Tips & Tricks on What to Wear & How to Accessorize
Congrats! It’s time to go shopping!
This boudoir style guide is your best friend in preparing for your boudoir session with us. Because we want you to look your absolute best, please read it to ensure you’re purchasing the best outfits for your session! What you decide to wear for your boudoir session is really important! They should reflect you & your own unique style, but also highlight your assets and give you more confidence for your session! We advise you on both what to wear and what NOT to wear 🙂!
Your Pre-Session Free Lingerie Consultation
What you wear is so important! So much so, we’ll book you in for a quick, 15 minute free lingerie video consult about 1 week before your session. Then you’ll feel confident in what you’re arriving with and you wont’ be feeling anxious about it in the days before your session. Please read this to the end so you know exactly what to get and you don’t spend unnecessarily on outfits we strongly advise against.
Body Suits
Bodysuits are our jam! Bodysuits photograph beautifully on all body types, and they come in so many fabulous styles. While you may be hesitant to try a bodysuit (fitted is scary, we get it!), we really encourage it because they are so flattering. They skim your body, rather than adding bulk like some other options can (ahem, baby dolls). They also elongate the body because they don’t cut up your torso area. Look for details like trim or piping that creates the illusion of an hour glass figure. Think, do you want a long sleeve, capped sleeve, or sleeveless look? How is the booty cut? What is the neck like? High collar, or plunging neckline? Sporty or delicate? With the right fit & style, it’s hard to go wrong with a body suit.
Panties
Not all panties were created equal. Some styles of undies are WAY better for boudoir than others. These three are our faves.
The Thong: If you’ve got a bangin’ bum and you want to showcase your booty, a thong is a great way to do that. More coverage always photographs better. No G-strings please.
High Waisted: Not just for grannies, the high waisted panty is a big hit in our studio! High waisted panties are so flattering on all body types, but especially if you have some insecurities around showcasing your tummy.
Cheeky Panties: Another thumbs up goes to this style. Cheeky panties are made to embrace the bum cheeks and they do that fabulously!
Bras & Panty Sets
Did you know that 80% of women are wearing the wrong bra size!?
A properly fitted bra makes a huge difference for your photos. Head to your local bra shop and have a specialist properly size you. We love recommending Toni of Above and Beyond here in Parry Sound & Tamara of Bliss Beneath in Barrie. Your boobs will thank you! Check them out on Instagram first to see which store best matches your style.
Always grab a matching pair of panties. Black always photographs well & looks great on everyone! A classic neutral colour is also lovely. Dark blues and burgundy are also great. Avoid bright, neon colours. Red is pretty, but doesn’t photograph as well in our studio.
Don’t forget bralettes. These babies are comfy and move with your body during posing in ways formed bras don’t. They also add lots of delicate detail and texture!
Accessorize You Outfits
We love to add texture and accessories! Adding texture can take a good look to great! Add a little extra texture or coverage with something fun to throw over lingerie or your gorgeous nekkid self.
Look For: Velvet, lots of straps, lace, mesh, fishnets, faux fur, satin, silk, sequins, other sparkly bits, embroidery, metallic fabrics, a cozy (but not old and pilly) sweater or cardigan, your partner’s button up shirt, a sexy lace or sheer robe, scarves, body jewelry, jewelry, heels, hats, scarves or even a pair of stellar sunglasses etc.
Avoid: Scratchy fabrics and ones with an busy design (YOU need to be the focus here). Don’t choose pieces that are too tight, heavily worn or washed & items that are faded or have pilling. And say NO to anything too over the top or gaudy. Aim for simple rather than in your face and nothing too “proppy”. We don’t want your photos to look tacky.
Don’t forget about stockings paired with a garter. If purchasing thigh high stockings, please purchase them 1-2 sizes too big to avoid them digging in to your skin.
The Tank Top & Oversized Shirt
You might be suprised to see how sexy a tank top & oversized shirt can look. We’ll spare you a lot of reading and just show you instead!
Feeling Modest?
If showing loads of skin isn’t your thing, that is 100% okay. You do you!
What to look for: Long sleeve bodysuits, fitted shirts, jeans, sweaters, cut off shorts or even leggings, long robes (lacey or solid)
Avoid: Choosing a wardrobe to hide behind & pieces that don’t fit properly (too tight or too loose). Make sure they fit your properly. No, we can’t just ‘photoshop that’ for everything!
Shoes
Some shoes photograph WAY better than others.
Avoid: wedge heels and the cut off boot look. These give the appearance of cutting you ankle off. Also, avoid straps across the ankle.
Best Shoes: Your classic stiletto type heel photographs the best. We have a number of shoes in the studio you are welcome to borrow between size 5.5 – 10.
When in Doubt, Get Naked
Sometimes, there’s no better attire than the suit you were born in. We can also do a lot with a sheet in a bed or in the window. And there’s always our amazing bathtub set!
What NOT to wear
Not to be a negative nelly, but…. what NOT to bring is just as important as what To bring is!
I’m a boudoir specialist. My expertise is in posing & lighting, regardless of your shape or size, to make you look your absolute best. You deserve the most beautiful, flattering images and wardrobe has a lot to do with that. The following items prevent me from making you look your best, so please don’t buy or bring them.
No Babydolls: With babydolls, we’ve got nothing to show off your amazing curves. Plus, if we pose you on your knees, all the fabric will hang down loosely. Babydolls are a no go for boudoir sessions.
No Corsets: While corsets are beautiful to look at they are very difficult to pose you in. They can take a very long time to do up, taking valuable time away from your session. With corsets, we’re limited to only a few poses. While they may make your waist look narrow, they dig in in other areas in an unflattering way. No thanks!
Hockey Jerseys: We don’t recommend them. OK, we’re not completely against hockey jerseys, but we will say this; they’re not flattering. At all. If a jersey is a must, think of it as an add on outfit because we’ll only shoot one or two images in it. We don’t want an unflattering outfit to be one of the 2-3 you bring. They also don’t tend to fit with the vibe of the other images in your album.
No Full Bum Coverage Panties: Always go for a part thong or cheeky cut. Full coverage in the bum almost always digs in and they make booties look much bigger and wider than a cheeky or thong cut. I’m gonna guess we’re not here to make your booty look bigger…
No G-Strings: These panties dig in, and they don’t have flattering lines. Always grab a different pair of panties if this kind is what came with your order/purchase.
Avoid: intense, bright or neon coloured clothing. These can create terrible colour casts on your skin (i.e. that neon orange bodysuit is going to make your skin glow bright orange too. Um, no thanks!) When in doubt, neutral colours (white, cream and black, deep navy blue & burgundy always look amazing!)
What to Wear the Day of Your Session Experience
Bras, tight pants and socks, etc. all leave red marks on your skin which can take hours to dissipate. Be brave and go commando (no bra, socks or panties). We want to avoid any unwanted red marks on your skin. Don’t forget to take that elastic off your wrist, too 🙂. Also, be sure to wear loose fitting clothing the day of your shoot, like a loose dress, or track pants and loose shirt. For your feet, pick soft, comfy shoes that won’t leave marks on your feet or ankles (think UGGs, slippers or flip flops).
Please CUT OUT ALL TAGS carefully from your lingerie/bras/panties. We don’t want to cut into your session time making sure your lingerie is shoot ready.
There’s a misconception that we can ‘just photoshop that out.’ While we can do quite a bit, it’s not a simple press of a button and shazam, your photos got edited. Some things simply aren’t fixable, like fixing ill-fitting lingerie, or changing the look of the kind of panties you bought. So make sure you’ve got the best fitting and most flattering outfits, and we’ll do all the rest to make you look your absolute best!
