Lingerie

Lingerie is a term for women's fashion undergarments. It derives from the French word 'lin' for linen.[1] While the term in the French language applies to all undergarments for either sex, in English it is applied only to those women's undergarments designed to be visually appealing or erotic, typically incorporating materials such as lace and silk, and not applied to functional cotton undergarments.

The concept of lingerie being visually appealing is relatively recent. Up through the first half of the 20th century women selected underwear for three major purposes: to alter their shape (first with corsets and later with girdles or bras), for reasons of hygiene, or for modesty. Women's underwear was often very large and bulky. As the 20th century progressed underwear became smaller and more form fitting. In the 1960s 'controversial' lingerie manufacturers such as Frederick's of Hollywood begin to glamourise lingerie and the idea of lingerie having a sexual appeal slowly developed.

Lingerie crossdressing

Sometimes either person of a heterosexual couple would wear it to arouse the other for example a Male would wear skirts or lingerie or the Female would wear boxers or other male clothing.

Satin and lace items such as slips, nightdresses, and undergarments are often fetishized, as well as other silk items such as evening gowns, skirts, and scarves. Sometimes, as with hosiery fetishism, there is a transvestic component. Many men find the tactile sensations caused by the wearing of silk or satin lingerie arousing; some wear panties under their male clothes, whereas others may wear a full set of lingerie. Due to the taboo nature of this fetish, the possibility of getting caught often heightens the fetishists' enjoyment.

Lingerie fetish

Female lingerie in the form of stockings, panties (underwear), suspenders, pantyhose (sheer tights in the UK) and the like, is a common theme in garment fetishism. Stocking fetishists usually find sexual partners clothed in sheer nylon or silk stockings to be sexually stimulating, or find the act of a person donning or removing a pair of stockings arousing. Some men find it arousing to collect and wear stockings, sometimes hidden under a pair of trousers. There is crossover between stocking and pantyhose fetishism, the unique silky sheer aspect, feminine 'association' and allure of both being the link. Many current day males fetishistic preference for pantyhose over stockings may be related to the fact that pantyhose are in almost direct contact with female genitalia or perhaps more importantly are the preferred hosiery for most females when skirts and dresses are worn.

Panty fetishism

Panty fetishism is a sexual fetish relating to female underwear. It can involve printed or electronic material depicting exposure of panties, usually of a softcore nature, or direct sight and physical contact with the panties.