Let's talk lingerie shopping, because I know firsthand how quickly it can go from exciting to frustrating. You have a vision in your head, you've saved SO many screenshots, and then you start shopping. Suddenly, everything you love is either sold out, doesn't come in your size, costs a million dollars, or looks absolutely nothing like the picture when it finally comes in..
The good news? Seattle has some fantastic places to shop, and a few of my favorites aren't even traditional lingerie stores. Whether you're looking for something luxe, trying to stick to a budget, shopping for extended sizes, or hoping to find something a little more outside the box, I got you!!
Sliding Drawers — For Beautiful Boutique Finds
Location: Bainbridge Island, Washington
Sliding Drawers is one of those little shops that makes me love supporting independent businesses. Located on Bainbridge Island, this boutique offers thoughtfully selected, beautifully made lingerie and personalized shopping appointments. It's a particularly lovely option if you're someone who prefers to see fabrics and try things on rather than order five sizes online and hope for the best.
And I have to give this shop a special shoutout because our brand ambassador, Natalie, wore pieces from Sliding Drawers for her boudoir photographs! You'll see her gorgeous black outfit look featured here, and they're such a good reminder that lingerie doesn't always have to be the expected red or black lace set. Different colors, shapes, and textures can completely change the feel of your photographs.
The boutique offers private shopping appointments, which I love for anyone who wants extra help choosing something. Since it's a smaller shop, I'd recommend reaching out about size availability before visiting.
Bellefleur Lingerie — For Something Luxurious
Location: Fremont, Seattle
If you want to make an entire afternoon out of shopping for beautiful lingerie, Bellefleur is absolutely worth checking out. This boutique specializes in gorgeous, high-quality lingerie, with options like delicate lace sets, garter belts, bodysuits, and pieces that feel a little more special than your everyday underwear.
One thing I especially appreciate is that they offer professional bra fittings and personalized styling. If you've ever ordered a lingerie set online and discovered that the top and bottom apparently belonged to two completely different bodies, you understand why having someone help with fit is such a wonderful thing.
A heads-up about sizing: Bellefleur carries some larger cup sizes, but its selection isn't broadly plus-size inclusive. If you need extended clothing or band sizes, I recommend contacting them before making the trip. This is more of a luxury shopping experience, so expect to spend a little more depending on what catches your eye.
Shop: https://www.bellefleurlingerie.com
Torrid — For Plus-Size Lingerie That Actually Gives You Options
Location: Multiple Seattle-area locations and online
Torrid deserves a spot on this list because shopping for lingerie shouldn't mean settling for whatever happens to exist in your size. They offer lingerie in extended sizes, with pieces like bodysuits, matching sets, babydolls, lace bras, and more. Their clothing size range generally runs from 10 to 30, although availability depends on the item.
I particularly love recommending Torrid for anyone who wants to try several styles without committing to luxury boutique prices. They also run promotions pretty regularly, so it's worth keeping an eye on their sales. If you've been convinced that your only option is a plain black bra and matching panties, I encourage you to browse around a little.
Honey Birdette — For Bold, Luxury Lingerie
Location: Online
If you love lingerie that makes a statement, Honey Birdette is absolutely worth checking out. Their collections feature gorgeous embroidery, strappy details, sheer fabrics, garter sets, and some seriously beautiful hardware. They're especially known for their elaborate matching sets that look incredible in boudoir photographs.
Now, Honey Birdette is definitely on the pricier side, but if you're looking to splurge on something special, they have some stunning options. Just keep in mind that their sizing can be limited, particularly for fuller busts and extended sizes, so double-check the size charts before ordering.
Shop: https://us.honeybirdette.com/
Lane Bryant & Cacique — For Extended Sizing & Gorgeous Matching Sets
Location: Southcenter Square, Tukwila
If finding lingerie that fits your bust AND your body has been a challenge, Cacique at Lane Bryant is another great place to explore. Their lingerie collection includes lace bras, babydolls, bodysuits, matching sets, and beautiful pieces that work wonderfully for boudoir photographs.
Lane Bryant offers clothing sizes 10–40, with a broad selection of bra sizes, although availability varies by style. They also offer bra fittings, which can be especially helpful if you're shopping for a structured bustier or something with underwire.
This is one of my favorite types of recommendations because you can actually shop in person, experiment with different styles, and figure out what feels good before purchasing.
Shop: https://www.lanebryant.com/cacique-intimates/sexy-lingerie
Wild at Heart — For Lingerie With a Little Edge
Location: Ballard, Seattle
If your style leans a little more adventurous, Wild at Heart is worth adding to your shopping list. This women-owned shop carries lingerie, intimate apparel, leather pieces, and bondage-inspired accessories. It's also a local option worth exploring for plus-size lingerie, especially if you've been struggling to find something outside the typical selections at mainstream retailers.
I love the idea of incorporating interesting textures and accessories into a boudoir wardrobe, and shops like this are a great place to find inspiration. If you're looking for a particular size, I'd recommend checking availability before heading over.
Shop: https://www.wildatheartxxxonline.com
The Pencil Test — For Fuller Busts and Finding the Right Fit
Location: Renton, Washington
Let's talk about a very specific shopping problem: finding lingerie that actually accommodates a fuller bust. Because you can absolutely love a bodysuit, but if the cups aren't designed for your proportions, the entire fit can be frustrating.
The Pencil Test specializes in fuller-bust bras and carries band sizes from 28–48 with cup sizes extending into UK K and US O territory. They offer professional fittings and a selection of beautiful bras, matching pieces, and specialty styles.
Something important to understand is that fuller-bust sizing and plus-size clothing aren't automatically the same thing. This shop focuses on bra fit, so its offerings may be especially helpful if your biggest challenge is finding cups that fit properly.
Shop: https://www.thepenciltest.com
Lovers — For Budget-Friendly Lingerie and Adventurous Accessories
Location: Multiple Seattle-area locations
Lovers is another shop worth exploring if you're looking for bodysuits, mesh pieces, stockings, strappy lingerie, or something a little more playful. Their selection includes plus-size lingerie in options such as 1X/2X and 3X/4X, although not every style comes in every size.
They also carry harnesses, accessories, and pieces that can be fun to style for an individual or couples boudoir session. Pricing varies, but there are plenty of accessible options if you want to experiment with something different without spending hundreds of dollars on one outfit.
Since inventory can vary by store, check with your preferred location if you have a particular piece or size in mind.
Capitol Hill — For Something a Little More Adventurous
Now, if traditional lingerie boutiques aren't quite your style, I have another shopping suggestion. Go explore Capitol Hill, especially Broadway and the surrounding Pike/Pine area. This part of Seattle is fantastic for discovering alternative fashion, interesting accessories, statement pieces, and shops that carry things you might never think to look for when planning a boudoir session. And if you love the dramatic styling you see in burlesque performances, this is absolutely the kind of neighborhood I'd explore for inspiration.
Here are a few places worth checking out:
Doghouse Leathers — Capitol Hill
Interested in incorporating leather, harnesses, bondage-inspired accessories, or something designed for masculine styling? Doghouse Leathers carries leather goods, fetishwear, harnesses, and specialty accessories. This is a more adult-oriented shop, so it's worth exploring their website first to see whether their selection matches what you're imagining.
Shop: https://www.doghouseleathers.com
underU4men — Broadway
Couples sessions deserve good wardrobe options for BOTH partners. Located on Broadway, underU4men offers a selection of men's underwear, swimwear, and statement styles that go well beyond the standard boxer briefs. If you're planning a couples boudoir session or looking for something with a more masculine fit, this is a great place to browse.
Shop: https://underu4men.com
Adore Me — For Affordable Lingerie in a Wide Range of Styles
Location: Online
If you're comfortable ordering online, Adore Me is another great option to check out. They carry everything from matching lace sets and corsets to babydolls, bodysuits, and bustiers, with a dedicated plus-size lingerie collection that includes styles up to 4X.
One thing I appreciate about their selection is the variety. You can find something classic and romantic or go for an outfit with interesting colors and a more dramatic design. It's a particularly useful option if you're working within a budget but still want to explore several different looks.
Shop: https://www.adoreme.com/plus/lingerie-plus
Thistle and Spire — For Statement Lingerie That's Basically Wearable Art
Location: Online
Okay, if you love dramatic lingerie, PLEASE go look at Thistle and Spire. Their collections include embroidered bodysuits, sheer fabrics, corsets, and some of the most interesting designs I've seen.
They offer sizes XS–3X, although availability depends on the individual piece. This brand is definitely worth exploring if you want something that feels a little different from traditional lingerie. Their embroidered pieces are especially gorgeous, and I can already think of so many fun ways to photograph them.
They're more of an investment than some of the other recommendations on this list, but the designs are stunning.
Shop: https://www.thistleandspire.com
Playful Promises — For Vintage-Inspired Lingerie and Fuller-Bust Options
Location: Online
If you love garter belts, structured bras, beautiful lace, and lingerie with a vintage influence, Playful Promises needs to be on your radar. They carry a wide selection of lingerie, including fuller-bust styles and clothing sizes extending to approximately US 24.
I love love LOVE this recommendation for anyone interested in mixing classic lingerie styling with something more colorful or unexpected. Their collection includes everything from relatively simple matching sets to much more elaborate designs, so there are plenty of options to explore.
Snag — For Inclusive Sizing and Something Completely Different
Location: Online
Snag is a fantastic option to explore if you're having trouble finding lingerie in extended sizes. They're known for their inclusive sizing, and their bodysuit collection includes pieces in a particularly broad range, with certain styles offered up to US size 38.
I especially love the idea of combining one of their pieces with a leather jacket, oversized shirt, or a favorite pair of heels. And because sizing is one of the biggest frustrations I hear about when it comes to lingerie shopping, I appreciate that Snag offers options beyond what many traditional lingerie brands carry.
Shop: https://snagtights.us
Ulla Popken — For Even More Extended-Size Options
Location: Online
Ulla Popken is another retailer worth knowing about if you need sizing beyond what's typically offered by lingerie boutiques. The brand carries clothing in extended sizes up to US 38, although individual garments may have different size availability.
Their intimate apparel selection includes lace pieces, bras, bodysuits, and other lingerie styles. Not everyone wants to wear a corset or a complicated strappy set, either. Sometimes you're simply looking for a comfortable, beautiful piece that fits well and makes you excited to wear it.
That's why I wanted to include several different types of retailers in this guide instead of focusing exclusively on traditional lingerie boutiques.
A Few Things I Want You to Consider Before Buying Anything
I know shopping is fun. I also know how easy it is to spend $150 on an outfit because it looks incredible on a model, only to realize you don't actually enjoy wearing it. So here are a few things I recommend considering before you check out.
Think about movement. Can you sit, stretch, arch, and change positions without constantly fixing the outfit? Some pieces look amazing standing up but become a whole production once you move.
Pay attention to how it fits YOU. Lingerie sizing is inconsistent, and the size on the tag means absolutely nothing if the piece doesn't fit comfortably. Always check the brand's size chart AND the reviews (particularly image reviews), especially when ordering online.
Make sure you have enough time for exchanges. If you're ordering online, don't leave it until the week before your session. You'll want some breathing room in case the sizing isn't quite right.
And please, don't feel obligated to buy an entirely new wardrobe just because you've booked a boudoir session.
Let's Talk About YOUR Boudoir Wardrobe
One of my favorite things about photographing people is how different everyone's personal style can be. Some clients arrive with carefully planned lingerie collections. Others have an outfit they've been saving for years, or an idea that starts with one amazing accessory. I'm always happy to help you think through what will work for your session, whether you're shopping locally, ordering online, or pulling something out of your own closet.
And if you've discovered an amazing Seattle lingerie shop that I didn't mention, PLEASE tell me! I'm always looking for new places to recommend, especially boutiques with inclusive sizing and interesting styles.
Thinking about booking your own Seattle boudoir session?
Reach out to Chantel Allen Boudoir and let's start planning something you'll be excited to wear.
