Lingerie is a term for women's fashion undergarments. It derives from the French word 'lin' for linen. While the term in the French language applies to all undergarments for either sex, in English it is applied only to those women's undergarments designed to be visually appealing or erotic, typically incorporating materials such as nylon (nylon tricot), polyester, satin, lace and/or silk, and not applied to functional cotton undergarments.

The word 'lingerie' is very feminine and denotes excitement, sensuality and elegance. It does not point towards the dull collection of everyday underwear but captures the feminine, fashionable and adventurous essence of all women. Lingerie is the most intimate wear of any woman, and often becomes a secret expression of her innermost feelings. No wonder women of today are attracted to a glittering array of lingerie styles, colors and textures.

The concept of lingerie being visually appealing is relatively recent. Up through the first half of the 20th century women selected underwear for three major purposes: to alter their shape (first with corsets and later with girdles or bras), for reasons of hygiene, or for modesty. Women's underwear was often very large and bulky. As the 20th century progressed underwear became smaller and more form fitting. In the 1960s 'controversial' lingerie manufacturers such as Frederick's of Hollywood begin to glamourise lingerie and the idea of lingerie having a sexual appeal slowly developed.

For the modern woman, lingerie should be perfect blend of comfort and style. It should be made from functional and soothing fabrics like cotton, hosiery, silk and satin. Lingerie can be categorized into many items. Thongs are alluring and one of the fastest selling pieces of lingerie.

All lingerie is machine made but some specialty shops offer hand-sewn items. Some even design lingerie to your specifications. It is very common to have wedding, honeymoon and anniversary lingerie designed.

When buying any piece of lingerie, one must be very careful about the sizing. Lingerie is numbered in different sizes according to the bust, cup size, waist and hip measurements. If you are buying a particular piece of lingerie for the first time, it is better to try it on for size and comfort. But if you know your sizes, you can order lingerie on the Internet.