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Sandal Foot
Also known as sandal-toe, they are called sandal foot because they can be worn with open toe or open sandal style shoes, and give the appearance of a nude foot. They are always seamless, and usually made of a light denier yarn.
Seamed
Any bra that has seams running though the cup. A seamed bra tends to give more support than a seamless bra because seams determine the cup's exact shape and size. The best supporting bra has seamed cups and made in 3 pieces.
Seamless
A bra with cups that have been molded into a permanent shape and fit. This bra gives a smooth and almost transparent look under clothing. They are particularly suitable under revealing and tight-fitting tops. View HerRoom's selection of seamless bras.
Semi-opaque
This is a term to describe hosiery that is slightly translucent but not totally non transparent. It is usually of a lighter denier tight, or a heavier denier stocking of hold-up.
Serged
A serger machine sews, overcasts and trims a seam all in one step. Therefore this seam is called a serged seam. A serged seam usually is made with 3 to 4 threads.
Shadow Toe
This refers to a slightly reinforced toe sometimes called a run-guard toe. It is barely seen, and gives the protection of the reinforced toe, without the noticeable darkening detail.
Shape Enhancer
A shapewear garment that controls the tummy, and shapes the waist and sides. It commonly has hook and eyes at the waist, and usually has boning to keep the waist from rolling. Can also be called a waistnipper. View HerRoom's selection of shape enhacers.
Sheen
This is a term, sometimes called gossamer given to the shininess or glitter like appearance of the stockings. 100% nylon non-stretch stockings and nylon-lycra blends have a very high sheen, which is their trademark.
Shelf Bra
An underwire bra with little or no cups. This bra will support your breasts while displaying most of your breast including your nipples. View HerRoom's selection of shelf bras.
Silicone
A rubber like polymer, which maintains its elasticity over a wide range of temperatures. Used inside the lace top of hold-up stockings to cling to the skin and keep the stocking up without garters.
Simplex
A type of knit fabric that is firm, yet can also be knit to give a little stretch. Simplex has a mechanical stretch meaning that it stretches evenly in all directions. However, like our skin, it can stretch, but wants to bounce back to it's original state. Therefore, it's a perfect "second skin" fabric.
Soft Cup
A bra without an underwire is called a soft cup or wire-free bra. Maternity, sports and teenage bras traditionally were always soft cup bras. But not any more - there are underwires available in all these styles. Soft cup bras now have great support as well. A soft cup bra is a great solution for a woman who never can find a comfortable underwire bra. Soft cups come in all size ranges. When fitting yourself in a soft cup bra, the center front may not completely sit flat on your sternum, but it should still separate your breasts.View HerRoom's selection of soft cup bras.
Soutache
Soutache consists of loops similar to a ribbon, made of silk or other material, primarily attached by hand on fabric in an intricate pattern. Soutache is both used in lingerie and swimwear and represents one of the most sophisticated types of workmanships used by lingerie designers.
Soy
Soy fabric is made from the leftover dregs from soybean oil or tofu production. The protein is extracted and the fiber spun into cloth. It is an excellent recycle scenario that makes this fabric eco-friendly. Similar to natural silk, it is common for there to be occasional slubs in the soy fabric, which adds to its natural beauty.
Soy is incredibly soft and silky and is otherwise known as vegetable cashmere. Soy is as easy to care for as any cotton t-shirt.
Spacer Foam
Spacer foam, also called spacer fabric, is a very expensive knit used as the cup fabric in molded bras. It is a knit that has both a top and bottom layer, with filaments between - similar to a corrugated box. This creates air pockets between the layers. All of this is knit as one piece of fabric. The advantage of spacer foam is that it is very light weight , breathes, can be thinner than traditional foam used in contour bra cups, won't yellow, yet provides modesty like a contour cup bra.
Spandex
A synthetic fiber made from polyurethane. It is lightweight, highly elastic, strong, durable and non-absorbent to water and oils. A great alternative to people allergic to latex. In Europe, they call this elastane.
Sports Bra
A support bra worn during exercise that minimizes breast bounce. It is comfortable, and gives good support. Its design includes wider straps, and broader cup coverage. All our sports bras have a sports level rating from High Impact to Low Impact. Women really should have a variety of sports bras if they do more than one sports activity.View HerRoom's selection of sports bras.
Stabilizer
A rigid fabric interlining that restricts the stretch of selected areas of the garment to allow for better support.
Stabilizers
A rigid fabric interlining that restricts the stretch of selected areas of the garment to allow for better support.
Stay Ups
Stockings that stay up without the need for garters. True stay-ups usually consist of a decorative stretch lace top, with a silicone band inside of the lace to help grip the leg.
Stockings
Although the popular use of this word has come to be anything worn on the legs (i.e. pantyhose, hold-ups or tights) we will stick with the more traditional definition. Stockings, as referred to on this web site, are the traditional style that are put on individually and attached to a garter at the top for support. These can come in plain top, satin top, or lace top, but should not be confused with hold-ups, which stay up by themselves.
Strapless
An underwire bra with wide sides, no straps or removable straps, and a hook back. Many times silicone is stitched to the upper and lower edges of the bra to keep it secure on the body. Mostly worn with strapless tops, evening gowns or with tops where a normal bra would show. A strapless bra must be the right size - too loose, and you have no support, too tight and it will work it's way down your torso. In fact a well fitting strapless bra could reveal your true bra size because there is no fudging on size with a strapless.View HerRoom's selection of strapless bras.
Stretch
Bras made with Lycra fabric, which lends a smooth, sleek look as well as freedom in movement, comfort and fit. View HerRoom's selection of strapless bras.
String Bikini
A bikini panty with high cut leg line, thin string sides and full back coverage. View HerRoom's selection of string bikinis.
Support Panel
A support panel is another name for an Inner sling sewn inside a bra's cups. An inner sling can be a curved strip of fabric which follows the natural curve of the bra similar to an underwire, except soft. This fabric is rigid and sewn inside the cup to provide additional support. An inner sling can also go around the entire breast circumference, or just be panels on the sides or bottoms of the bra cup. Some support panels can be sewn outside the cup, or incorporated into the cup design as an added panel.
Surplice
Surplice is the name for a diagonally crossed neckline and/or bodice to give the look of it being wrapped. This style can also be called a "faux wrap" and creates a deep v-shaped neckline.
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T-Shirt Bra
This is the other name for a contour bra. Like a molded bra, the cups are seamless with a thin layer of foam included for shape and modesty against nipple show-through when wearing form-fitting tops. T-shirt bras are always seamless, have contour cups, and have no lace or ornamentation. View HerRoom's selection of T-Shirt Bra's.
Tanga
A tanga is between a bikini and a thong. A tanga has narrower back coverage than a traditional panty, but is not as narrow as a thong. Tangas are a more common silhouette in Europe. They are also a comfortable transition from a bikini before attempting a thong. View HerRoom's collection of tangas.
Tap Pant
A panty styled like short shorts with a small flair at the hem. Frequently sold with coordinating bra or camisole. May be worn as a slip for shorter skirt styles. View HerRoom's tap pant.
Teddy
A camisole and panty combined into one piece. It can be fitted to the body or loose. Is worn either under clothing or as sleepwear.
Thong
A panty with a narrow strip of fabric in the back that begins as a "v" shape at the waistband and then tapers to a thin strip by the time it reaches the crotch. The cheeks of your bottom are thus exposed. This style panty is great if you want no visible panty lines and a smooth appearance. View HerRoom's selection of thongs.
Thongboy
Features the comfort of a brief with the benefits of a thong. A thongboy provides coverage over the top back cheeks, but quickly reduces to a thong style when going through the crotch. Think of the thongboy as a boyshort with a thong back panel. View HerRoom's selection of thongboys.
Tights
These are pantyhose made of a heavier denier in opaque or semi-opaque yarns. They are dyed usually in deep colors, and they are more sporty and durable than pantyhose.
Torsette
A torsette is shapewear that does not cover the bust area. This allows you to wear your own bra, and has the added advantage of not compressing your breasts. Torsettes also give added support to your bra. Camisoles, body briefers and slips may all have torsette styling. A torsette can be a great shapewear solution for petite and tall women because the shoulder straps can be adjusted.
Torsolette
A torsolette has a lace-up or hook-and-eye closure, and boning or vertical seams for structure and support. It may or may not have bra cups, detachable garters, or suspenders. It is sometimes called a "merry widow."
Triangle Bra
A triangle bra has triangle shaped cups, which offer the perfect amount of coverage/support for petite to average figures. Triangle bras may be padded or lined but generally do not have underwires. Most have thin straps. the bottom of the bra is many times gathered along a drawstring-like base. View HerRoom's selection of triangle bras.
Trousseau
The garments collected by a bride for her wedding and honeymoon. View HerRoom's selection of trousseau.
Tummy Shaper
Another name for a control brief. View HerRoom's selection of tummy shapers.
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Ulta Sheer
This term refers to the very light deniers which are very light transparency and high sheen. Usually made of 100% non-stretch nylon. Some lycra /nylon yarns of less than 8 denier can be ultra-sheer.
Underliner
See pantliner. View HerRoom's selection of underliners.
Underwire
Bras with sewn-in molded wiring that runs underneath the breast in each bra cup. This support feature helps to lift, separate and shore up the bustline for better shape and extra support- especially for full-figured women. There are many different types of materials used in underwire bras today. The underwire can now be a flexible wire, a plastic coated piece of metal, or a molded plastic shape. View HerRoom's selection of underwire bras.
UPF
Ultra-violet Protection Factor ¨C Ultra-violet Protection Factor ¨C a rating system that measures the UV protection of which is provided by the fabric. Similar to the SPF rating system used in sunscreens. For example, a fabric rated UPF 30 means that if 30 units of UV rays fall on the fabric, only one unit will pass through.
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Velour
Soft plush fabric with a close, dense pile.
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Waist Nipper
Waist nippers offer firm control of the waist and tummy. They are a boned garment that starts under the bust and goes down to the waist or over the hips. Generally it closes in front with hooks. It is the perfect shapewear item for a woman seeking to create an hourglass figure under slim fitting clothing.
Wide-Away
A bra style with widely-spaced shoulder straps to accommodate a boatneck or wide squared neckline.
Wing
The side/back panel of a bra that counter balances the front so it can uplift and support the breasts.
Woven
Woven fabrics are made from two pieces of yarn that are stretched out over a loom and woven together in both horizontal and vertical directions. Woven fabrics do not stretch because their fibers run at 45-degree angles to one another. Woven fabrics include linen, denim, twill, satin, chiffon, corduroy, tweed and canvas.
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