The Lingerie Fox

What is Luxury Lingerie? An In-Depth Look on Top-Tier Intimate Wear

Wearing a good piece of lingerie can be empowering. Apart from setting a foundation for my whole outfit, putting on a beautiful and comfortable set of undergarments plays a big role in boosting my confidence. Brands have taken note of this and have diversified their offerings of luxury lingerie.

But, what exactly is luxury lingerie? How is it any different from regular underwear?

What Makes Lingerie Luxurious?

Nowadays, with more and more lingerie labels using the term, determining which ones count as luxury lingerie can be a bit challenging. What’s the qualifying factor? Is it the price point? The quality of the fabric? The design details? The established brand name? The combination of all four?

Luxury lingerie is elegant and stylish.

Many brands label their products as “luxury” despite not being able to meet some or all of the criteria listed above. It can help to have a basic understanding of what qualifies as luxury lingerie. For me, this type of lingerie has the style quotient down to pat, exuding beauty and elegance that can help women look good and, more importantly, feel good about themselves.

Luxury lingerie offers premium comfort.

Of course, it’s not just all about aesthetics. Just like any good piece of undergarment, the best luxury lingerie must also be comfortable to wear. No matter how beautiful the design may look, nothing can detract from the experience and inhibit confidence more feeling uneasy because of scratchy fabrics, poorly sewn hems, and substandard designs.

Luxury lingerie is made from the finest fabric and features expert craftsmanship.

Premium quality materials, like fine cotton or lavish silk, clean stitches, and good sizing are some of the key elements of comfort. The overall superiority of the lingerie depends on both the materials it’s made with and the excellence of craftsmanship applied in producing it.

Luxury lingerie withstands the test of time.

Of course, when we talk about luxury lingerie, we expect it to not only be beautiful and comfortable but also to be capable of lasting through years of regular use. This means that the undergarment won’t show signs of fraying for a long time, especially along the inner linings. If it’s dyed, the color won’t fade or bleed out after the first few washes.

To edge out their competitors, some luxury brands imbue their creations with added features, like moisture-absorbing or odor-regulating properties.

How Can I Tell If the Lingerie I’m Buying Is Really Luxury?

Even with the characteristics of luxury lingerie in mind, it may still be difficult to determine if the piece we’re eyeing is actually a high-end piece. Fortunately, there are a few things that can help assure us in our selection.

Luxury lingerie boutiques

While we may find luxury lingerie in department stores, going to a boutique that exclusively offers these is a safer bet. These boutiques are niche and, following their brand identity, have high and clear standards for product selection.  The items we can find in luxury lingerie boutiques are usually carefully chosen, with only the best making their way into their collections.

Another advantage I enjoy from shopping in boutiques is that I can ask the staff detailed questions about the products, and it’s very likely that they can answer me with helpful information. Sometimes, they even assist me in picking out pieces that suit me well.

Online Boutiques we love:

Product location

While some brands have their products made in large factories in China, major luxury lingerie brands usually manufacture their products in smaller, localized factories in Europe. This helps to ascertain that each piece of lingerie adheres to high standards of material and workmanship.

[Read: Best Italian Lingerie Brands – Timeless Quality and Luxury and The Sexiest French Lingerie Brands]

Natural fabric material

Though luxury lingerie can be made of synthetic materials, most brands use natural fabric, such as silk, cashmere, linen, and cotton. There are many benefits to these fabrics, which is why it makes sense that they’re often used in making high-end underwear.

Silk – Besides its elegant appearance, silk is hypoallergenic, breathable, and a natural temperature regulator. It helps retain body heat during cold weather and dispel excess heat in warm weather. This makes it comfortable to wear, no matter the season.

Cashmere – Also shares the temperature-regulating attribute of silk. Because of the high moisture content of the wool, it can keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. Besides this, cashmere is also known for its durability.

Cotton – Perhaps one of the most common materials used in clothing, and it’s for good reason. It’s hypoallergenic, durable, and comfortable. It has the ability to control moisture and to provide a measure of insulation.

Linen – shares many of cotton’s attributes, such as its moisture and being hypoallergenic. However, linen has the advantage of being stronger than cotton and of getting softer the more it’s used. This means better comfort in the long run.

Is Luxury Lingerie Actually Expensive?

When the term “luxury” is attached to any item or product, it immediately brings to mind the connotation of a higher price point. Thus, luxury lingerie is often thought to be those that are on the pricier end of the scale. While this may be true for most brands, it’s important to remember that an expensive piece doesn’t necessarily guarantee quality or comfort. It’s still prudent to make our own judgment calls when it comes to intimate items like lingerie.

Finding the Perfect Luxury Lingerie

Before buying a piece of luxury lingerie, we should keep in mind the qualities that we value the most in an undergarment. Ask yourself: Do I care more about the style? Or is comfort of paramount importance? Do I want one that helps regulate odor and moisture?

While, ideally, a good piece of luxury lingerie can cover all bases, knowing which attributes we value more can help make the selection process easier.

At the end of the day, the perfect luxury lingerie for me is one that can make me feel confident and ignite joy in my heart whenever I slip it on.

Buying Luxury Lingerie On Etsy

Did you know that Etsy is home to a variety of luxury quality lingerie brands? The wonderful thing about shopping on Etsy is that many of the designers and shops will custom make lingerie to your size! You don’t get that personalization at department stores. Here is a list of my favorites:

Happy Lingerie Hunting!