The Ultimate Lingerie Guide for Your Denver Boudoir Shoot

Behold, the most popular questions I get when I’m talking with clients at their consult: “Where should I shop?  What should I wear?”

Well I am here today to answer these questions for you!

Below is my master list that I send to all clients when they ask about where to buy outfits for their Denver boudoir shoot.  The first few choices at the top of this list will be places that have brick and mortar stores here in the Denver metro area, with the last options being online only.

As a reminder, if you are doing a full boudoir session with me, you’ll want at the very least three to four outfits for your shoot, with a maximum of five.  And yes, your birthday suit or something topless can be an outfit!

If you’re doing a mini session with me, you’ll want to bring a maximum of two outfits for your boudoir session.

Here are my general tips and advice to keep in mind when outfit shopping:

• DO look for texture.  Items that have more interesting fabrics photograph better than simpler ones.  Think: lace, mesh, fishnet, floral print, velvet, sequins, glitter, rhinestones, chains, feathers, fringe, leather, body jewelry, strappy things, gloves, chokers, garter belts, thigh-high stockings.  Anything that will add a little more oomph to the final photos is best!
• PASS on simpler fabrics.  Try to avoid basic satin or silk by itself.
• DO pick items that fit you well in all the right places.  Ill-fitting items won’t photograph well, so make sure it fits you like a glove before you purchase.  Try to avoid straps that dig into your skin, or tops that don’t support your chest, for example.
• PASS on items that hide you.  I’m in the business of showing you off, baby!  As such, I recommend avoiding things like babydolls, as the flowy fabric cascading down from your bra line will hide you more than you want.  The same applies to things like boy shorts, which cover your booty too much.  Instead, opt for a form-fitting bodysuit as this will show off your feminine form without hiding you, or cheeky bottoms that still leave enough to the imagination.  Sadly, for this reason, I also recommend against bringing big boxy men’s shirts like white button-downs or flannels.  If you are dead-set on bringing a men’s shirt into your shoot, we’ll do a quick set of photos but I’ll focus more on your lingerie and give you more photos with those pieces.
• DO bring a variety of options.  For some poses, a good old-fashioned bra with underwire support and maybe some light padding will photograph better than a bralette with no support at all.  Similarly, a pair of cheeky bottoms can photograph better than a g-string in certain poses.  The key is variety!  Bring as many different styles as you can.
• PASS on items that are *almost* there.  This means maybe you love how the top looks but loathe the bottoms.  Try to go for outfits that you feel 100% confident, powerful, and sexy in!
• DO pick any color that you like!  My home studio is decorated with neutral colors and tones: grey, dark brown, black, and white.  You can bring any color of the rainbow, even hot pink and lime green!  Gem tones and colors from the Crayola bold crayon box work really well in my home studio.
• PASS on (most) props.  You are the only prop we need!  Because boudoir is meant to emulate your bedroom (the word quite literally translates to “woman’s bedroom”), props that wouldn’t naturally bring into that space won’t generally work in your shoot.  A prime example of a prop that generally wouldn’t work for boudoir would be something sports-related, like a basketball or football.  Props that do work could be a whip or handcuffs.
• DO go as wild as you want!  Boudoir is extra af by nature, so you can really lean into fun and daring outfits if you’re comfortable doing so.
• PASS on the heels.  High heels drastically limit how well you can get into my posing flow, so unless you have a sentimental pair of heels you want to shoot in, you can leave them at home.
• DO remember that boudoir is for you first, and whoever you want to gift the photos to second.  This means I want you to pick outfits and colors and textures that you love, first and foremost.  Whoever you are giving the photos to will love the end results no matter what, so please be selfish and pick styles that you feel confident, powerful, and sexy in!
• PASS on lower quality items.  I get it — places like Shein offer unbeatable prices.  From my experience, I have seen a lot of these outfits fall apart during past boudoir shoots.  It’s either that or they are a bit ill-fitting in places, or things are sewn on incorrectly or backwards.  I want you to feel confident in all of your outfits, and the quality of your items can definitely play a part in that.  You’re worth more than a $5 bra.  I promise!

I hope you find something you love for your upcoming shoot!  Feel free to send me screenshots or links to items you’re on the fence about and I’ll be happy to give you my feedback.  Happy shopping!

In Denver: Femme Fatale Intimates

This is my favorite place to recommend clients go for a quality in-person shopping experience.  Femme Fatale Intimates is a small, woman-owned business located on South Broadway in the Baker neighborhood, near Denver staples like the Mayan Theater, Sweet Action Ice Cream, and the Irish Rover.  Angel, the owner of Femme Fatale, is often the one behind the cash wrap and is always ready to help you find some banger outfits for your shoot.  Feel free to mention you’re doing a shoot with me!  She has everything from traditional lingerie to swimsuit coverups to a range of accessories, with many options listed online as well.

Bonus: Awakening Boutique is located nearby on South Broadway and has a small selection of lingerie if you’d like to double up on your shopping while in the Baker neighborhood.  Vanilla Kink, a queer-owned adult store, is also up the street in Cap Hill and features lingerie and sexy leather pieces as well.

In Denver: Sol Girl Lingerie

Located near Cherry Creek, Sol Girl Lingerie offers a high end lingerie experience by appointment only.  This is a great place if you’re looking to splurge and really treat yourself to a showstopping outfit for your shoot!

And that’s it for Denver!  A small selection, I know.  We just don’t have a ton of boutique lingerie options here.  However, there’s nothing wrong with swinging through Nordstrom or Victoria’s Secret to see if they have anything that catches your eye!

In Boulder: Christina’s Luxuries

Available online and in-person not far from famed Pearl Street, Christina’s Luxuries offers high quality lingerie if you’re feeling like splurging a bit.  I got this recommendation from a past client and I was stunned by the pieces she brought in!

Online Shopping Options

The next options below will all be online only.

Savage X Fenty

One of the popular choices from my clients is Rihanna’s lingerie company, Savage X Fenty.  I’ve seen lots of outfits come from this site so I would say it’s definitely worth a look!

Adore Me

Another popular brand is Adore Me.  I’ve seen a good majority of my clients wear their styles!

Thistle and Spire

If you’re looking for lingerie that has a little bit of an edge to it, Thistle and Spire is your place!  A recent client brought in a red bra, panty, and garter getup that had tigers embroidered on it — super spicy!

Intimissimi

This is one of my personal faves when I shop for outfits for my own boudoir session!  Intimissimi is great if you’re looking for European lingerie styles that are classic, feminine, romantic, and timeless.

Lounge

Lounge has everything from classic lingerie to more modern styles.  I’ve had a few gals bring their styles to a session and loved the end result!

Torrid

So many gorgeous options at Torrid!  All the sugar, spice, and everything nice!

For Love and Lemons

If you’re looking for attire that’s very feminine with lots of eye-catching details, definitely check out For Love and Lemons!  Sometimes Victoria’s Secret carries them as well.

Gooseberry Intimates

Everything from gorgeous florals to vibrant pops of color at Gooseberry Intimates, introduced to me by a past client.  I always love about hearing where you shopped for your outfits!

Bluebella

Another brand I found from a client!  Bluebella has that good feminine energy with gorgeous lace and a variety of styles and colors.

Lane Bryant

Lane Bryant’s Cacique intimates line has everything from timeless lace to bright pops of color.

Cosabella

Another luxury shop if you’re looking to splurge or treat yourself for your shoot is Cosabella.

Nasty Gal

Looking for something more contemporary and trendy?  Nasty Gal has options from festival wear to fishnets to lingerie.

Frederick’s of Hollywood

This list wouldn’t be complete without Frederick’s of Hollywood, one of the old guards of lingerie!  If you’re looking for some vampy styles that might push you out of your comfort zone a bit, swing by Frederick’s and see what they’ve got.  I had a gal bring in a chain bodysuit the other day and it was bangin!

Honey Birdette

Another high quality lingerie option is Honey Birdette.  I found out about this brand from a past client and was slack-jawed at how amazing these pieces were in real life.  You can tell that they’re built to last.  Definitely check them out if you feel like splurging!

And there you have it!  I’ll also pop in my Pinterest board for some extra inspiration here as well, and it’s also worth checking out Etsy for lingerie if you like that site.  Can’t wait to see what you bring in!

-Ash