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In 2025, lingerie trends are shifting from plain comfort-only basics to bold, visible pieces that balance support with color, drama, and self-expression.
Plain “comfy only” underwear is getting sidelined bold, visible lingerie designed to show up in your outfits, not hide under them. Comfort is not gone, but it now has to share the stage with color, drama, and unapologetic self-expression.
Why “Comfy Only” Basics Are Getting Boring
For the last few years, it was all about wireless bralettes, seamless thongs, and beige everything. We were collectively burned out on stabby underwires and “pain is beauty” nonsense, and the market listened.
But once your body gets used to soft fabrics and stretchy bands, you start asking, “Why can’t this feel good and look hot?” Runway and bridal lingerie trends now treat bustiers, slips, and high-waisted panties as outfit pieces, not just under-layers.
Social feeds are full of bra tops under blazers, slips worn to brunch, and high-waisted “granny” briefs under sheer skirts. When lingerie is this visible, minimal basics start to feel unfinished. The vibe for 2025 is “I’m comfortable, but you’re also going to notice.”
Note: Comfort-focused pieces are still bestsellers; the shift is that they’re no longer the only story in your drawer.
Maximalist Lingerie, Explained
Maximalism in lingerie is not “wear the scratchiest corset you can find and suffer.” It is about high-impact design on top of a comfortable base.
Key elements of maximalist lingerie include:
- Color: jewel tones, berries, saturated greens, not just black and beige.
- Texture: lace, mesh, tulle, embroidery, cutouts, straps.
- Structure: balconette cups, corset-inspired seams, longline bands.
- Visibility: lingerie-as-outerwear layered into actual outfits.
Brands now sell embellished sets as everyday luxury, not just “special occasion” splurges. At the same time, comfort-first pieces like wireless bras, bralettes, and seamless panties remain core top trends for comfort and style. The result is a drawer where a lacy, strappy bra is just as normal as your T-shirt bra.
How to Wear Maximalism Without Hating Your Life
As someone who’s fitted everyone from new-to-bras teens to 46G grandmothers, let me be blunt: if the fit is wrong, every trend is torture.
To get the fit and fabric right, follow these steps:
- Measure your bust, underbust, waist, and hips like lingerie experts recommend, and shop for the body you have today.
- Choose soft lace, mesh, and stretch satin over stiff, plasticky options.
- If you’re plus-size or full-busted, look for wide straps, 3+ hooks, and side support—maximalism does not mean fighting gravity alone.
To ease into maximalism, try these steps:
- Swap one nude bra for a berry balconette with the same level of support.
- Try a lacy longline under an open shirt instead of a plain cami.
- Wear high-waisted, full-coverage briefs in a bold color under a semi-sheer dress.
- Use one statement piece (bra, brief, or bodysuit) and keep the rest simple.
Maximalism should feel like “I can breathe and I look dangerous,” not “I need to go home and change.”
A 2025 Drawer That Balances Comfort and Drama
You don’t need a celebrity budget to tap into this shift. You just need a smarter mix: comfort as the base layer of your life, maximalism as the mood booster.
Key pieces for a realistic 2025 capsule include:
- 2-3 everyday wire-free or lightly lined sets in skin-adjacent tones.
- 2 maximalist sets (color + lace + details) you’d happily let show.
- 1 slip or bodysuit that can double as a top or dress.
- 1 “special” piece (corset, garter belt, or sheer robe) for when you want extra theater.
If each “wow” set gets worn twice a month, it easily beats cheaper impulse buys on cost per wear. And if you baby those pieces—hand wash, cool water, air-dry—their lifespan stretches dramatically, as fabric longevity tips point out.
Bottom line: comfort is now the cover charge, not the main act.
In 2025, the lingerie that earns a spot on your body is the piece that fits, feels good, and makes you think, “Oh, she did not come to play”—even if “she” is just you, working from your couch in a killer bra.
