The Madison Bou Guide to Lingerie

Congratulations! You are thinking about investing in a boudoir portrait session with Madison Bou and It is going to be an amazing experience.

Set in the magnificent environment of Hazlewood Castle, you know you're in for a very special day.

One of the keys to success in boudoir is bringing a proper wardrobe with you that is not only beautiful, but fits and flatters your body as well.

Please use this guide to help you shop and know what to bring to your session. We hope you find it helpful. Please feel free to ask us questions at any time to assist you through the process as well.

Remember though, ultimately there's only one rule - No rules!

If you feel comfortable then wear it. 

That said, we have learned a few things over the years and know that some things work better than others.

Here's our Madison Bou guide to lingerie for that perfect boudoir ensemble.

LINGERIE STYLES

BABYDOLL: A babydoll is a short sleeveless, loose-fitting nightgown. It may sometimes have formed cups creating a bra-lette for cleavage with an attached loose-fitting skirt with a length that falls between the upper thigh and belly button. It's sheer and always photographs well and is flattering to all body types.

BODYSUIT: A close-fitting, one-piece stretch garment. Great for boudoir! They are very fashionable and widely available. These can be thicker outerwear or thinner, sheer lingerie. Both flatter and look great in photos.

BRA & KNICKER SETS:  Proper fit is extremely important . Be careful with push up bras as they often make you look unnatural. Ensure the area near your armpit looks nice and smooth and that you are not falling out of the cups. Less flattering for certain body types and remember that the tummy area is always exposed.

BUSTIER: A bustier is similar to a corset in coverage, but it has cups built in that give nice breast support. They don't usually cinch in the waist, but there are some hybrid styles out there that combine a little waist cinching and breast lifting.

CORSETS: Corsets are meant to cinch your waist and give you amazing curves. They usually have ties in the back to help create your shape. They are hard to put on, but worth it. 

GARTER BELTS, GARTERS & THIGH HIGHS: A garter belt is worn around the waist or hips with attached garters or fasteners to hold up stockings. Sometimes garters are built into lingerie so a belt is not needed. The stockings they hold up are called thigh highs (because they pull up to the thigh).

STOCKINGS AND TIGHTS: Some stockings have rubber inside to stay up without garters and will not work with garters. Be sure to buy stockings without rubber if you plan to wear a garter. There are many options for tights that are completely sheer-to-waist and have sexy details like seams or even quotes. Honestly, tights CAN be really sexy. 

SHAPE WEAR: Shape wear is a type of tight-fitting underwear intended to control and shape the figure. There are many beautiful options out there these days. 

SLIP: Think of them as dresses that that are meant to be when under a dress. They are often constructed with built-in cups for support. Some slips may fit into the shape wear category, but many do not.

TEDDY: A teddy is a garment that covers the torso and pelvis one garment. It is a similar style of garment to a one-piece swimsuit or body suit but is typically more sheer and definitely sexier and always photographs well for most body types.

STANDARD CLOTHING: Clothing is a fantastic option for boudoir! It might sound odd, but think about a hot leather jacket or ripped jeans and a sexy bra. How about off the shoulder stretchy jumpers or sheer t-shirts? There are so many options for clothing that can be just as sexy, if not sexier than lingerie.

THE BEST OPTIONS FOR YOUR SESSION

We understand many women do not want to show too much skin or they are concerned about parts of their body they might not want to show off. Here are some tips to cover up - boudoir style.
For those who want to show off those hard-earned abs and a little more skin, bra and knicker sets are perfect.  Be sure when bra shopping you get measured and properly fit. If you have had a baby, lost weight, or it's been over a year since your last fitting, do yourself a favour and get a fitting. Most women are tempted to go straight for push-up bras, but resist the urge. Before you try on push-ups, look for demi-cup bras or underwire bras that offer strong support without adding too much size. This is typically more flattering.
If you have some stretch marks or scars, look for some more opaque materials, but stick with styles that will show off your shape. Consider bodysuits, teddys and slips.  Babydolls can be an option to cover the tummy but can often make you look heavier. The key here, is not to be scared of your curves but to embrace them.

STYLE AND FIT

Let's get to the bottom of this...If a great booty shot is on your list, we recommend bottoms that show just enough, but not too much. Cheeky or Brazilian bottoms are usually preferable to thongs and g-strings.  Many teddies and body suits are cut in the back to show off the booty. 

Legs - We all want long, gorgeous legs so look for high-cut knickers, teddies, and body suits. The higher the leg opening, the longer your legs will look. High heels that match your skin tone will also make your legs look longer.

Do you want the lift of a pretty bra without showing too much skin? A beautiful bustier may be just for you! They offer amazing support while giving you a little more coverage, all while flattering your shape.

Arms are sometimes a concern for women so look for long sleeved body suits or throw a crisp white button down shirt over some killer lingerie. 
If you are worried about your tummy, think of shape wear (the gorgeous kind)! Not the kind that hurts. Slips, bustiers, corsets, and high waist knickers are excellent options. A beautiful lace robe over a bra and knickers is a great choice. So is a plain tank top and pretty undies.

Alway bring more outfits with you than you plan to wear, this way we have options! We also recommend bringing one outfit totally out of your comfort zone. You don't have to wear it, but you just might want to.

ACCESSORIES

SHOES: Please bring at least one pair of black and one pair of flesh-toned heels with you. The higher the heel, the better! If you want to bring more shoes, great! Shoes should be in like-new condition. (Especially red soles) Be forewarned, ankle straps look sexy in person, but may give you the appearance of a shorter leg in camera.

STOCKINGS: This is probably the most frequently forgotten item during every boudoir shoot. Tights by themselves are a great option and can be super affordable. Quality tights though, not the cheap ones you wear everyday.

JEWELLERY: Feel free to bring any jewellery you might want to wear. Some ladies prefer to keep it simple. Pearls always look great in boudoir. Thin necklaces, less so. 

PROPS: The prop should suit your personality and not be a distraction. Fans, masks, hats, scarves etc.

SHOPPING TIPS

A boudoir portrait session is a very special event and a sizeable investment. Please do not go through your lingerie drawer the night before and grab a few things. Make sure your lingerie is in like-new or new condition without visible tags showing through. Take the time to try your outfits on before the session and see what works and what does not. You may want to take some time and go do a little shopping. Of course we would all love to walk into Agent Provocateur and walk out with amazing lingerie, but most of us just cannot justify that expense. Start shopping as soon as you book your portrait session and you will have fantastic options!

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PACKING YOUR BAGS

* Bring at least 3 outfits that you feel comfortable and confident in.

* Try on your chosen outfits several days prior to your session so you KNOW that they will work for you! You want to feel good in your outfits and make sure they fit well.

* Bring a variety of items- such as a 2 piece bra and knicker set, 1 piece bodysuit, fishnets, dresses, jewelry, etc. Variety is key here so we can work together to create as many options as possible. Keep in mind that some poses work better in certain types of outfits, so bringing 3 of the same type won't serve you well nor will it give you the variety that your gallery deserves.

* Consider an implied nude in the sheets or fully nude look. This is YOUR chance to capture the photos you've always wanted and nothing is worse than going home after your session with regrets that you didn't get out of it what you had envisioned. (You can change your mind at any point during your session, but so many of our clients tell us they regret not going a little more beyond their comfort zone. (It’s one of the biggest reasons why clients book a second shoot with us)

* Don’t worry about bringing too many shoe options. Many of our Clients go barefoot the entire session.

* Skip on getting your pedi and mani done! A little pop of colour on your nails goes a long way.