Lingerie Basics

Lingerie has been an important aspect of women's clothing for centuries. It was originally designed to alter the shape of the body in order to adapt to fashion trends; in more recent decades it has developed into a fashion industry unto itself. Tens of millions of dollars are spent each year in this country alone on women's undergarments, and the industry continues to grow.

Lingerie is sold through a host of different style retailers. One of the most common ways to buy these items is through a local department store, or specialty retailer. Most major department stores will have an entire section dedicated to women's undergarments. They often carry only the most popular styles and as such are relatively "tame" in their selection, which is where specialty retailers commonly had the advantage.

Most shopping malls in America will be home to at least one lingerie specialty store. These businesses are the ideal way to find the latest in undergarment fashions and they often carry items that would be otherwise difficult to find at the average department store. Many women find these stores to be the best place to find what they need and the staff is generally well trained as well.

Of course, there are always online sources for purchasing just about any women's undergarment you can think of. These online retailers often have an advantage in that they commonly carry a much wider selection of items from which to choose, and shopping can be done from the convenience of your home of office. However, they do have downside as well, in that you are not able to physically inspect any items before purchasing. Sizing items is also more difficult as there is no way to see if it fits beforehand.

Catalogs are also a good source for finding women's lingerie. Most catalogs are associated with a "brick and mortar" business, but this isn't always the case. However, as with online retailers, catalogs do not allow one to try anything on or physically inspect any garment before the actual purchase. They can, however, give you a good idea of what's available before you visit a local lingerie store.