if this is something you’re nervous about.
Sheer gowns, robes and dresses are great for: Everyone
Examples
Chemise & Babydoll Boudoir Lingerie Ideas
Traditionally speaking chemise lingerie refers to loose-fitting, sleeveless sleep wear which is unfitted at the waist. That said, modern chemises can be found with sexier cuts that are tighter at the waist and hips. I recommend modern day fits for photo shoots as they will show off your shape better than looser fitting pieces.
Chemise lingerie typically does not have any buttons or other fasteners and is put on by either dropping it over the head or stepping into it and lifting it up. A chemise is similar to a babydoll, with the key difference being that babydoll’s are looser around the hips.
Chemise lingerie is great for drawing attention away from tummy insecurities but I’d stay away from traditional cuts that are loose at the waist as this will make you appear larger with less shape which will be less flattering in photos.
Chemise and babydoll lingerie styles are a great choice for: Women who want tummy concealment and those that need bust support.
Examples
High Waist Panty Boudoir Lingerie Ideas
The lower stomach is the most common area of the body women feel self conscious about. A great way to conceal this area is with any lingerie that has a high waist profile. The great thing about high waist panties, garters and skirts is that these styles still show off the upper tummy while smoothing out the lower. This gives you a ton of cover while simultaneously still giving off a very sexy aesthetic.
High waisted lingerie styles are a great option for: Women over 40, mothers worried about extra skin and stretch marks associated with being pregnant, plus size women, and women who have loose skin from significant weight loss.
Examples
Sexy Things You Already Have For Your Boudoir Photo Shoot
T-Shirt
Posed seductively and without a bra to attract attention to your chest, the humble t-shirt is often overlooked for things to bring. Make sure and opt for shirts with wide or low cut necks for more alluring poses.
Sheer Skirt
Sheer skirts are excellent to do with or without panties in front of a strongly lit window. The light passing though will shilloutte your body while still obscuring specifics.
Romper
Popular beginning outfit for women with that boho style, just make sure to get a style that opens wide (like this rear zipper) for better opportunity as we work you out of your clothes.
Tank Top
Similar idea to the wide neck t-shirt, the tank top is a pretty great way to show off some side boob and downplay your torso. This is especially effective for women sensitive of their stomach area.
Scarves
A scarf is like boudoir sleight of hand. I use the hell out of these to draw attention away from areas you’re sensitive about and toward the other areas of your body you love!
Sport Coat
This client brought her sport coat and topped it off with the perfect bow tie for this epic shot! This was a brilliant way to conceal her tummy will still showing off her chest.
Sweater
Sweater and your favorite pair of panties… Ummm yes please! Add thigh high socks for cozy yet sexy winter time vibes. Choose cut off styles that expose your tummy or wide neck options for best results.
Button Up Shirt
Yours or his is up to you. I tend to like the photos better when they’re your shirts as they are more form fitting and won’t make your shilloutte larger.
Best Places to Get Lingerie Online
Now that you know which lingerie will enhance your specific body type best, you’re probably wondering where to buy boudoir outfits online? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! Explore that post and it should give you plenty of ideas for any budget.
As always if you have a question about anything you didn’t see covered let me know in the comments! If you have a friend that you think would appreciate this info, make sure and share it with them too!
