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Boudoir Outfit Ideas 2023

One of the most common questions I’m asked by my clients is what outfits they should get for their boudoir photo shoot. To make things easy I’ve indexed this page by lingerie type to help give you some boudoir outfit 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 photos possible from your photo shoot.

The following are boudoir outfit ideas to enhance the best parts of your body while diminishing your sensitive areas:

  1. Bra and Top
  2. Sheer See Though Shirt & Blouse
  3. Corset
  4. Stocking / Thigh High Socks
  5. Teddies / Bodysuits
  6. Sheer Mesh Skirts
  7. Chemise / Babydoll
  8. High Waist Panties & Garters
  9. Thong Underwear
  10. Things you already have

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.

Choosing The Best Lingerie Styles For Your Body Type

  • Choosing the right lingerie for your body type can dramatically enhance your figure and boost your confidence for a boudoir photoshoot. Knowing your body shape is essential in selecting the perfect lingerie. This guide offers lingerie suggestions for specific body types, including:
  • Hourglass
  • Inverted Triangle
  • Rectangle
  • Diamond
  • Pear

For instance, hourglass shape women will benefit from accentuating their curves with a variety of lingerie styles. Inverted triangle bodies on the other hand should aim to balance their proportions by adding curves to their hips using items like babydolls and tulle skirts. Rectangle shapes can create a more defined waistline with corsets or waist cinchers. Pear shapes by contrast should focus on enhancing the curves of their bust with pushups and bralettes for best results.

Overall, the key is to choose boudoir lingerie for your body type that enhances the hourglass shape of your silhouette. By balancing shilloutte you will naturally enhance your best features while downplaying your sensitive areas. All body types can enhance their figure for their boudoir photoshoot using this method, so I highly encourage you to check out this post first to help you get the best photos possible from your boudoir photoshoot.

Bra Boudoir Outfit Ideas

Probably the second most common thing I hear women mention at their boudoir consultations is nervousness about the size or perkiness of their bust. These boudoir lingerie ideas will help you enhance your bust no matter if you’re small chested or just need some good shaping options.

Demi Bra (half cup) Boudoir Outfit Ideas

Boudoir outfit ideas like this set from Else Lingerie
Boudoir outfit idea featuring my client wearing a demi bra

For those of you who feel like you’re in the goldilocks range of bust size; not too big, and not to small. Congratulations on winning the genetic lottery. To take your boobs 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. This style is basically a good all around bra that creates moderate cleavage and uplift.

Demi Bras are great for: Women who want to shape or enhance an already nice bust, and those who want to wear a bra for more modest boudoir photos.

Push Up Bra Boudoir Outfit Ideas

plum push up bra and panty set is a good example for some boudoir outfit ideas
Boudoir outfit idea featuring one of my clients wearing a push up bra and bikini brief

The push up bra is the classic solution for the small busted women. This bra style creates the appearance of increased cleavage through the use of angled cups containing padding. Thus, the design of these bras pushes the breasts inwards and upwards, towards the center of the chest. This gives the illusion of more volume.

It’s important to try on any push up bra you’re considering for your photo shoot since your nipple will be danger close to peeking out over more braziers.

Push up bras are great for: Small busted women who want their breasts to appear larger.

Examples

Shelf Bra / Cupless Bra / Qarter Cup Bra Boudoir Outfit Ideas

Boudoir outfit ideas
Example of 1/4 cup bra from Walmart

Shelf bras are an underwire fashion design that offers minimal breast coverage, supporting only a portion of the underside of the breast. This pushes the breast upward, generally leaving the nipple and areola uncovered.

Sometimes these bras are also referred to as a cupless, open-cup, or even quarter-cup bras. In any case, shelf bras offer a small amount of support if you want to consider some sexier boudoir outfit ideas.

Shelf bras are great for: women who want sexier photos that show off their breasts, and women who have good breast perkiness but want a very slight bit of lift.

Sheer See Though Shirt & Blouse Boudoir Outfit Ideas

sheer see though shirt boudoir outfit ideas
Boudoir outfit idea featuring one of my clients wearing a sheer shirt

Sheer see though shirts can be a classy way to show off your boobs if you don’t need bust support. That said these shirts are primarily designed as beach or pool shirts to wear over your bathing suit. You can also find more form fitting sheer blouses if you are a lean body type.

Repurposing sheer beach shirts and blouses for your boudoir photo shoot is an easy way to add a layer of elegance to your revealing top or enhance your nude shilloutte. The great thing about see though tops is they are infinitely pairable with whatever top you decide to wear with them (or not).

Sheer, see though mesh shirts are great for: Tastefully sexy topless looks, and making revealing bras more conservative.

Corset Boudoir Outfit Ideas

Boudoir outfit idea featuring one of my clients wearing a corset, garter and stocking set

Corsets are best known for their ability to emphasize a curvy figure by reducing the waist and thereby exaggerating the bust and hips. This post gives a brief overview of the major corset styles and how they’ll enhance your body.

I like balconette and demi styles for women with larger breasts. Women with petite busts 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 Boudoir Outfit Ideas

underbust corset example from Corset Story

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 coresets ideal for drawing attention to your chest while simultaneously contouring your torso.

Underbust coresets are ideal for: Mix and match customization with different bras, and women who want to show off their bust while improving their waist line.

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 lace. This easy hack is cheap, and will significantly upgrade your corset so it looks MUCH higher end.

Shitty satin lace replaced with this flat lace to enhance this budget corset

Thigh High Stockings & Socks Boudoir Outfit Ideas

boudoir outfit ideas from this bra, panty, garter and stocking set
Boudoir outfit idea featuring on of my clients wearing high high lace stockings

Stockings are close-fitting, elastic garments covering the leg from the foot up to the knee or or thigh. Stockings can be paired with most lingerie, but particularly compliment garter sets as they’re designed to connect to stockings.

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. 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 ensemble.

Thigh high stockings & socks are a great choice for: Women worried about cellulite and or varicose veins, and enhancing the style of the rest of your outfit.

Examples

Halter Top Teddy & Body Suit Boudoir Outfit Ideas

boudoir outfit ideas for plus size
Boudoir outfit idea featuring one of my clients wearing a halter top teddy

A teddy (also called a bodysuit) is a garment which covers the bust, torso and crotch in the one garment. Halter top teddies have a top that ties around the neck for a design that is good for showing off your back.

This style lingerie is put on by stepping into the leg holes and pulling the garment up to cover the torso and bust. It’s basically the lingerie equivalent of a one-piece swimsuit, but is typically made of more delicate materials.

Teddies and bodysuits are some great for: Women who want tummy concealment with light shaping, and women who don’t need much (if any) bust support.

Examples

Sheer Skirt Boudoir Outfit ideas

Use sheer tulle skirts to make modest boudoir outfits
Boudoir outfit idea featuring one of my clients wearing a theer tulle skirt

Everyone thinking of doing a boudoir photo shoot should consider some sort of sheer skirt. It’s simultaneously the sexiest and most conservative thing you can wear for your photo shoot.

For example, you can wear a sheer skirt over your favorite panties. To spice things up you can also wear see though skirts sans underwear. If you decide not to wear underwear it’s still important that we keep things classy by strategically posing you for implied nude photos.

Whatever your preference, sheer tulle skirts offers lots of posing options for all body types. Conversely women with cellulite or varicose veins can benefit from the concealment of mesh skirts.

Sheer gowns, robes and dresses are great for: Everyone

Examples

Chemise & Babydoll Boudoir Outfit Ideas

Traditionally speaking chemise lingerie refers to loose-fitting, sleeveless sleep wear which is unfitted at the waist. That said, contemporary chemises can be found with sexier cuts that are tighter at the waist and hips. I recommend modern styles for photo shoots as they will show off your shape better than loose 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. These pieces similar to  babydolls, with the biggest difference being that babydoll’s fit looser around the hips.

Both chemise’s and babydolls’s are great for drawing attention away from tummy insecurities so long as you stick with form fitting styles which will flatter your body shape more in photos.

Chemise and babydoll lingerie styles are a great choice for: Women who want tummy concealment, and those who want bust support.

Babydoll as a boudoir lingerie idea
Boudoir outfit idea featuring one of my clients wearing a babydoll
chemise boudoir lingerie idea
Boudoir outfit idea featuring one of my clients wearing a chemise

High Waist Panty Boudoir Outfit Ideas

sport coat and high waist panties as a boudoir lingerie Idea
Boudoir outfit idea featuring one of my clients wearing a sport coat, bow tie and high waist panties

The lower stomach is the most common area of the body women feel self conscious about. A great way to enhance this area is with any lingerie that has a high waist profile. The great thing about high waist skirts, garters and panties is that these styles still show off the upper tummy while concealing the lower. This gives you a ton of cover while simultaneously still giving off a very sexy aesthetic.

High waisted lingerie is great 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 after significant weight loss.

Examples

Thong Underwear Boudoir Outfit Ideas

Boudoir outfit idea featuring one of my clients wearing a bra and thong set

Thongs are a style of underwear that is made of a larger front and smaller back triangle. The front and back of the underwear can be connected by a either a wide or thin band, and are designed to show off your butt cheeks.

This style of underwear is perfect for women who want to show off their butt without posing nude for photos.

Thong underwear is great for: Women who want to showcase their butt in boudoir photos, and those who don’t have tummy  or thigh insecurities. 

Examples

Boudoir Outfit Ideas – Things You Already Have

Sweater

Not all sweaters work well for boudoir. My two favorite styles are the wide neck sweaters and the crop top sweaters. Crop tops are best for women who want to show off their tummy. Those who want to tease their bust should opt for a wide neck sweater.

T-Shirt

Don’t underestimate how sexy just your t-shirt can be! I recommend you pose in your t-shirt without a bra as part of your beginning set as you undress from your regular clothes. Beginning clothes like this really help with the flow of boudoir albums as you undress from your everyday clothes.

Tank Top

Tank tops are a really solid thing to bring if you have a nice bust, but want to minimize your tummy. Although a tank top won’t shape your torso like a corset, it can easily conceal your your stomach insecurities if you currently have a bit more excess fat around your mid section then you’d ideally like.

Romper

Rompers seem to be really popular for women who like Boho and Chic fashion styles. Ideally any piece you can get that unzips or buttons will be superior to pull overs as they will photograph nicer as you work your way out of  them to your underwear.

Blazer

Blazers (or any open face coat) are a really great way to class up a topless photos. Alternatively you can pair them with your favorite panty and bra and maybe even throw in a bow tie if you’re feeling feisty!

Scarves

If you have nice curves you’d love to show off in a sexy yet classy way, posing with a scarf can be a great idea! Scarves also make for pretty amazing diy bras if you don’t need any bust support.

Calvin Kline Underwear

Remember those underwear ad’s from the 90’s? Ya me too! Get a set of your own Calvin Kline underwear and style your photo shoot like an underwear ad! I think these make for a good casual beginner set option.

Button Up Shirt

You can bring either your shirt or his, but generally speaking yours will fit you better and thus look better on you. He may like the idea that he’s implied in the photo with his shirt though. Ultimately you’ll have to decide if you think he’d appreciate the thought or not.

Where to Buy Boudoir Outfits Online

If you’ve looked though all these boudoir outfit ideas and still couldn’t find what you were looking for, you can check out these ideas of where to buy boudoir clothing online. This is the list of retailers I give my clients to shop for their sessions and includes a little something for every budget and style.

Now that you know some of my current favorite boudoir outfits, what are some of yours that you’ve found in your searches? Share your favorite finds in the comments below, I’d love to see them!

Jason Guy

I am a portrait photographer based out of Sonoma, California. I create portraits for people of all ages with the goal of making images that are timeless. Portraits you will look back on decades from now, and still love them just as much then as you do today. While flattering lighting and pose are important, capturing how others see you is what I ultimately strive for.

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