You've had that moment: you pull on a fluid dress, catch yourself in the mirror, and your underwear decides everything. A strap that rolls, a cup that gapes, and even the prettiest silhouette loses its drape. Reverse it, and a well-fitted set lifts your posture without anyone guessing why. In 2026, chic lingerie is no longer decreed in a powder-pink boudoir: it's worn, shown and lived in every day. Lace talks to cotton jersey, corsetry slips under an oversized blazer, transparency is used like an accessory. I haven't tested these brands one by one — I've watched them closely, and the codes have clearly shifted.

A black lace lingerie set worn under an oversized beige blazer, in a Parisian apartment
Lingerie leaves the boudoir: wear it open under a blazer

Lace, yes, but reinvented

You can't talk about luxurious lingerie without mentioning La Perla. The Italian house remains a benchmark for its embroidered tulles and hand-finished details, now worn as easily under a white shirt as under an evening dress.

Product photo inspired by Malizia by La Perla – Black embroidered lace and tulle body (Size 2)
Generated illustrative image
A black polka-dot tulle bra worn under an open white shirt in a fitting room
Graphic polka-dot tulle is meant to be seen under an open shirt
A powder-pink floral lace set seen from a three-quarter back view, with a twisted bun
The lace back and hook-and-eye closure make the piece

The real difference from the era of sets kept for special occasions? Layering is something you own. A tulle body slipped under a fine knit, a lace bralette peeking out of a neckline: layering does the work, and underwear becomes almost a statement piece.

A woman in high-waisted black lace pulling on a cream slip dress
Underwear becomes a piece in its own right: build your look in layers

At Eres, the opposite philosophy has always prevailed: few ornaments, plenty of cut. Its knits and non-wired triangles hug the body like a second skin, with a matte texture that doesn't shine through light clothing. The house has done much to establish the idea that elegant underwear doesn't need lace to be desirable.

A black matte jersey set worn with an invisible finish, second-skin effect
Few ornaments, plenty of cut: Eres's matte jersey

Comfort becomes a style argument

Princesse Tam-Tam has built part of its identity on soft colours, crochet-style embroidery and satin ribbons used as straps. The vocabulary has moved on: where we once talked about prettiness, we now talk about soft support, breathable fabrics and sizes that don't stop at a 32B.

Product photo inspired by Princesse tam.tam — lingerie and corsetry for women
Generated illustrative image
A soft powder-pink cotton jersey bralette being adjusted in a fitting room
Test soft support sitting down, not in front of the mirror

Three shifts are shaping the market, and they really do change things day to day:

A high-waisted midnight-blue lace set worn in a bright kitchen
Day lingerie: high waists and cuts that move with you
  • Non-wired styles are taking over, from the simple triangle to more enveloping shapes.
  • High-waisted styles, more comfortable and more flattering under fluid clothing, are gaining ground on low-rise cuts.
  • Everyday lingerie is overtaking occasion lingerie: you buy a set for the week, not just for a night out.

Colours, motifs and a romantic mood

Among the corsetry houses, Aubade and Lejaby continue to work with French lace, polka-dot tulle and jacquard. Their collections move between deep black, powder pink, sage green and midnight blue.

Huit cultivates a more graphic spirit: dotted tulle and lace are combined for controlled sheer effects.

Romance is back, but without added sugar. Broderie anglaise, fine ribbons, little bows and floral jacquard come in soft tones, far from the lace-and-cabaret association that clung to lingerie for so long. And the quiet luxury trend has reached our drawers: simple, well-cut pieces that age better than a seasonal print — the capsule wardrobe mindset applied to underwear.

A lilac set with crochet-style embroidery and satin ribbon straps, laid on a bed
Crochet embroidery, satin ribbons: romance without added sugar

More inclusive and more responsible lingerie

The most visible change is still sizing. Several French and international brands now offer extended band and cup sizes, and campaigns show more real body shapes.

A well-fitted sage-green lace set worn on a fuller figure
Extended sizes and proper support, designed for every body

On the materials front, recycled lace, lyocell and organic cotton are gaining ground. Watch out for greenwashing, though: a recognised label such as GOTS or Oeko-Tex is a far more serious indicator than an "eco" claim printed on a tag. The first governs the organic fibre and its processing; the second mainly checks for the absence of undesirable substances — two different guarantees, not to be confused. And look at the full composition: synthetic lace is still a synthetic material (polyester, polyamide…), whatever the texture, even if it's dyed with natural pigments.

Three things to check before you buy

  1. Read the full composition, not just the material highlighted on the tag.
  2. Test comfort sitting down: a strap that slips when you're standing will slip even more when you move.
  3. Choose two or three well-chosen sets rather than building up a pile of pieces you never wear.
A sand-beige recycled lace set worn near a shelf of textiles
Recycled lace and organic cotton: choose the material before the cut

Looking after your lingerie so it lasts

Chic is also about care: hand-wash in cold water, or use a mesh bag on a delicate cycle; dry flat, away from a heat source; store bras flat. A 40°C machine wash can damage elastane, make lace pucker and stretch out straps — a common cause of premature ageing. The step that changes everything isn't the one you'd expect.

A woman in ivory lace laying a delicate piece flat on a light cloth
Cold wash, dry flat: the habits that make lace last

Budget

Chic lingerie has a price, and it varies mainly by range and where you buy it. For a simple piece — a triangle bra, cotton knickers — expect around £10 to £30 on the high street or online. For a lace set from a mainstream brand, budget more like £45 to £90. Premium corsetry goes higher: £90 to £220 for a set, sometimes more for hand-finished details.

What pushes the price up: the fineness of the lace, the location (a high street boutique often charges more than an online shop), the size range offered and the care the material requires. Where should you buy, then? A specialist lingerie boutique, department store, high street or online — and consider pre-loved, where pieces worn once or twice can go for a fraction of the price. In truth, the most expensive one is rarely the one that fits best.

The essential thing remains: wanting to please yourself. Underwear that fits properly changes your posture, and posture changes the way you carry yourself — and that shows immediately! Chic lingerie isn't a question of budget, then, but of fit, and that's probably the only rule that never gets old.