A lot of women like the idea of having a vast collection of lingerie. There are many different kinds and each of them would have different purposes. Mainly, they are classified into two. One is intended for coverage and support. Lingerie as such is usually designed in such a way that they can be worn underneath other clothing items. There is also lingerie that is intended to be for ornamental or costume pieces. Those are elaborately designed with different kinds of embellishments. Those are usually intended for show and would not be recommended for everyday use. It also would not be practical to wear them with other clothing items because oftentimes the adornments it would have can be cumbersome. Other than that, lingerie that is intended for show would not be too comfortable.

One example of pieces of lingerie for show includes sheer French lingerie. Oftentimes, this would not be completely made from sheer material. It would still have cotton, silk and lace textiles depending on the overall feel of the lingerie set. Even if it is made mostly out of sheer, the other kinds of textiles would be needed for accent. While there are sets that come in one color, pieces that come in two-tone or three-tone color schemes would be best because the styles would be more noticeable. For instance, if the base is in black sheer, the lace apron would stand out more if it is in white or cream. Although black and white is the most common color theme for this kind of costume lingerie, many designers have modified it by using more updated color palettes. Incorporating bold colors as accents in the form of piping, ribbons and laces set a piece apart from the standard undergarment patterns.

Because sheer French lingerie is intended for ornamental undergarments and are oftentimes used without other pieces of clothing, women should also consider the practical aspect. This simply means that the set should also be made so that they are comfortable and warm. Some would come with an over coat on top of the basic pieces that may be appreciated by women who like the idea of lounging around in them.

Basic pieces would include a skimpy dress and a bottom but there would be other variations. The skimpy dress can be patterned after a corset or a bustier. The apron which the dress has can either be permanent or detachable. The apron detail of the dress can also be accented in rich lace. It is also common to see those that are designed with different kinds of slits that would show more of the bottom piece. The bottom can be a panty or a boyleg. Both would also have different designs and details so women would have lots of choices according to what they would be comfortable in or what they think is most flattering for them. Garter belts are another common accessory associated with sheer French lingerie. It can be a separate piece, something that is attached to the dress or something that is attached to the bottom. There are also dresses that are very revealing that women can choose to don them as is or don them with another brassiere.