You have probably seen photos of models in magazines wearing teddies, but you may not have been aware that these garments went by that name. Teddies are making a comeback, and those who are familiar with this type of lingerie are quite pleased.

This is because a teddy is very much a multi-purpose type of garment. You can wear a teddy as sleepwear, or as a body-hugging garment to help enhance those intimate moments that take place in the bedroom, or perhaps out of it!

For a nice change from your regular nightgown or pyjamas, a teddy just cannot be beat. As a sexy, titillating garment to capture your partner’s attention, the teddy is ideal in every way. The style of a teddy is simple, yet effective. It is a one-piece article of clothing that would put you in mind of a dance leotard or a swimsuit. Strategic bits of cloth can be missing from a teddy in order to highlight certain areas of the body, and this can be true of both the top and the bottom of a teddy.

During the 1920s, the teddy was called a camiknicker, for it combined a camisole and a pair of panties, commonly called knickers during this time period.

Women wore them underneath their dresses, and those females who served in the military wore the camiknicker under pants during the time of World War II. For reasons unknown, the camiknicker began to lose its popularity around the late 1940s.

The garment re-emerged during the 1990s with the teddy moniker, and has been an integral part of lingerie shops worldwide ever since.

There are several teddy styles that are popular and in mainstream use today.

Women normally will wear a teddy beneath the clothing as a utilitarian lingerie item. The snug fit of a teddy can be used as a support garment, and this is a common use for the teddy.

You can also find a style where the fit is a bit looser, and this is what most women will choose when a teddy is to be used only for sleeping. These may have some lace or embroidery to dress them up a bit, but can be considered as rather plain compared to the style of teddy that most women will wear only in the bedroom with their partner.

There is a teddy known as a fashion top teddy that is suitable for wearing as an outer garment. This style can also be worn as lingerie, so in a way you are getting two garments for the price of one.

The bedroom type of teddy garment is quite different in appearance than the ones normally chosen as sleepers or support garments. These are usually sheer, and may have lace or feathers.

Crotchless teddy selections with openings for each breast are not unusual.

A leather teddy with studs, a wet look teddy made from stretchy Lycra, or a shiny satin teddy decorated with rhinestones and hearts, and held together in strategic spots with magnets are all interesting teddy choices that can make your evenings memorable.

Full figured women have not been left out of the teddy extravaganza. There are many choices of styles for them as well. Often, the best style for these women is an actual two-piece teddy.

These sets come with a camisole-like top, and a pair of panties that come up to the waistline for comfort and a bit of camouflage, too. It would be a smart idea for all women to try on the teddy selections they are considering before they purchase one or more of them.

This is really the only way to determine the true fit of the garment, as well as whether or not the teddy suits your individual style. Look for a teddy that has a well- made upper portion, preferably with adjustable straps. Straps like these will allow you to further customize the fit of the garment.

You may only be interested in a sleep teddy, or possibly a body briefer teddy for some light control and shape adjustment. Your perfect teddy may be the bareback type, which offers some support for the breasts so you can go braless. Alternatively, you may be satisfied with a teddy that has garters you can attach or detach, depending on the circumstances. A regular “generic” style of teddy may be all you need. Whatever type you decide upon, you can feel secure in the knowledge that teddies are a fashion staple that is here to stay.

by Julie-Ann Amos, professional writer, and owner of international writing agency www.ExquisiteWriting.com

Why not create your own HubPages? It's fun and you can make revenue from Adsense and other revenue streams on your pages. JOIN HUBPAGES NOW - SIMPLY CLICK HERE...

This work is licenced under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ or send a letter to CreativeCommons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California94105, USA.