The original – and some would argue, the best – form of women’s hosiery are ’stockings’. These are sheer, thin items which go over the foot entirely and reach up the leg. They are then secured into place by a traditional garter and suspender belt system, or in some cases are ‘hold ups’, which are self-supporting at the thigh using silicone and elastic to keep the stocking on the leg.

Stockings are, historically, one of the few garments of clothing that is considered both functional and fanciful. A rare thing indeed, stockings do have a functional use in covering the legs and creating a sophisticated look, while they also play a part as fun or sexy items, too. And even better, the same pair of stockings, made from any material, can play both roles depending on what they are worn with. When it comes to versatility, stockings and hold ups have it all.

There are other types of women’s hosiery in circulation, the next best probably being known as socks. These are usually woollen garments which cover the foot, and sometimes ankle, of the leg. Mainly used by women playing sports, the sock has nevertheless undergone something of a fashion revolution in recent years. A long sock is referred to as being knee-high and though generally associated with school girls, ever since popstar Britney Spears wore a pair in the video for ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ they have become popular among adults as a garment that is seen as particularly coquettish and fun. This trend spread to the fashion houses – a rare case of the public dictating the catwalk – and now knee-high socks are part of many high-fashion outfits.

There is also an alternative to traditional garter-belt stockings and hold ups, known as tights in the UK (or ‘pantyhose’ in America). Like stockings, tights are very thin woven material that covers the foot and legs, but unlike stockings they do not end at mid-thigh. They are instead designed to continue up and cover the pubic bone and waist entirely, rather like standard trousers do but at a much tighter fit made from a much thinner material. They are seen as less fussy than suspenders and more applicable for day to day wear, in which they are as popular as ever.

However, whatever form you choose, women’s hosiery can be a wonderful way of completing a look and giving it a final, defining edge. Go gossamer thin (below 15 denier) for a look of sleek leg perfection or almost opaque to give the hosiery a place in the outfit themselves, as a starring role and not just a compliment. Whichever way you go, you’re guaranteed to look and feel fabulous.

Not many fabrics, surprisingly, are immortalised in song, so the fact that people tend to associate this material with the Moody Blues is perhaps unsurprising. It certainly hasn’t done the satin industry any harm, with satin sheets still a popular purchase for any couple looking to get a bit more out of their night-times. The sheen of the fabric gives it a much sought-after touch of luxury and a degree of comfort that simply cannot be denied. It is also without question that, whatever Justin Hayward’s experience may have been, a night in white satin is much more enjoyable when shared between two.

The use of satin in nightwear, then, adds an extra dimension of luxury, comfort and pleasure. It’s one thing to sleep on satin, but to actually wear it against one’s skin raises the stakes that much further. A satin Babydoll nightie is the ultimate in luxury nightwear for any woman who loves the feel of a soft, sheer fabric against their body. It can work as a secret, selfish pleasure for one, be enjoyed alone for its comfort and softness – or it can be a shared experience between two. Have no doubt that anyone with whom you may share the night-time will be hard pressed to keep their hands off you if you’re wrapped in a satin babydoll!

The color of the Babydoll is also all-important. White, considered the color of innocence and purity, is a popular choice for Babydoll nighties. The wholesome image that it conveys fits with the image that many will want to attain. This look has been subverted from time to time, particularly in the heyday of grunge and Riot Grrrl music, when luminaries such as Courtney Love wore white Babydolls (often torn) along with Birkenstock footwear in a look that gained the epithet “kinderwhore”. The innocence and vulnerability conveyed by a white Babydoll was cleverly played with by women who were anything but vulnerable and innocent.

A red Babydoll, however, conveys only one image, and that’s the devilish, playful and slightly rude look that will make any red-blooded man sit up and take notice. Red stands for danger, although in this case it’s not a threat that many men will want to avoid. Sometimes a little bit of danger can be a very good thing.

The intricacy of lace is a matter of fact – a very elaborate weave that can follow any number of patterns, but is pulled very tight and retains its shape like no other fabric. It is this intricacy that once made lace so expensive that it could only be worn by the very rich – the practice of lace-making was so time intensive that even a single garment would take a huge amount of work and concentration on the part of the lace worker. Since industrialisation made it possible for machines to do the jobs of humans, and do them quicker, there has been an improvement – or at least a boost in efficiency -  in the process of working with lace.

Consequently this beautiful fabric is no longer restricted to the extremely wealthy. The increased efficiency in the process of lace manufacturing has made it possible to mass-produce and this has caused a drop in price – so no more is it too expensive for those on a budget. It’s still not cheap, as materials go, but if you’re prepared to forego a few non-essentials for a week or two, then you can afford a lace garment or two every once in a while – taking your wardrobe up to the next level of glamour and opulence.

The Babydoll night dress is a garment that divides opinion. Many feel that – quite apart from the name – the look of the nightie is a little bit faux-infantile, and question the motivation behind wearing one. On the other hand there are more than a few others who believe that it flatters a woman’s best assets without over-emphasising them. Any lady who wants to wear something that just about hides the things that should stay hidden will be well served by a Babydoll. It is not a piece of nightwear that is chosen to accentuate one’s demure side.

The above may suggest that to wear a Babydoll is to sacrifice any chance of looking classy – but in all fairness, with the right cut and a touch of lace, this is a garment that can be utterly captivating, and will cause any man to take a long look at the woman wearing it. Once again, the effects of lace are indisputable, making a garment not known for its understated beauty into a simple, heart-stopping classic.

There is something very modest about the Babydoll, no matter what it’s length. The flowing skirt gives the impression of femininity and the moulded breast cups are also very decent, but in reality the Babydoll has become a very sexualized garment, perhaps for these exact modest-related reasons. It creates an image of innocence while still revealing skin – some Babydoll dresses are low cut and very short, emphasizing this – and can be made to look incredibly appealing.

The term ‘Babydoll’ was coined in 1956, when the film ‘Baby Doll’, starring Carroll Baker in the lead and title role, was released. Throughout the film, Baker’s character wears a dress now known through the world as a Babydoll. The effect of this and the film’s popularly – it won several Academy Awards – brought both the name and the item came into the public consciousness. Despite this, oddly enough, the film did not receive any nominations for it’s costumes.

The Babydoll as underwear serves no true purpose, such as anything to do with support or creating a line or flow of the body. But would you expect a cat to do the washing up? The principle is the same; for what the Babydoll is designed for, it does it’s job spectacularly.

Babydoll dresses tend to be incredibly feminine, usually adorned with all types of intricacies, from lace, to feathers, to diamante detailing. Material used tends to vary, but it is unlikely a Babydoll designed for erotic purposes will be made of anything like cotton or flannel. The most commonly used colours are soft pinks or reds, basically anything that could be considered a female colour is very popular.

When it comes to wear a Babydoll, simplicity is key. It’s best to go braless, or you may ruin the innocent effect and the way that the fabric moves. Matching knickers are an almost must, as most babydolls are designed to show the wearer’s underwear to at least some degree with the skirt length, and the fabric may also be sheer. Of course, in some cases no underwear at all is going to give the best effect, but if you are going to wear knickers, make sure there’s no clashing.

Despite it’s lack of support quality, the Babydoll is an enduring lingerie icon that will never go out of style. Classic modesty with a twist, it’s one of the most stunningly erotic garments any woman can own.

There are those, then, who argue that sexy underwear is that which leaves the most to the imagination. By wearing deliberately modest bras and panties that cover not only the crotch area but a significant amount of leg as well, a lot is left to the imagination. And as the imagination is uncensored and free to go where the mind of a man or woman will take it, it is a very powerful tool in seduction. However, it should not be taken as gospel that more coverage equals more attraction. If that were the case, women desperate for a man would simply take to the streets in head-to-toe veils. There has to be some kind of balance struck between the two.

If you want to wear something that really turns heads, and have a genuine purpose for doing so outside the bounds of a nudist beach or a private party, you need to think about co-ordinating your underwear with your outfit. Many women are constantly bothered by the difficulty of finding underwear that can be manageably worn with everyday clothing or club wear. If you are wearing intricate sexy lingerie and only want certain people – or more usually a certain person – to see it, then you will need to wear rather a lot over it, to ensure that tell-tale adornments do not peek through. If you want to retain a modicum of practicality, you need to take a different approach – and more and more women are leaning towards flesh-colored underwear.

Flesh-colored underwear allows a woman to go about her day without drawing attention to her underwear. There are some people who cannot manage to see a woman’s bra-strap or a bit of her underwear without going crazy with either sexual desire or puritanism. Flesh tones allow underwear to go unnoticed. Additionally, they can also have a very sexy twist in the same way – by being indistinguishable from the skin, they can create the impression of “going commando” – something which often wins with great approval from those who see it. At the same time, it allows a woman to address concerns of protection and hygiene without having to resort to highly visible and often very uncomfortable panties.

Silk is the associated material of luxury. It’s soft, lustrous appearance screams value, high-end quality of the highest order. A silk evening gown is one thing, but do you truly have the time to appreciate the feel of the material against your skin during a night out? By far, the best way to wear silk and really understand just why it’s such a popular, revered material is to purchase a set of silk nightwear, the ultimate indulgence.

It may seem a little much to buy something as expensive as silk when you’re only going to wear it to bed. However, think of it more as a treat to yourself and your sense of touch before you close your eyes at night, a blissful way to end the day, curled in the lap of luxury. If you think back to the scenario I described before, your mood would not be improved one iota if you were then to dress for bed in a scratchy old T-shirt or faded pyjamas with the elastic from the waist stretched beyond recognition and usefulness by time. Now imagine the difference you would feel, both physically and mentally, if you were to end your day wearing silk nightwear designed to make the wearer look and feel spectacular.

If this is something you’d like to try – and frankly, I can’t see why you wouldn’t – there is a vast array of silk nightwear available in the UK at the moment. From babydoll nightgowns, to negligees, to full pyjama sets – the choice is seemingly endless. The price may be a little higher than you’re used to paying for sleepwear and if you’re doubtful, just try one item of silk nightwear and see what a difference it can make.

The practice of using silk for nightwear dates back hundreds of years, and if you do indulge, you’ll join Queens of Tudor England in the list of people who consider the need for sleepwear to be beautiful as important. In a way, using a material like silk just for something you’re going to sleep in is the best part – it is the indulgence, the sheer extravagance, that makes it so thrilling.

Even if you’re a designer-labels addict, you can still treat yourself to silk underwear as many major fashion houses now offer a full range of it. The effortless elegance of silk as a nightwear material is what makes it so popular with designers – there is no need for cheesy slogans, ribbons of fabric, pointless buttons or sequin-encrusted cuffs when it comes to using silk. The material speaks for itself, in it’s quality and it’s charm. For all of these reasons, silk nightwear is the ultimate byword for style and comfort, all wrapped up into one.

There is no doubt that PVC underwear has absolutely no use outside of the bedroom. The problems wearing such a garment would create are endless and largely involve the word ‘chafing’. Yet PVC underwear continues to sell because, if you want to create a show-stopping effect in the bedroom that is something completely different, it is probably the most effective type of underwear you can purchase.

PVC underwear comes in a vast array of varieties. There are the standard bra and knickers, which are on the demure side of this more extreme branch of fashion, though nevertheless still quite risqué on the whole when in comparison with a standard white cotton set. There is then more intricate designs of PVC underwear, expanded to incorporate corsets, bodystockings and even stockings and suspender belts. Basically, when it comes to PVC underwear, everything that is available in cotton or standard materials is available also in PVC – it just takes a little mental preparation to wear it.

Fetish can be fun and PVC underwear plays a huge part in that, be it a serious, dedicated fetish or just an excuse for a little experimentation. There is something undeniably empowering about the effect PVC underwear may have on a man – you will often find even the most mild-mannered of men have a heightened interest in this darker side of bedroom play. PVC is linked heavily with sado-masochism and is a particular favourite of dominatrices, where it is taken to the extreme, but that doesn’t cut it off from the rest of society. Take a walk on the wild side with PVC, and you may be pleasantly surprised at the results.

If you do decide to do just that, then there are some things you need to bear in mind before strapping yourself into PVC. The first is to try and keep cool, as PVC against the skin will increase your temperature beyond belief until you are used to it. Oddly enough, this suggests the use of PVC underwear as a night-time pursuit – which is rather fitting!

Before putting PVC underwear on, a little talcum powder is a Godsend. Sprinkle it lightly on your skin, just enough to make your skin particularly soft and smooth without leaving huge amounts of white  residue. The talcum powder will create an almost invisible barrier and save the worst of the comfort issues from afflicting you. The other main reason for discomfort when wearing PVC is air pockets, which create a suction effect that, at their worst, can be extremely painful. To ensure this doesn’t happen to you, completely smooth out the garment and ensure there is no trapped air. Added to the talcum powder trick, by doing this you will find PVC surprisingly comfortable to wear – and then you’re good to go, for an experience you’re unlikely to forget in a hurry.

The Wonderbra had been in existence in other forms prior to that time, but simply in name only. The push-up design that the entire world knows today was licensed to a company by the name of Gossard, who would put the design into production and change the way we look at cleavage forever. The design became highly popular in Canada, but it was not until the early 1990s that it would become more of a worldwide phenomenon, starting in the United Kingdom in that decade, breaking through in mainland Europe in 1993 and then finally breaking America in 1994. Although it had been designed and created just north of the border 30 years prior, it had taken that time and the circuitous route via Europe to become big news in the States. However, once it had made it big (so to speak), the Wonderbra kept on going.

The Canadian Lady corset company is not the corporation of which people think when they think of the Wonderbra. More usually it is Gossard, even though that company no longer produces the bras, which are now the trademarked property of the Canadelle Limited Partnership. Wherever the rights to sale and publicity lie, though, it goes without saying that the Wonderbra itself is one of the most prominent innovations in women’s fashion, without any doubt.

In 2008, a survey of 3,000 women in the United Kingdom found that almost unanimously the respondents considered the Wonderbra to be the greatest fashion innovation in history. It has had such an impact on the way women dress, and become in so many women’s minds a symbol of female empowerment, that there are few people who have not heard of the Wonderbra. It has had a deeper cultural impact that any innovation in the women’s fashion industry, and been at the source of controversy when the advertising campaign in the United Kingdom in 1994 featured Eva Herzigova in the bra staring downwards above a caption saying “Hello Boys”. Rumor had it that this advertisement on billboards near roads had caused traffic accidents, although this was never proven. The toned-down ads used in the United States featured the same photograph with captions such as “Look Me In The Eyes And Tell Me You Love Me”.

For men, the issues regarding women’s underwear are fairly simple and straightforward. How does it look? That is pretty much it in a nutshell. As long as a man knows that a woman looks sexy, all is all right in his world. Whereas for the woman who actually has to wear the underwear, there are all sorts of other concerns which, if men were to stop and consider them for a moment, would make them feel like awful cads. Not least of these is the comfort level. Some fabrics can look alluring but feel less than comfortable, although this depends on the wearer to some extent. The key matter to remember is that, however attractive the underwear may seem, if the wearer is uncomfortable the effect is lost.

Sexy lingerie is one of the few industries which, even in a recession, continues to be bought in large quantities and retain its value as a market. The fact that people will spend money on silk stockings or lace bra and panties sets when they will not spend the same amount on outer clothing much of the time tells us that people will economise only so far and are usually unwilling to compromise on something as personal and as important as looking or feeling sexy, or in the case of a man buying for a woman, the pleasure of looking at a woman dressed in the underwear. Quality material doesn’t come cheap, though, but it is worth it for the benefits it brings.

Silk, for example, is a material known for its smoothness. A well-made garment in silk has so many positive qualities for those who wear it, and for those who look at it. It flatters all the right spots and looks genuinely luxurious, but in addition it has the benefit of being among the most comfortable fabrics to wear. Wearing silk close to your skin, or having silk bed linen, brings about a world of luxury and can, additionally, be highly erotic. The only thing that truly comes close is lace. The intricacy of the fabric, the partially see-through look and its feel can make any woman feel like a goddess. For this reason, silk and lace are the way to go if you feel like spoiling yourself or someone else.

There is some debate over whether invisible bras constitute sexy lingerie. In many cases, they are considered a matter of practicality – that is to say that a conventional bra can cause certain issues, such as the straps digging into a woman’s shoulders or the back strap being visible through a t-shirt. Some women are not terribly concerned about the latter issue – “So I wear a bra, is that really so interesting?”, - but the issue with straps is more of a practical matter. A bra-strap digging into your shoulders is more than uncomfortable, it can be painful and restrictive. There is another matter at hand, though, which makes invisible bras something in which many women are prepared to invest – it allows you to wear strapless dresses.

Fashion is a very demanding industry – some time ago strapless dresses just would not have happened because they made it impossible to wear a conventional bra. The invisible bra has happened because women want to wear strapless dresses. For many people, one of the sexiest parts a woman can show off is their shoulders. Although not a “taboo” part, the shoulder is close to the breasts and draws attention in that direction. It is also, for many women, something of an erogenous zone, and if you are to lay your hand on a woman’s shoulder you had best make sure that you are already well acquainted with her – it is considered to be something of an intimate gesture.

Strapless dresses expose the shoulder in a way that makes many men look twice. But of course, it’s not just the shoulders. If a dress is not supported by shoulder straps it will be supported in some measure by the bust. This is enough to draw admiring glances, and if you can get the right bra to enhance the shape of your bust it can turn a strapless dress into a deadly weapon. Invisible bras are sexy lingerie for one very simple reason – they raise the question of how exactly that dress is staying on, and how the woman is getting support. They draw attention directly to the breasts, and this is enough to make very many men stand in place, wondering whether a round of applause would be impertinent.