Especially if you don’t do Lingerie

One of the most common questions we get asked is, “what should I wear to my boudoir shoot?”

Totally understandable, after all, the chances are you’ve never been photographed like this before. Naturally, you’ll want to look your best and you’ll want to know the best outfits to wear to look good in your Boudoir Photoshoot.

When you book a Madison Bou Experience we will send you our Boudoir Prep Guide, packed full of great outfit ideas and things to be aware of to help you get ready for your big day.

If you want to use your day as an excuse to go shopping we say ‘knock yourself out’ and enjoy, but don’t think you absolutely have to buy new outfits. This articles is all about the best items to wear that you probably already have in your wardrobe.

Don’t let the thought of putting your outfits together stress you out. That’s what we’re here for, to take the stress out of your day so you can really enjoy it.

Remember the one golden rule of a Madison Bou Experience is that there are NO RULES! Just wear what makes you feel your best and use some of our suggestions below which come from many years experience. We know these items can look good on almost everybody.

• BODYSUITS

Bodysuits or ‘Bodies’ are perfect for every shape and size. They look great on EVERYONE, they offer modest coverage or can be quite daring and there are so many different options at many different price points from eye-wateringly expensive to around a tenner. There are lingerie-style bodysuits but there are also bodysuit tops that can be worn as outerwear that still look super sexy. An alternative take on the body is to wear a one piece swimsuit like the one below…. (Remember, there are no rules - it’s all about you and what you feel comfortable with)

• BUTTON DOWN SHIRT

Many women like to bring one of their partner’s shirts in to the shoot — it’s a classic for a reason! (Everyman loves to see their partner wearing their shirts. )

Wear it as if you’ve just got out of bed and thrown it on over your birthday suit for the sexiest look in Boudoir.

Wear a bra underneath if you prefer and wear it as a dress or with jeans and open buttons or just with tights (We’ll come to tights later) or tie a knot in the shirt at the front - There are countless ways to accessorise the button down shirt look we could shoot your entire session just with this one outfit.

You can adapt the button down shirt look in so many different ways…. Honestly, it looks good on absolutely everyone.

Buttons undone, cuffs undone, big and baggy - This is a super sexy look for Boudoir. It’s the clothed version of wearing a bedsheet.

A shot typical of the Madison Bou style. High key, romantic, clean, bright and sunny gorgeous. This style really showcases your beauty.

Add a jacket to the button down shirt or a tie for yet another look.

• TANK TOP OR T-SHIRT

A classic white tank top or T is so sexy.

It can be worn with or without a bra underneath for 2 totally different looks and can soaked for a wet look if you really want to vamp the look up a notch.

You can show as much or as little tummy as you want to with these looks - great for variety. If you have a slogan or branded T-shirt you love then bring that too for a trendy fashion type vibe. (Remember the ‘no rules’ rule? )

Wear your T-Shirt with Docs if that’s your thing. Here we are with Docs, Tatts, T-s and sexy lingerie….. Anything goes. It’s all about you and your style.

Vamp it up a notch by making it a wet look.

For those who simply must take a shower during their photoshoot…

KIMONO OR ROBE

This is another super versatile look look where you can choose just how much or how little you want to show.

A robe gives a cool ‘just got out of bed’ feel and you can either be totally covered up in it or open it up as much as you dare or slip it over your shoulder to show just a little bit of skin.

Shoulders, clavicles, collarbones and backs look really beautiful with robes and kimonos.

• SPORTS WEAR

For the Gym Bunnies who love to dress up and who feel their sexiest and most powerful when they are working out. If this is you, why not capture that feeling in your workout gear? Active wear has become really sexy with fun cut outs, straps, and illusion panels, plus they do a great job of tightening up the look of the body for a smooth line. (Like shapewear for working out)

Since we mentioned **Shapewear**, let’s include that as well. Shapewear can give your curves some real Va Va Voom.

• STRETCHY JUMPER

Trust us when we tell you that a stretchy pure wool jumper is super sexy. like the shirt, wear it as a dress with just knickers for maximum impact. It’s like a snuggly night in in front of the fire with your dream date. Again, use the stretchiness to show off some of your best features…. Neck, collarbones, cleavage…

Make it more suggestive by wearing it tighter with not bra or by wearing it looser with a more open weave.

Modify the look by wearing the jumper as a dress with long socks.

Jumpers can be used in so many different ways for so many sexy looks.

For those who want to stay covered but still want to look uber sexy, wear a jumper.

Minimal on show, maximum sexiness. Boudoir is so amazingly versatile. This is why we say it’s for every woman.

• JEANS

An old pair of jeans can be all you need to wear to conquer the world!

Skinny jeans with a bra and heels is a powerful, feminine look and a looser, baggier style is easy to slip on and off for a suggestive, “leave something to the imagination” vibe. An alternative sexy look is cut off jeans as teeny shorts for a bit of ‘cheek’.

Every woman looks good in jeans and pair them with natural blue eyes and a whole lot of attitude for the ultimate wow factor.

• JACKETS

Remember ‘NO RULES’ so if you love it, bring it!

Fur, leather or even a suit or blazer - We love photographing women in jackets. It’s unexpected and modern — a real fashion statement.

If you have a statement jacket you love, definitely BRING IT! Long coats with full lingerie sets underneath bring another level to your shoot with the advantage that they can be taken outdoors with minimum risk if you’re feeling adventurous.

• ANYTHING SEE THROUGH

Do we really have to spell this one out. Transparent material can be used in so many ways to reveal or cover and to provide tantalising tease moments. Super sexy! We are careful to work with a client to ensure that nothing is shown that she doesn’t want to show. Everything can be ‘implied’. By carefully bunching up transparent material, it can be made more opaque to stay relatively modest whilst suggesting so much more.

The Madison Bou style is naturally upbeat, light and airy. Like walking around on a Summer’s day. The way the backlight shines through transparent materials and gives everything a romantic glow is very much our vibe.

Anything transparent will do fine. Like net curtains, for example. We’ve been known to do entire shoots just with the nets from a nearby window.

• THE BEDSHEETS
Picture the scene – you’re alone in a room with Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra crooning on the record player, Dom Pérignon flowing freely. The dazzling Hollywood icon is lying on a bed, striking a range of seductive poses, dressed in nothing but the finest silk sheets. It sounds like an elaborate 1950s teen fantasy, but it is in fact the real-life scenario in which Canadian photographer Douglas Kirkland – then a baby-faced 27-year-old – found himself on the 17th November, 1961. Since that day, Boudoir Photoshoots with bedsheets have become commonplace. Much of what we do at Madison Bou has been influenced by this single photoshoot. The eyes, the laughter, the energy, the fun, it’s all part of the bedsheet shoot section of a Madison Bou Photoshoot. For the five years we were based at Hazlewood Castle we could rarely do this since we tried not to mess up the sheets in case clients were using the room later in the day. Now we hire all our venues for the full day and while it costs a little more it means we can do whatever we like. Bedsheets, showers, baths are all open options for our creativity now.

• TIGHTS

A totally unexpected look for Boudoir. After all, who thinks tights are sexy? Well, we’ve got news for you….

Tights can be sexy when we photograph you wearing them!

It pretty much covers your modesty even when not wearing underwear, and it’s also so fashion-y & sexy!

Statement tights also work great to show off the legs. Seriously, give them a try.

• SOAP SUDS

Ah yes, the ‘no rules’ rule again. Whatever floats your boat is what we will do. Want to try something like this? We’re game if you are.

Is she wearing a full swimsuit in this picture? She could be.

• SHOES AND NOTHING ELSE

• YOUR BIRTHDAY SUIT

Of course, no wardrobe at all is required for your boudoir shoot!

“Nude” doesn’t have to be over-exposed or sexual.

In fact, often times the nude looks we photograph are the most covered up of all! You can be ENTIRELY covered in a white sheet and look incredibly sexy. This is the ‘implied nude’ look and It’s all about what’s left to the imagination. Alternatively, we can shoot fine art nudes that could be hung up on your wall without anyone knowing that it’s you… Or, heck, tell EVERYONE it’s you!

There is no shame in loving yourself and being proud of your body.

Remember…. “sexy” is much more about how you feel than what you are wearing.

Whatever you decide to wear, we will make you look good and when you look good, you’ll feel great.

So feel free to think outside the box with your boudoir wardrobe and most of all, please don’t stress about it!

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