Best Boudoir Outfit Ideas. What Should You Wear for Your Boudoir Photoshoot?

If you are reading this post and are considering doing a Boudoir session, I hope you will. Boudoir is one of the most empowering things we as women can do. One of the most intimidating aspects of Boudoir is what to wear to your boudoir session. Lingerie is an obvious choice, but if you don’t feel comfortable wearing lingerie, there are so many other options for your boudoir session. In this blog post I will give you ten different boudoir outfits ideas for your Boudoir photoshoot.

A couple misconceptions about Boudoir to get out of the way before we dive into the best Boudoir outfits coming from me, a Boudoir photographer in Los Angeles

If your first thought is “I am not confident enough to do Boudoir” that is a load of bullshit. No one thinks they’re natural in-front of the camera and confident enough, but the goal of a Boudoir photoshoot session is to make you feel POWERFUL, and CONFIDENT, and SEXY. My goal as your photographer, is to make you see your inner and outer beauty and for you to leave our session with a pep in your step. If you are thinking about booking a session with me, click right here and you’ll get to my inquiry form. I can’t wait to get to know you better and to work with you.

Now as for what to wear to your session, the options are endless, but here is a list of my top 10 boudoir outfits (in no particular order) and a little bit about why I love them. At the end of this blog post, I will give you a few local boutiques in Los Angeles to search for lingerie at! And if you don’t want to shop in-person, there is a separate list for online lingerie stores to look at!

Before we jump into my list, remember that the MOST important factor is your comfort. If you feel confident in what you are wearing it will show through in your session, so don’t choose an outfit just because it is meant to be sexier!

Let’s start out by defining what a Boudoir photoshoot is and is not:

Boudoir is for everyone

Boudoir is for all body types, shapes, and colors

Boudoir is for Brides

Boudoir is for mothers

Boudoir is for expecting mothers

Boudoir is not a uniform experience. It is personal

A Boudoir photoshoot is not Erotica or Pornography

Boudoir is not limited to milestones

So let’s get into it: What Should you wear for your Boudoir Photoshoot? Here are my top 10 Boudoir Outfit Ideas!

Your Boudoir outfit is a critical aspect of your photoshoot. The right Boudoir outfit can make you feel powerful and beautiful. The perfect outfit can make you feel confident and sexy.

This Boudoir outfit guide will walk you through outfits that photograph well, flatter your figure, and encapsulate your personality. Regardless of if you are planning a Boudoir photoshoot at a studio, or an outdoor Boudoir photoshoot in Los Angeles, this guide will help you find a Boudoir outfit that feels authentic to you.

Arguably the most traditional and popular Boudoir outfit: Lingerie Sets

Lingerie is the most common Boudoir outfit worn to my photoshoots at ELI Boudoir here in Los Angeles. There is a reason it is the most popular outfit – that is because it looks amazing on EVERYBODY.

Traditional lingerie sets usually involve delicate lace details or silky fabric that looks simultaneously elegant, classy, and cheeky.

Wearing lingerie sets is like the adult version of playing dress up. They feel incredibly flattering and sexy.

Lingerie can be tailored to your body type. My top four lingerie types are bodysuits, three-piece sets, corsets with high waisted panties and two-piece sets. The insider scoop is always choose high-waisted panties. The panty-line gives your figure more shape. It elongates your legs and can conceal your stomach a little bit. My absolute favorite is probably a bodysuit. I have found that they make most of my clients the most comfortable during their Boudoir shoot. The lace details are extremely flattering and they range from lace details to strappy. You can find a bodysuit that’s anywhere from mostly concealed to the most revealing.

Let’s dive into the primary components of two-piece lingerie sets and three-piece lingerie set…Bras, Panties, and Garter Belts

Bras:

Photograph by ELI Boudoir

Most important: make sure that you get fitted and buy the right sized bras, it makes a world of difference. If you’re unsure of your exact size, there are online calculators such as the A Bra That Fits Calculator or you can go into most local department stores and ask someone to help!

If you want to add some flare to your bra choice, get one that has embroidery, lace work, or cutouts!

There is no right or wrong style of bra to wear. Some popular styles are balconettes, demi, push-up, racerbacks, and bralettes (which can range from lacy to Calvin Klein triangle bralettes)

Panties

Photograph by ELI Boudoir

Yet again there are SO many different styles of panties and my recommendation is to go with what makes you feel sexy. Make sure you purchase the right size, so that your panties do not feel uncomfortable on your waist and leave marks on your skin. I do recommend high-waisted panties. As I said before, these tend to accentuate your curves. My recommendation would be to avoid low-waisted panties. These typically make your figure look more rectangular and will draw more attention to your mid-section.

Thongs and cheeky panties can be a good choice if you want to highlight the curvature of your butt. These pair really well with an oversized shirt, cardigan, button-down, and really anything!

To name a few popular styles:

• Thongs
• G-strings
• Cheeky Panties
• Bikini Panties

Garter Belts:

A garter belt can spice up any outfit you wear to a Boudoir session. You can wear a garter belt even if it is not have to be part of a traditional three piece set. Typically, a garter belt is attached to thigh high stockings, but my favorite look is when it is attached to nothing!

Boudoir Outfit: Oversized Clothing + Sexy Panties

Photograph by ELI Boudoir

For this one, I would choose a high-waisted panty and/or something lacy. My favorite element of oversized clothing is how it seduces the eye, draws your focus to what could be under the clothing and makes you want to see more. If you’re doing your session as a gift for a partner, you could even bring one of their articles of clothing, I guarantee they would never forget about that sweatshirt, shirt, jacket, or whatever it was.

Boudoir Outfit: Button-down Shirt and Panties

Photograph by ELI Boudoir

If I had to choose a favorite photoshoot addition, this might take my money. Button-downs are really fun to play around with and can be used in a number of ways. They can also pair with the majority of the outfits your bring to your photoshoot.

Let me paint a scene for you: you’re at your session wearing a white button-down and a thong. At the start, we are taking photographs from the back, so you can see your gorgeous hair, but your body and butt is concealed by your shirt. Then we start playing around with it, so you get glimpses of your butt, teasing your eye, and then we move to photographing so we can see your beautiful body and face. And now you get glimpses of your mid-drift, and your boobs and the sexy panties that you are wearing. This is an amazing way to start a session and work your way up to a lingerie set or really any other outfit choice!

Now button-down shirts can be made from various materials. I would recommend choosing a simplistic button-down shirt. Stay away from complicated patterns. They are too busy and will detract from YOU. If you want to choose a button down with some color, go for it, but stay away from stripes and patterns. I would recommend choosing a pastel color. But remember, when you are choosing what to wear to your Boudoir photoshoot, the most important aspect is that it feels authentic to you and you feel confident wearing it.

Photograph by ELI Boudoir

Boudoir Outfit: Jeans + No-shirt or a Bralette

Photograph by ELI Boudoir

Jeans are the pants equivalent of an oversized sweatshirt with lacy panties.

One recommendation I have is to wear jeans that are not super restrictive, you want to still be able to move around and feel comfortable. If you choose a pair that is tight on your waist, it is going to get uncomfortable super quickly.

This might be my least favorite popular Boudoir Outfit: A Robe

Robes are typically sheer, lacy and cinch in the middle, allowing your figure to show through. You can either wear lingerie underneath or be completely nude. If your robe is lacy, I would recommend wearing a solid color rather than embellished lingerie. So as a Boudoir photographer, why do I lean away from wearing a robe to your Boudoir photoshoot? It’s simple, a robe does not show off your figure and is likely not going to be flattering. To get the most out of your Boudoir photoshoot, you should select Boudoir outfits that accentuate your figure or are intentionally loose in complimentary ways. A robe will make your figure look shapeless and that is the opposite of what we are going for.

Boudoir Outfit: A Jacket/Cardigan and Panties

Photograph by ELI Boudoir

I am personally obsessed with the look of a jacket and lingerie underneath peeking out. This look can be really effective with a jacket, a cozy winter cardigan, or a cropped sweater.

If you are feeling anxious about your session, having the jacket will give you something to do with your hands, so at the beginning of your session you feel less awkward!

Boudoir Outfit: A Blazer

Business on the outside, and party underneath. I personally am obsessed with the juxtaposition the blazer provides – lingerie is a thousand percent flirty, but the blazer provides an element of mystery, which masterfully makes it even sexier.

If you are feeling really nervous about your boudoir session, it will help you stop thinking about what to do with your hands.

Boudoir Outfit: Nothing at All

When in doubt, go completely nude. I am ALL for embracing your body, falling in-love with stretch marks, and any “blemishes”. Your body is beautiful and there is nothing wrong with celebrating it and wanting photographs that make you fall further in-love with your body. I love working with a simple white sheet and a nude client, the white sheet creates a little bit of mystery!

Boudoir Outfit: Heels or Cowboy Boots + Panties or Naked

Photograph by ELI Boudoir

Whether or not you wear some sexy underwear or are entirely naked with your stilettos is entirely up to you. Even though you aren’t doing a strip-dance, it has the same feel as the finale. And yes, even though they are a lot less comfortable, I do recommend stilettos. Besides being ridiculously enticing, they are going to make your legs look a million miles long.

Boudoir Outfit: Bodysuits

Photograph by ELI Boudoir

If you are searching for the perfect answer for what to wear for your Boudoir photoshoots, a bodysuit might be the perfect answer. They are my favorite Boudoir outfit. A bodysuit can be a slightly more reserved option, but still accentuates ALL of your curves. Another perk to lots of bodysuits is that they can be extremely comfortable. Plus, there are so many different flavors. Now, I included teddies in my lingerie section, but they are worth the double mention! Lacy bodysuits and bodysuits with cutouts are probably my personal all-time favorite! Truly name a more diverse type of lingerie that can make ANYBODY feel just as stunning as you truly are…

You might be asking, well Elili, what is the difference between a bodysuit and a teddy and honestly, they are often interchanged. But typically, a bodysuit is worn with jeans and is not as “sexy” as in is not typically as revealing.

If you want to spice up your bodysuit, try pairing it with some thigh highs or high heels!

Boudoir Outfit: A Crop Top and High-Waisted Panties

Crop tops are another fantastic Boudoir outfit choice. I would pair a crop top with high-waisted panties or with a shower or bath look. A wet white crop top is an underrated Boudoir outfit. You can make the crop top look entirely yours. How raunchy they are, depends entirely on design – finding a low-cut, plunging neckline revealing cleavage or with cutouts can up the ante! Imagine a crop top that reveals some under-boob and shows off your mid-drift especially with those high-waisted panties.

What to Wear to Your Boudoir Photoshoot? How to accessorize your Boudoir Outfit:

Fun and Sexy Shoes – the Perfect Addition to your Boudoir Outfit

Photograph by ELI Boudoir

You can add some sexy shoes to ANY of these options and it will add some flare. Stilettos, Knee-high heeled boots, Heeled Platforms, Strappy Heels. The right pair of shoes has the power to transform any outfit you choose. But is not necessary, going entirely shoe-less is also sexy and if you want some with your SPICY shoes, but not all that is always an option.

A subtle yet bold enhancement to your Boudoir Outfit: Jewelry

Jewelry is an underrated addition to your Boudoir outfit. It is the perfect enhancement. From eye-catching earrings to delicate necklaces and bracelets, there are an infinite number of ways to spruce up your outfit. I love adding a pop-of-color with earrings and pairing them with a simple Boudoir outfit like a black bodysuit.

Wear something your partner gave you (or you borrowed for your Boudoir Photoshoot)

Incorporating an item of clothing from your significant other is an exceptional way to build them into your photoshoot. This allows the experience to be entirely yours and yet you are signaling that you had them in mind while choosing your Boudoir outfits. So when you are trying to identify what to wear to your Boudoir photoshoot think about ways you can incorporate your partners clothing – it could using one of their button down shirts, one of their jerseys, one of their crop tops, or even a pair of their sweatpants. While sweatpants does not scream traditional Boudoir outfit, it can be incredibly breathtaking if paired with the right lingerie or bralette.

You can also find more “out of the box” ways to include your significant other into your Boudoir photoshoot. You could bring their musical instrument or kitchen utensils like oven mitts if your significant other loves cooking.

Or you could bring a gift from your significant other to your Boudoir photoshoot to incorporate into a look. This could be anything from a piece of jewelry they selected for you to a piece of lingerie they bought you to a book they gifted you. The options are limitless.

Now you know what to wear to your Boudoir photoshoot where should you buy the outfits?

My Top 5 Lingerie Stores:

1. Moxy Intimates: founded by female designers, Moxy aims to allow women to find news ways to express themselves and fall further in-love with themselves through their lingerie. They have mastered making lingerie both affordable and luxurious.
2. Hello LA Girl: A Los Angeles based fashion company that uses quality fabrics and materials to create gorgeous lingerie at an affordable cost. Their motto is “More Love, More Beauty,” and I could not agree more.
3. Mari Moth: Their lingerie is stunning. Every time I look at their website I want to buy it all. Their goal is to make women feel sexy and alluring. Their lingerie collections are always limited edition, making them eve more special!
4. For Love and Lemons: They are 100% woman led small online boutique with intricate embroidery work. I am obsessed with their teddies.
5. Adore ME (they have a store in Long Beach): an affordable luxury lingerie boutique with an array of sizes (A-I cups and 30-46 bands).

Stores in Los Angeles to buy your lingerie:

• The Lace Lounge: A Black- and woman-owned lingerie boutique in Los Angeles, specializing in bra fitting.
• Le Boudoir Los Angeles: A woman-owned lingerie and accessories boutique with a carefully curated selection located in Echo Park, Los Angeles.
• Hustler Hollywood: A sex store nestled in West Hollywood with a wide selection ranging from luxury lingerie to sex toys.
• Ilusíon: A lingerie boutique in Los Angeles dedicated to designing affordable and beautiful luxury lingerie that inspires women to define their own version of sexuality and confidence.
• Gray Fashion: A family-owned, small-business in Los Angeles that has edgy, exclusive designs and options ranging from shoes to lingerie.

Online Stores to start your lingerie search at:

• Bluebella: Beautiful lingerie with sheer detailing. They firmly believe that lingerie can create a confidence boost and everyone has their own style.
• Journelle: A designer lingerie brand with beautiful lace work. You can find anything ranging from period panties to gorgeous three piece sets.
• Agent Provocateur (they have a store in West Hollywood): A luxury, sensual lingerie boutique with intricate designs.
• Honey Birdette: Designs ranging from delicate lace to their S&M collection, Honey Birdette strives for playfulness, sensuality, and flirtiness in their boutiques and lingerie. Lucky for you, they have a store in Century City.