So you’ve decided to treat the woman in your life to some sexy lingerie! In the top department there’s a huge range on offer, from camisoles and bras, to basques and corsets. But what’s best and what differs between each type of top? Here’s a buying guide to help you make your choice that little bit easier.

Bras

Bras vary considerably in style and sexiness, as well as in how they do up. You can get strapless, halterneck, front closure and back closure bras. The cup sizes – where the breasts sit – also vary from push-up, half-cup, balcony, soft-cup, underwired, padded and full-cup varieties.
If you’re after something to show off your woman’s assets, then a balcony, push-up or padded bra may be ideal, but if she’s already well endowed in the breast department, a full support option to keep everything well-supported and in good shape might do the trick.

Negligee

The term negligee describes any form of lingerie that comes in dress-type format, either short/mini or longer length. One of these is the popular baby doll, which is usually fitted around the bust and then becomes looser further down, often opening up completely. Usually it’s a short-ish item, finishing in length around the bottom. The fact that they can reveal a lot of flesh makes baby dolls rather seductive!
A chemise is also a type of negligee. It’s a type of short dress with shoestring straps that’s about thigh length and is often made out of a silky or satin material. Both a chemise and a baby doll may come complete with a G-string, providing any easy solution to what to buy for the bottom half. 

Camisole

A camisole or cami top is sleeveless and tighter fitting than a babydoll or chemise. Sometimes they can be worn over the top of a bra, or without one, and some have a bra built in or cup shapes created in the fabric for the breasts to fit into. They’re often made of silk or satin, or are very lacy or slightly see-through. They come in a whole range of designs and can be really comfortable for women to wear.

Bustier

A bustier is a sleeveless and usually strapless top that goes from the breasts to the waist. It’s designed to slim the waist and enhance the bust and many designs often have detachable garter straps so the wearer can also wear a sexy pair of stocking.

Corset

A corset is similar to a bustier, but it’s stiffened, often with bone, and laced at the back or front. Again, it can create a wonderful hourglass shape and the stiffened fabric holds everything in fantastically well. It’s very effective for enhancing a curvy figure and maximising the look of breasts.

Discover more about the history of corsets, in this informative article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corset

Basque

A basque is very similar to a bustier, designed to enhance a woman’s shape and show off her assets. Sometimes it’s used more when describing lingerie with an erotic undertone, but the name has come a long way since it was used during Victorian times to describe a long fitted jacket!
Although slightly different, bustiers, corsets and basques basically work on the same principle of pushing up the breasts to provide maximum cleavage and shrinking the waist. Plus, they offer the added advantage of often being wearable in their own right, with no need for a top layer of clothing.