Calgary Boudoir Lingerie Shopping Guide
Updated: Oct 20
The goal is simple: find beautiful pieces that fit perfectly, arrive in time and feel like you.
After nine years of photographing boudoir, I’ve seen how much easier a photoshoot feels when you arrive with outfits you actually love wearing. I’ve also seen the stress of last-minute online orders, wrong sizes and shopping trips that turn into visiting half the city.
We're all about making your boudoir experience and process as stress free and enjoyable as possible. That’s why all our clients receive 1-on-1 outfit planning during their consultation, personal styling advice and text support while shopping.
Need a second opinion from the fitting room? Send us a photo or your online cart. We’re here to help.
Our first recommendation for local lingerie shopping in Calgary is Body by Chai, especially if you want help finding the right fit. We also love Cream Lingerie in nearby Airdrie, La Vie en Rose for bodysuits and Victoria’s Secret for bra and panty sets.
Here’s why we recommend these shops, what to consider when shopping and five boudoir looks we love. You don’t need to buy a whole new lingerie wardrobe, just one or two pieces you actually love.
Our Favourite Local Lingerie Shops in Calgary and Airdrie
Body by Chai: Our First Recommendation for Personal Fitting Help
Body by Chai on Calgary’s 17th Avenue SW is our first stop for clients who want personal help finding something beautiful that fits properly.
Chai has so much lingerie knowledge and a special talent for knowing your exact size. She has gorgeous pieces from Europe, Canada and the US - especially if you're looking for that refined, classic European lingerie look.
The biggest difference in this shopping experience is you get to focus on "Do I love this piece?", rather than "Does this fit?"
If you have a fuller bust, struggle with standard sizing, feel overwhelmed by lingerie shopping, or want a stress free shopping experience, this is where we would start.
The boutique operates by appointment only so you get a personal fitting and shopping experience. Book a fitting with Body by Chai and tell her what you’re looking for before visiting.
Cream Lingerie in Airdrie: Where One Client Finally Found Her Bodysuit
Cream Lingerie is another boutique we recommend and offers a discount to all our clients (discount code provided upon booking). Their store offers professional bra fittings without requiring an appointment and is located in Airdrie.
One of our clients had visited several stores looking for a bodysuit or teddy that would fit her longer torso. She was getting understandably frustrated until she visited Cream and
found a Scantilly by Curvy Kate bodysuit that she loved.
It supported her bust, defined her waist and looked gorgeous through her hips and booty. Her confidence came alive. The bonus? She could also pair it with jeans and wear it for a night out.
That’s the kind of shopping success we want for our clients: a piece that fits, feels good and gets worn again.
Explore their current selection on the Cream Lingerie website.
La Vie en Rose: Our First Mall Stop for Bodysuits
If you're looking for bodysuits or teddies and want to shop at a familiar mall or outlet store, we recommend La Vie en Rose. It’s a practical place to start if their usual sizing works for you and you want to try pieces on in person.
Our advice is to try a few different shapes and styles. The neckline, cup construction and torso fit can make a big difference.
Their selection changes throughout the year, so check out their current collection online before making a special trip. Calgary locations include Southcentre Mall and Signal Hill outlet.
Victoria’s Secret: Our Go-To for Bra and Panty Sets
Victoria’s Secret is where we usually send clients looking for a matching bra and panty set.
A set you feel comfortable in and can wear on other occasions. Try on both pieces. A matching set still needs to fit your bust and hips properly and those sizes may be different.
Victoria’s Secret has a Calgary store at Chinook Centre and Cross Iron Mills. Browse their current collection on their website Victoria’s Secret.
La Senza: Another Store We Sometimes Recommend
We also sometimes recommend La Senza. Whether it’s the right stop depends on their current collection and what you’re looking for. Have a look at La Senza’s current collection before planning your shopping trip.
Mall stores can make sense when their sizing works for you and you want to shop without arranging a private fitting. For more involved fit concerns or a particular luxury look, we usually start with a specialist boutique.
Shopping Online For Your Boudoir Lingerie
Online shopping definitely opens up more options, but timing and the proper sizing are factors to consider.
The two biggest mistakes we see from online shopping are ordering too close to your photoshoot date and assuming your usual size will work in an unfamiliar brand.
Make sure you give yourself enough time for shipping and exchanges if needed.
Scantilly by Curvy Kate: A Brand Behind One of Our Favourite Client Finds
The Scantilly bodysuit our client found at Cream is a good example of why we recommend specific pieces based on someone’s needs.
A longer torso, a fuller bust or a preference for more waist definition can all change what we suggest.
Explore different styles and colours on Curvy Kate’s Canadian website. Check the individual style’s measurements, size guide and availability before ordering. The Canadian website ships orders from the UK, so check the delivery estimate rather than assuming a Canadian web address means a local shipment.
See these in person at Body by Chai or Cream Lingerie.
Amazon: Shop the Specific Piece
We’ve found select Amazon pieces that look beautiful in photographs without requiring a large lingerie budget. Shop our approved amazon boudoir outfit list.
We’re very particular about which ones we recommend. The cut, fabric and fit matter more than a promising product photo.Our boudoir-approved Amazon lingerie picks are a starting point. Check the current listing, seller, size chart and delivery date before ordering.
If you’re one of our clients, send us the link and we can help you consider how the outfit will photograph.
Our Online Shopping Checklist
Before placing an order:
Read the size guide for that specific brand and style.
Compare your measurements with the chart rather than relying only on the size you usually buy.
Read the delivery time estimate and return conditions.
Allow time to try the outfit on and exchange it if needed.
Send us the link if you’re unsure.
We know some brands well and can help clients interpret their sizing.
If your tight on time, we recommend shopping in person.
Five Boudoir Looks We Love
1. The Classic Bra and Panty Look
A matching bra and panty set is one of our favourite ways to keep the focus on you.
Choose a set in a colour you already love, with cups that fit properly and bottoms you feel good wearing. Black is a classic choice, but your favourite colour can make the outfit feel much more personal.
Victoria’s Secret is usually where we recommend starting for this look. If you need more specialized fitting help or want a more refined lingerie style, start with Body by Chai or Cream.
2. The Bodysuit Look
Bodysuits and teddies are among our most reliable recommendations because a fitted piece is flattering for all body types. They define your waist line, compared to a flowly babydoll that won't photograph well.
We love the variety: soft lace, a plunging neckline, a structured cup or a bolder strappy design can each create a different feel.
La Vie en Rose is our usual mall starting point. For more fitting support, consider Body by Chai or Cream, where our longer-torso client found her Scantilly bodysuit.
Keep in mind - if you can imagine wearing it with jeans afterwards, that’s a very good reason to choose a piece you love.
3. The Full Garter Belt and Stockings Look
A bra and panty set with a garter belt, stockings and stilettos is another favourite.
It gives you a classic and timeless look and pairs beautifully with our red bottom studio shoe collection, available to all clients.
Check whether the garter belt and stockings are included when you buy a set. Sometimes you’re buying the bra and panties only, with the rest sold separately.
Try the complete outfit on before your photoshoot so you know how everything fits together. Bring it along even if attaching the stockings feels fiddly. We can help with the final styling in the studio.
4. Your Partner's Favourite Item
Your partner's jersey or dress shirt.
5. White Sheets Look
Flattering for all body types and you don't even need an outfit for this, all the sheets are provided. This is a timeless client favourite because its focused on you, has that natural skin look and you can show or hide as much or a little as you want. It's also very popular for showcasing your tattoos without interrupting straps and making them really pop against the white sheet.
You May Only Need to Buy One Lingerie Outfit
During your 1-on-1 consultation, we’ll go through your outfit ideas and help you decide what you actually need.
Many of our clients also choose looks that don’t require a new lingerie purchase:
Our white-sheet look, with the sheet provided in studio.
Black implied bodyscapes that focus on shape and light.
A partner’s favourite jersey or button-up shirt.
You can create variety without buying five different outfits. Start with one piece you love and we’ll help you plan around it.
For more detailed advice on outfit types, colours and accessories, see what to wear for your boudoir photoshoot.
We’ll Help You Choose Before Your Photoshoot
Our wardrobe support continues after your consultation.
Clients send us outfit links, questions and even photos from the fitting room. We’re here to help you, so you can arrive feeling prepared.
Start with a consultation, choose the shop that best suits your fit needs and give yourself time to find one piece you love.
Book a complimentary consultation with our Calgary boudoir studio and we’ll help you plan your photoshoot and wardrobe together.
Want the exact pieces to put these looks together?
Download our New Boudoir Look Book, with our favourite outfits, photos and direct shopping links.
