Lingerie boutiques have sprung up in shopping malls all over the world. Whereas lingerie used to be perceived as being somewhat risqué, these days lingerie is quite respectable. Perhaps this shift has been brought about by the advent of brands like Victoria’s Secret, who present lingerie as a high fashion item, replacing the marketing approach of shops like Frederick’s of Hollywood, who capitalized on the perceived naughtiness of apparent porn-star accessories.

Lingerie is available as individual pieces or in sets. Sets, while composed of individual pieces, have the advantage of having been designed to look good together. Typically, lingerie sets are purchased as a unit, and include everything you need to complete the look. Sometimes you may build a set by purchasing individual items that are designed to look good together. In other words, it’s still a set but you pick and choose what parts you like. Here’s an overview of well-known types of lingerie sets:

The Baby Doll Set

The baby doll is basically a two-piece set consisting of a light robe or loose billowy top and matching bottom. The top is always loose fitting. It hangs just below the bust line, like an empire bodice. In the back, it ends just below the rear. It may sometimes be decorated with lace or even fur trim. Baby doll sets are available in a wide variety of styles, ranging from the slutty classic porn star style to sleek, fashionable and modern.

The Boy Shorts and Camisole Set

Although many women look great in shorts that were literally designed to be worn by males, that’s not what we’re talking about here. Boy shorts as lingerie are more like sexy hot pants for the bedroom. They have full coverage on the sides, although coverage of the rear may vary. More conservative styles cover most or even all of your rear, whereas the more daring styles give you partial coverage. The shorts can be figure hugging or even shaping. They come in a wide variety of fabric choices, varying from comfortable cotton to sheer lace.

The camisole top is basically a tank top. These also come in a wide variety of styles, and also may be cropped to different lengths. The camisole and boy shorts combination may sound dowdy when you’re only reading or hearing a description, but look at some pictures. It can be a very sexy combination. Men like it too, the popularity of Hooters waitresses attests to that.

The Bridal Set

A bridal set, also known as a merry widow, consists of a bra, corset or camisole to with matching panties, a garter belt and stockings. The styles range from silk or satin sets with full coverage to skimpy string sets with very minimal coverage. What separates bridal sets from other sets isn’t the particular cut so much as the fact that every item isn’t just coordinated but matches exactly.

The Bikini set

The classic undergarment set for everyday use, this set is comprised of bikini bottoms and a bra.