Plus size boudoir outfits and the best plus size boudoir lingerie to buy

You have the session booked, or a photographer friend and a free Saturday, and the hardest part is the shopping. Plus size boudoir lingerie is still harder to find in stores than it should be, and the pieces that do exist in 2X and 3X are often cut like a smaller size scaled up, with straps in the wrong place and cups that do not hold. This guide covers what to look for, which outfit works for which pose, and three complete looks with real prices, so you can order this week and still have time to try everything on.

What should a plus size woman wear for a boudoir shoot?

A plus size woman should wear boudoir outfits that shape the waist and support the bust: a corset or bustier, a high waist set with a six clip garter belt, a lace bodysuit in her true size, and a bias cut satin chemise for soft shots. Structure and a defined waistline give the camera clear lines, and correct sizing keeps straps from cutting in.

Start with the corset, because it changes the most. The Underbust Lace Corset ($98) has twelve spiral steel bones that curve with the body instead of pressing flat, a front busk so you can close it alone, and a lace up back that sets the shape. It stops below the bust, so you keep wearing the bra that already fits you. If you want everything in one piece, the Satin Overbust Corset ($128) adds a sweetheart neckline and sixteen bones. For corsets, the waist measurement decides the size; take the larger one if you sit between two.

Next, a set that sits high. A garter belt at the natural waist frames the hips and makes the waist look smaller in comparison, and a wide band stays flat when you sit. The Velvet Hour Set ($88) is built exactly this way: a balconette bra, a high waist garter belt and a thong in stretch velvet that soaks up lamp light and keeps rich color in wine or emerald.

Plus size boudoir lingerie by pose

Most sessions move through standing, sitting and lying poses. Each one puts a different demand on the outfit, so cover them with different pieces instead of three variations of one style.

Pose	What it needs	Our pick	Price
Standing, mirror or full length	A long line from shoulder to hip	Lace Plunge Bodysuit	$68
Sitting on a chair or bed edge	A waistband that does not roll when you fold	Velvet Hour Set	$88
Lying on the bed	Soft fabric that drapes rather than pulls	Satin Slip Chemise	$58
Close frames on waist and hips	Structure and detail	Underbust Lace Corset	$98
Over the shoulder, back view	Coverage in front, detail behind	Lace Teddy	$58
Legs and garters	Clips that hold stockings flat	Lace Garter Belt with Lace Top Thigh Highs	$28 and $18

Pick one fitted piece, one soft piece and one statement piece from the table and you have covered a full session.

Are bodysuits flattering for plus size boudoir?

Yes, a bodysuit is one of the most flattering plus size boudoir outfits, as long as it fits the torso. Stretch lace holds the body smoothly without wires, a deep V lengthens the upper body, and one unbroken line from shoulder to hip reads well in standing and mirror shots. Choose by bust and torso length, and size up if you are long in the body.

The Lace Plunge Bodysuit ($68) plunges to the waist with high cut legs and a snap gusset, and its stretch lace gives without going see through at the seams. If the bodysuit pulls at the shoulders when you sit forward, it is too short in the torso; exchange it for the next size before the shoot rather than adjusting straps all session. For more cuts and leg lines, see our lace bodysuits.

What colors look best for plus size boudoir photos?

Black, deep jewel tones and warm skin-tone neutrals look best for plus size boudoir photos. Black and wine create clean edges against skin, velvet and dense lace keep color rich in low light, and white or ivory reads soft and bridal. Bring at least two colors so the gallery does not feel like one look photographed three times.

Avoid very shiny thin satin under a strong flash, because it shows every ripple. Satin is lovely in window light or under a lamp, which is why the chemise belongs in the soft part of the session rather than the bold part. If you are building a bridal session, every piece in our wedding night lingerie edit comes in white and in sizes up to 3X.

Three plus size boudoir looks, priced

These three looks cover a one to two hour session from soft to bold. Prices are what each piece costs in the shop today, and one pair of thigh highs carries through the first two looks.

1. Soft. Satin Slip Chemise ($58) with Lace Top Thigh Highs ($18). Total $76. The bias cut skims instead of clinging, and the silicone grip keeps the thigh highs up without a belt.
2. Classic. Velvet Hour Set ($88) with its high waist garter belt clipped to the same thigh highs. Total $88.
3. Statement. Underbust Lace Corset ($98) over the Lace Plunge Bodysuit ($68). Total $166.

Bought separately, the three looks come to $330, and the order ships free because it is over $95. If you would rather have the looks matched for you in one size, the Hotel Night Kit ($199) bundles the Satin Slip Chemise, the Velvet Hour Set and the Underbust Lace Corset, which cost $244 as single pieces, with a garment bag and a shot card for warm, low light. All Creator Ready kits come in sizes XS to 3X.

How to get the size right in 1X to 3X

Measure the fullest part of the bust, the narrowest part of the waist and the fullest part of the hips over bare skin, then compare with the chart. Our 1X fits a 43 to 45 inch bust and 45 to 47 inch hips, 2X fits 46 to 48 inches and 48 to 50, and 3X fits 49 to 51 inches and 51 to 53. That covers US sizes 18 to 28.

• Corsets and bustiers: size by the waist and take the larger size between two, because steel bones do not stretch.
• Stretch lace and mesh sets: go true to size, the hips decide the bottoms.
• Bodysuits and teddies: choose by bust and torso length, and size up if you are long in the body.
• Garter belts: a six clip belt holds stockings flatter on fuller thighs than a four clip belt.

The full chart and fit notes are in our size guide, and the whole range in larger sizes is on the plus size lingerie page.

Before the session

Order seven to ten days ahead. US delivery takes 3 to 6 business days in a plain box with a neutral sender name, which leaves time to try every piece on under a lamp, sit and lie down in it, and set straps and garter clips at home instead of in the studio. Lingerie is final sale for hygiene reasons, but an unopened piece can be exchanged once for another size within 30 days, so keep the packaging until you are sure.

Wear loose clothes to the shoot so there are no waistband marks, and plan any beauty treatments before the shoot, such as a spray tan or brow tint, at least two days ahead so the color settles. Then bring the three looks, a robe for between setups and one pair of heels. For pose and styling ideas beyond plus size, our guide to lingerie for boudoir photos covers the whole session.

Questions

What should I wear to a plus size boudoir shoot?

Bring three outfits: one with structure such as a corset or high waist set, one fitted piece such as a lace bodysuit, and one soft piece such as a satin chemise or teddy. Add thigh highs, a robe for breaks and a pair of heels.

Should I size down for boudoir photos?

No. Lingerie that is too small digs into the skin, and those lines show in every photo. Buy your true size, and for corsets take the larger size if you are between two.

Do you sell plus size boudoir lingerie up to 3X?

Yes. Every piece is cut in sizes XS to 3X at the same price, and our 3X fits a 49 to 51 inch bust and 51 to 53 inch hips.

Is a corset good for plus size boudoir photos?

Yes. An underbust corset with spiral steel bones shapes the waist and curves with the body, and you can wear your own well fitting bra on top. It is the most dramatic look in most plus size sessions.

Do you ship boudoir lingerie discreetly?

Every order ships in a plain outer box with a neutral sender name, inside the US only, in 3 to 6 business days. Shipping is free over $95.