What to Wear for Your Boudoir Session
One of the first questions almost everyone asks after booking their boudoir session is, “What the hell am I supposed to wear?” And I get it, especially if lingerie isn't something you normally wear. Suddenly you're staring at 400 black bodysuits online trying to figure out what the difference is between all of them and wondering whether you're somehow supposed to know what looks good on your body.
You're not, and that's part of what I'm here for. But before we even start talking about bodysuits, lingerie, oversized T-shirts, thigh highs, or anything else, I want to start somewhere completely different: you.
Start With What You Actually Like
My goal with boudoir has never been to turn every woman who walks into my studio into the exact same version of sexy. If you're a dark and moody girl, I don't want you wearing something pink and frilly just because somebody decided that's what you're supposed to wear for boudoir. If you're soft and romantic, let's lean into that. If you're a jeans-and-a-T-shirt girl, bring the damn T-shirt.
When we're planning your session, I'm going to ask you a bunch of little questions. Do you like darker vibes or lighter ones? Do you want to be more modest or more slutty? What's your favorite color? Is there a color you absolutely hate? Do you like leather, lace, flowers, sparkles, or something completely different?
Sometimes figuring out what you don't like is just as helpful as figuring out what you do. We take all those little answers and start building ideas from them, because sexy doesn't have one aesthetic and your version of it doesn't have to look like anyone else's.
Don't Shop for Your “Body Type”
I don't believe in telling women what they're allowed to wear based on their body type. You will never hear me tell you that you're an apple, pear, rectangle, or whatever other fruit we're apparently using to describe women's bodies this week, so therefore you need to wear a particular piece of lingerie.
What I DO want to know about are your insecurities, because there's a difference between dressing for some arbitrary body-shape rule and considering what you personally are comfortable seeing in your photographs.
If you would rather die than see your midsection, tell me. We can look at bodysuits, high-waisted underwear, oversized shirts, robes, and other pieces that give you more coverage there. If your arms are something you're really uncomfortable with, we can look at long sleeves, robes, button-downs, or T-shirts.
But I also want you to think about whether you actually want that part of your body hidden or whether it simply isn't your favorite part of yourself. Maybe you don't love your stomach, but you're okay seeing it in photographs. Maybe your arms aren't your favorite, but you aren't going to hate every photograph where they're visible. Those are really different situations, and I don't want to cover half of you because you mentioned one body part you occasionally feel weird about.
There are also plenty of insecurities that don't necessarily need a wardrobe solution. Thighs, butts, back rolls, boobs, and so many of the things women worry about can look completely different depending on posing. That's literally my job. We can absolutely use wardrobe when you want coverage, but we don't need to build your entire wardrobe around hiding every part of yourself you've ever criticized.
Try the Damn Thing On
A lot of my clients have never really purchased lingerie before their session, which means you might genuinely have no idea what you like yet. That's normal. You aren't supposed to magically know whether you're a lace bodysuit girl, a bralette girl, a leather girl, or an oversized-T-shirt-and-underwear girl before you've tried any of it.
This is why I want you to try things on. Look at the fit, the coverage, the cut, and how you actually feel wearing it. If you're shopping online, look at reviews, especially reviews with customer photos, because seeing the same piece on different bodies can be way more useful than staring at one perfectly styled product photo.
And please don't try on one badly fitting bodysuit and decide your body “can't wear bodysuits.” Sometimes the piece just sucks. Sometimes it's too short through the torso, the cut isn't right, the size is wrong, or you just don't fucking like it. Torrid, for example, tends to have some great options with more torso length and coverage. One piece not fitting your body doesn't mean an entire category of clothing isn't for you.
Let's Talk About Bodysuits Because I Freaking Love Them
Bodysuits are one of my favorite things for boudoir because they're ridiculously versatile. A good bodysuit follows your figure instead of hiding it, so we still get your waist, curves, boobs, and butt, while giving you the option for more coverage through your stomach than you might get from a bra and panty set.
There are also a million different versions. You can find lace, mesh, strappy, long sleeve, high neck, plunging, cheeky, thong, full coverage, completely sheer, barely sheer, and everything in between. So when someone tells me she doesn't think she's a “bodysuit person,” I usually want to know which bodysuit she tried, because they definitely aren't all the same.
One thing I do want you to pay attention to is the leg opening. Some bodysuits are cut really high through the hip, which can look freaking amazing, but it also means we're going to see more of that area. If you're especially self-conscious about your lower stomach, hip area, or belly overhang, look at where the piece actually sits on the model and ask yourself whether you'd be comfortable seeing that area in your photographs.
If the answer is yes, wear the high-cut piece. If the answer is absolutely fucking not, let's find something with a little more coverage. Neither answer is wrong. We're not deciding that part of your body needs to be hidden. We're deciding what YOU want to see.
What About Boobs?
Boobs are one of those things clients stress about constantly, and so much of what they do in photographs comes down to posing.
If you're part of the itty-bitty-titty committee like me, you don't need to create boobs you don't have. One thing I would watch is heavily structured or molded cups, because sometimes there just isn't enough boob to fill the cup the way the piece was designed. Bralettes, lace, mesh, bodysuits, and other pieces without structured cups can sit against a smaller chest beautifully.
On the other side, if you're worried that your boobs sag and think you need something with a ton of support, you don't necessarily need that either. I completely understand why you'd think you do, but boobs can be lifted, brought together, shaped, and given cleavage through posing.
Basically, don't eliminate an outfit you love because of how your boobs look while you're standing straight up in your bathroom mirror. You're not going to spend your boudoir session standing straight up staring into a bathroom mirror. I'm going to pose the shit out of you.
Bra and Panty Sets
Bra and panty sets are classics for a reason. They're familiar, easy to understand, and there are approximately eight billion versions of them.
This is another place where your comfort level matters more to me than some imaginary lingerie rule. If you don't want your midsection showing very much, look at high-waisted underwear. If you're completely comfortable showing it, cool. You've got even more options.
If you're worried about straps or bands digging into your body, you can also look for wider bands and thicker straps. Bodies are soft, so elastic pressing into skin is going to create some indentation. That isn't your body doing anything wrong. But if you already know seeing those indentations is going to bother you in your photographs, choosing a different cut might make you more comfortable.
The important part is that you actually like the set and that you try it on before deciding whether it works for you.
Corsets, Bustiers, and More Structured Pieces
Corsets and bustiers are cool. They're not something I think every client needs, and they can be a little harder to pose in because they're more restrictive, but they fit a very specific vibe really well.
If we're creating something structured, vintage, dark, dramatic, dominant, romantic, or just a little extra, they can be perfect. This is one of those places where I care way more about whether the piece fits your aesthetic than whether it appears on somebody's list of “best lingerie for boudoir.”
And Then There Are Babydolls
I'm going to say something potentially controversial: babydolls usually aren't my favorite for boudoir.
I completely understand why people gravitate toward them, especially if they're nervous about their stomach. Something loose and flowy feels like a safe option. The problem is that all that fabric can completely hide your figure. Instead of seeing your waist and curves, the fabric falls from your chest and covers everything underneath it.
If coverage through your stomach is important to you, I'd usually rather look at bodysuits, high-waisted sets, shirts, robes, or another option that gives you that coverage without completely swallowing your shape.
That being said, if you freaking LOVE babydolls, wear the damn babydoll. There are no lingerie police here.
What Colors Photograph Best?
Black is popular for a reason. It's dark, sexy, universal, and works with basically everything, so if you show me three black outfits, I'm not going to make you buy something red because somebody told you that you need “variety.”
Jewel tones are also always gorgeous. Neons can be ridiculously fun if we're going in that direction. Pastels can photograph beautifully too, although I've found plenty of clients simply don't like them, and that matters more to me than whether somebody thinks a particular shade technically complements your skin tone.
There really isn't a wrong color unless you hate it. If you hate pink, I don't care how incredible somebody says you look in pink. Why the hell would we build your session around a color you don't even like?
Lace, Leather, Flowers, Sparkles, Patterns and All the Extra Shit
My opinion here is pretty simple: if you like it, I'm interested.
If you love lace, wear lace. If you love leather, bring leather. If you love rhinestones, glitter, florals, chains, fishnets, complicated strappy things, bows, or something completely ridiculous that immediately makes you happy, I want to see it.
I don't want you stripping all the personality out of your wardrobe because you're trying to make yourself look “boudoir enough.” Your wardrobe is one of the easiest ways we can make this session actually look like you.
You Don't Have to Wear Lingerie
Boudoir does not require lingerie, and some of my favorite looks aren't lingerie at all.
You can bring things like:
Oversized or baggy T-shirts
Concert or band tees
Tank tops and crop tops
Button-down shirts
Sweaters
Jackets
Jeans
Dresses
Jerseys
Swimwear
Your partner's shirt
Sheets or other implied-nude options
Personal shirts are some of my favorites. I've had clients bring their partner's shirt, a favorite concert tee, or something from a sports team they love. Those pieces immediately tell us something about the person I'm photographing, and sometimes your favorite beat-up T-shirt is going to feel a hell of a lot more like you than a $200 lingerie set ever could.
Bring the Personal Shit
You don't need to strip your personality out of your wardrobe to make it sexy. If something matters to you and it fits the vibe we're creating, bring it.
For bridal sessions, that might mean pieces from your actual wedding day. We have a few veils in the Client Closet, but if you already have your own veil, shoes, jewelry, ring, or even your dress, those things bring a personal connection to the session that something from my closet can't.
The same applies outside of bridal sessions. Partner's shirts, concert tees, sports teams, hobby pieces, fandom stuff, favorite shoes, jewelry, leather, sparkles, whatever. Personal doesn't automatically mean cheesy. We just want everything to feel like it belongs in the same universe we're creating.
That applies to couples sessions too. You don't have to be wearing matching outfits, but the looks should make sense together. If our goal is Fifty Shades and you're wearing sexy black lingerie while your partner rolls up in Flintstones boxers, we might need to have a conversation.
Shoes and Accessories
I treat shoes like accessories. If you're a shoe person and you've got a pair you freaking love, bring them. If you're not a shoe person, please don't buy six-inch heels because you think boudoir requires them. It doesn't.
The same goes for jewelry and accessories. If you love bling, sparkle, chains, glasses, or whatever else fits your personality, go for it. Your everyday jewelry can stay if it feels like part of you. We'll remind you about things like hair ties and smart watches when we need to remove them.
And if you wear glasses, you don't have to take them off just because you're worried about glare. I can handle glare. If your glasses are part of how you see yourself, wear them. If you'd rather photograph without them, that's fine too.
How Naked Do You Actually Want to Get?
There is no prize for being the nakedest person I've ever photographed.
Maybe you want something really modest. Maybe you want your ass out. Maybe you want to start covered and slowly take things off. Maybe you're somewhere between modest and slutty, or maybe we're going FULL slutty.
All of those answers are allowed.
More revealing isn't inherently better, and less revealing isn't inherently more tasteful. They're just different choices. What matters is figuring out what feels exciting and comfortable enough for YOU.
We also absolutely offer implied nude if you're interested. That doesn't necessarily mean we're showing more than we would in lingerie. We can use posing, sheets, hands, angles, hair, and other elements to strategically cover areas while still creating something that feels very bare and intimate.
You don't have to decide whether you're “a nude person” before your session. Tell me you're interested and we'll talk about it.
Your Three Outfits Don't Have to Follow a Formula
Your Full Experience includes three outfits and three sets, which gives us a lot of room to play. But that does NOT mean you need one bodysuit, one bra and panty set, and one non-lingerie look because the internet told you that's the correct boudoir formula.
If you want three completely different looks, amazing. If you want three black bodysuits, also amazing. Black is sexy, you love bodysuits, everybody is happy.
I care much more about your aesthetic than checking off three different categories. We can go darker or lighter, modest or slutty, colorful or black, romantic or edgy, or bounce between completely different sides of your personality.
We also think about your outfits and the studio sets together. Sometimes an outfit immediately feels like it belongs in a certain set. Other times you already know there are specific sets you love, so we build around those. It's not a rigid Outfit One goes with Set One situation. We bounce ideas around until everything feels right.
Bring More Than Three If You Want
Three outfits also does NOT mean only three things are allowed through the studio door.
Bring anything and everything you might want to wear. If that's exactly three options, that's fine. If it's ten, that's fine too. If you want to roll your whole damn closet through my front door, go for it.
I'd rather you be overprepared than sitting there wishing you'd brought the other bodysuit.
We talk about wardrobe during your consultation, so you'll already have ideas before your session. Once you're here, we can also try on Client Closet pieces, look at what you brought, match things with sets, and figure out what we're actually most excited to photograph.
Yes, You Can Use the Client Closet
Our Client Closet is there for you, and it includes a shit ton of options in sizes XXS through 6XL.
Technically, all three of your outfits could come from the Client Closet. But here's my anxiety talking: what if you walk in and hate everything I own?
That's why I recommend bringing at least one outfit of your own that you already know you're comfortable in. Then we can raid my closet as much as we want without your entire wardrobe plan depending on you falling in love with something here.
During your consultation, we'll talk through options and I'll show you examples. Then when you arrive for your session, we can actually try pieces on and see what works.
Do You Need to Buy Anything?
Nope.
You might already own something amazing. You can use the Client Closet. You can bring a partner's shirt, your favorite tee, something you've had forever, or whatever else makes sense for the session.
But if you WANT an excuse to shop, I fully support your decisions.
The big thing is to focus on what you like instead of walking into a store thinking, “What am I supposed to wear for my body?”
Look for colors you love. Look at cuts you're drawn to. Touch the fabrics. Look at the weird thing. Try the bodysuit. Grab the sparkly one. Pay attention to what makes you stop and go, “Ohhhh, I like THAT.”
Then try it on.
Read our boudoir lingerie shopping guide
If You're Completely Overwhelmed, Start Here
If you are standing in a store having an existential crisis and just want me to tell you what to grab, here's where I'd start:
One bodysuit in a color, texture, or style you genuinely like
One cute bralette with matching high-waisted underwear
One baggy T-shirt that feels like you
Boom.
That doesn't mean those have to become your final three outfits. It just gives us three solid places to start.
And if you find fifteen other things you love while you're shopping, bring those too.
The Most Important Thing to Remember
Stop focusing so much on what you're supposed to hide, fix, minimize, lift, smooth, or make look smaller.
Start with what you like.
What colors do you like? What cuts catch your attention? Do you love lace, leather, mesh, sparkles, florals, or something completely different? Do you feel most like yourself in all black, or are you immediately drawn to bright colors? Do you want something soft and romantic, dark and sexy, playful, weird, dramatic, modest, slutty, or a little bit of everything?
That's where I want you to start.
We can absolutely consider the things you're insecure about while we're planning. If there is something you genuinely don't want to see in your photographs, I want to know that. We can use wardrobe, posing, lighting, and everything else I know how to do to make sure we're creating photographs you're actually going to love.
But I don't want your entire session planned around a list of things you don't like about your body.
Your stomach doesn't get to choose your wardrobe. Your arms don't get to choose it. Your boobs don't get to choose it. The size printed on a tag sure as hell doesn't get to choose it.
You do.
And you don't have to figure all of this out perfectly before you walk through my door. That's why we talk about wardrobe during your consultation. That's why I have a Client Closet full of options. That's why you can bring ten things when we're only photographing three. That's why I'm here.
We'll figure it out together.
Bring the bodysuit you're obsessed with. Bring the weird thing you aren't sure counts as boudoir. Bring your favorite concert tee. Bring the lingerie you bought three years ago and have never actually worn. Bring the thing that's a little outside your comfort zone and the thing you already know makes you feel hot as hell.
We'll try things on, look at our options, match them with the sets you love, and build a session that actually feels like you.
Because there isn't one right way to dress for boudoir.
There is only the version that makes sense for you.
Ready to Plan Your Own Boudoir Session?
If you're still figuring out whether a Hype Girl session is right for you, head over to the main Boudoir Experience page to see how the whole thing works, what's included, and current pricing.
EXPLORE THE BOUDOIR EXPERIENCE
Already booked? Don't stress about showing up with the “perfect” wardrobe. We'll talk through all of this together before your session.
