A negligee, aside from being a fun word to say, is a loose dressing gown for women. The term comes from the French 'to neglect', and between its roots and its meaning it sounds like a rather dowdy and boring piece of female attire. Don't let appearances fool you however, a negligee is much greater than the sum of its French name and strict English definition. It is a lovely, sensual and yes, quite elegant piece of lingerie.

This lace and poly silk negligee designed by Jane Woolrich and available from Shirley of Hollywood is both gorgeous and truly dramatic. There is an undeniably gothic feel to this garment, which even features a train reminiscent of a wedding dress or Victorian gown. Lace trim, satin ties and a truly designer cut and style send this negligee to the top of the lingerie class.

Of course, if you're looking for something equally feminine but a little more revealing, this black lacey negligee from Coemi could be just the ticket. With a flowing mesh skirt, satiny ties, and low cut bust, this negligee will ensure that you're never ignored in the bedroom, or traipsing down for breakfast in the morning.

A shorter negligee made from wispy muslin , you'll be a sexy feminine fairy in this sweet negligee. Liliana Casanova is a Paris based designer, and this garment surely reflects the Parisian attitude to fashion. Only the finest silk satin is used in its creation, and silk muslin, Chantilly lace and Calais lace take this negligee from the special to the sublime. This is designed to pair with the nightdress you see the model wearing in the picture. For a special occasion, or just because you want to be at your feminine best, this negligee will never fail to please.

Buying a negligee can be a bit of a mission if you are searching locally. I would advise visiting lingerie boutiques, as department stores which sell panties and bras and the like very rarely carry garments of this quality and caliber. A dedicated lingerie store will most certainly have a range of negligee's to choose from, though when it comes to range, it is almost impossible to go past online lingerie retailers. I recommend browsing far and wide, you never know when a little treat is going to pop up on some far flung corner of the web.