Over the years, I've learned a thing or two about intimate apparel.  It's something a lot of women stress over, particularly when booking a boudoir shoot.  For some, lingerie shopping is about as enjoyable as swimsuit shopping after Thanksgiving dinner, or jeans shopping while you're PMSing. But ladies, it need not be that way!  Once you book a Brooklyn Boudoir shoot with me, I will send you a very comprehensive guide about how to prep, including suggestions of what to wear, AND we can strategize about it together during our pre-shoot consultations.  Haven't booked your session yet?  Well now you have one less excuse.  Here are a few tips I've picked up that can help ease your mind about your intimate apparel & what to wear during your boudoir shoot.

1. Focus on how the lingerie makes you FEEL.  You know how everyone is obsessed with French Girl fashion these days?  My guess is that it's about more than the stripy shirts and red lips... underneath the outfits, french women tend to wear fancy lingerie, items that we Americans might save for a special occasion, and I suspect it gives them that little extra swagger that we covet so.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s great if you’ve found some lacey knickers to excite your beau, but lingerie is about more than just spicing up your sex life.  The whole point of lingerie is to make you feel awesome; so wear it for you. The layer closest to your skin should help you feel comfortable and confident and amazing and awesome all day long. If that’s not happening, that’s a problem. Start moving beyond the bedroom and start wearing lingerie that makes you feel like a superhero all day.

2. A lot of brands DO make your size. A common complaint my clients have is no one makes sexy bras above a D cup or below an A cup. Ladies, that is simply not true. You may not be able to find those bras in your local mall, but they ARE out there.  There have never been more lingerie options available for women at either side of the size spectrum than right now.  Small breasts?  Try Timpa, a Dutch company sold at Journelle, Meg at Midnight, or The Little Bra Company.  Large Bust?  Try Hips & Curves, Etched, or Ashley Graham's sexy new line. Whether you’re a 28AA, a 42N, or a 50DD, you just have to look.

3. Everything is not going to fit you perfectly - and that’s okay!  It’s true for EVERY woman, from you to Heidi Klum. If you’re an E cup, a flimsy bralette is going to look different on you than on a B cup. If you have shallow boobs, you won’t fill out a bullet bra the same way someone with full boobs does. It will take some trial-and-error when it comes to what brands are best for your body and when you do find something that works, buy it, and seek out other styles from that same brand, as they have already shown you that you are their target customer.

4. Affordable is subjective. Agent Provocateur is certainly sexy & luxurious, but don't worry about splurging on your boudoir wardrobe.  Many women ask me, “Where can I find affordable lingerie?” I understand what people are trying to ask but “affordable” is very subjective. What’s a good price for one person could very well be too high (or too low!) for you.  Find the price point that you are comfortable with and go from there.  Again, we are fortunate enough to live in a time when your options are nearly endless, if you have the patience to look. 

5. Don’t feel embarrassed about your lingerie choices. If you like really skimpy X-rated lingerie, get it, girl! . If you only wear the vintage stuff, go for it. If it’s silk 24/7 for you, fine and if you prefer plain, organic cotton briefs, embrace it!   What you like is what you like, and that’s what you will look best in, because when you feel good, you look good. So, don’t feel ashamed about your choices -- if it’s being made, that means someone else is buying it also.  Ultimately when you feel good, you look good, so let that be your goal!

LADIES - what other wisdom have you collected over your years of lingerie shopping?  Let me know in the comments below, or hit me up!

xoxo, Stephanie