Since the day your mother told you it was time for a training bra, lingerie has been an important part of your life. While many of us didn’t start out in lacy underthings, as we came of age, they became a nice little way to put a pep in our step or wow that special someone.
For brides-to-be, lingerie pulls double duty. You’ll need a good set of undergarments—especially if the dress you said yes to lacks built-in support. But also, whether you and your honey are flying off to your honeymoon immediately after your nuptials or at some point in the future, bringing a little spice to the bedroom is never a bad thing.
Whether you’re a minimalist or you want something that’ll make your lover’s jaw drop and silently pat himself on the back for putting a ring on it, we’re highlighting a few of the best lingerie brands you should be eyeing for the Big Day and your honeymoon.
Nubian Skin: Best Shade Match
We’ve all been there: you need a nude bra. But when you walk into a traditional lingerie store, the “nude” that’s available is nowhere close to matching your skin tone. Nubian Skin is a Black-owned lingerie brand that finally decided to do something about this long-running problem. The brand offers not just intimates for women, but menswear as well as hosiery. From slips to bodysuits, bras and panties, Nubian Skin has you covered. We recommend this pick for everyday needs, like when you’re sightseeing with your love on your honeymoon.
Shop for bandeaus, bodysuits and comfy T-shirt bras. There are four shades designed to match most deeper skin tones and a shade-matching guide to help you find the right one for you. Meanwhile, bras are sized from 30B to 40G. So, if you’re an A cup, you might need to look elsewhere.
Savage x Fenty: Best Value
You can’t have a lingerie list and not include Savage x Fenty. Rihanna’s lingerie brand is known for offering a wide array of not just lingerie but lounge and sleepwear. There’s plenty of versatility here as you can find everyday pieces as well as sexy little things guaranteed to make your honey’s heart start racing. The brand is also fairly size-inclusive, with offerings that range from XS to 4X. We also like that the brand features a variety of models in their lingerie to further reinforce this feature.
LaSette: Best Classic
With modernized vintage silhouettes, LaSette is another Black-owned and body-inclusive lingerie brand that’s ideal for the bride who wants a few sexy pieces that aren’t going to look dated in a season or two. You’ll like that the styles are versatile, giving you the option to rock lingerie for daytime looks if you prefer. We love that even though the silhouettes are designed to be timeless, they still bring that sexiness with a strappy flare that can easily transition from the bedroom to a night on the town. The size range is 0 to 12, or XS through XL.
Spanx: Best Longlines
If you need serious support to create the smoothest silhouette possible, you can’t go wrong with Spanx. The brand originally rose to prominence with underwear designed to help smooth the belly and has since grown to include clothing, maternity gear and even menswear. We like that the brand categorizes its shapewear by how intensely it can sculpt your figure.
Whether you want to avoid food babies after the reception dinner or simply want to ensure that your bridal photos look perfect, choose between levels 1, 2 and 3, which correspond with smooth, shape and sculpt. Additionally, we like that many of Spanx’s pieces come in a range of skin tone-matching nudes.
Suzy Black NYC: Most Versatile
Whether you want to play up your sexy vibe or pack light with lingerie that can transition to outside your hotel or Airbnb, Suzy Black NYC deserves to be on your radar. This Black-owned brand bridges the gap between lingerie and loungewear. While there are plenty of traditional lingerie pieces, such as strappy bralettes and lacy boy shorts, you’ll also find sleek coverups, lounge shorts and dresses that are perfect for the daytime. We also like the vibrant colors and playful prints, which naturally radiate vacation vibes.
Bum-Cake: Best Vintage
For those who have a love affair with all things vintage, Bum-Cake is a Black-owned lingerie brand that will channel your inner vintage diva from the 1950s through the ’90s. From classic corsets and bustiers to long slip dresses that are perfect for prepping on your wedding day, this brand is all about giving you that much-needed classic vibe when you want it. Keep in mind that this is an actual vintage store. So, inventory can often feature just one item in a style, meaning that sizing is limited.
Torlowei: Best Splurge
If your budget permits and you want to continue to make an entrance, not just on your wedding day but throughout your honeymoon, Torlowei needs to be on the shortlist for your lingerie picks. This luxury lingerie and loungewear brand offers gorgeous liquid chiffons, robes that would make Blanche Devereaux from The Golden Girls jealous. It’s also a Nigerian brand.
We’re partial to the Adaeze dress as a perfect lounge and daytime sightseeing option since it comes in a few colors. Meanwhile, Torlowei also offers a full array of camis, as well as dressing gowns, slips and harem pants that are perfect for lounging while enjoying room service in the honeymoon suite.
Love, Vera: Best for Full Figure
Everyone deserves to feel sexy, especially on their honeymoon. Love, Vera is a Black-owned brand that’s focused on bringing sexy vibes to all shapes—especially full-figured women. From jaw-dropping garter lingerie sets to simple bras, bralettes and bustiers, this brand has you covered, from the everyday to when it’s time to be naughty.
Sizing in tops ranges from 32A to 38H. Meanwhile, bottoms range from small through 4X. We also like that in its product images, the brand leverages plus-size models and shares their measurements and size details, giving you an accurate depiction of how the lingerie will look on you. Additionally, for its everyday bras and panties, we like that there are nudes for deeper skin tones.
Affinitas: Best Wedding Dress Bustiers
If you’re shopping for lingerie as a bride, you absolutely can’t skip getting the proper foundation for your dress. Especially if you’re wearing a softer material with a design that lacks built-in support, you’re going to want to make sure that your silhouette is flawless. Affinitas is a lingerie line that has a massive bridal shapewear category.
From longlines to classic bustiers, there are plenty of necklines designed to complement your wedding dress. We also like that sizing for the shapewear ranges from XS through 3X, making it a great choice for plus-size brides. However, Affinitas also has a sister brand, Parfait, that specifically focuses on fuller figures, with bra sizes ranging from 32B to 44H.