Wear a bodysuit as a smooth, always-tucked top: under high-waisted jeans, a skirt or an open blazer, or on its own as lingerie. A bodysuit is a fitted one-piece top with a brief-style bottom that fastens between the legs with snaps or hooks, so it never untucks.
By the Badd Kitty boutique team · Updated October 2026
Key takeaways
- Bodysuit vs teddy: a bodysuit is usually made to be seen as a top. A teddy is lingerie, softer and more open, made for the bedroom.
- Fit starts with torso length. If the straps dig in or the crotch pulls, the bodysuit is too short for you, whatever the size label says.
- Closures: snaps are quick and flat. Hook-and-eye closures hold more securely.
- Styling: pair a tight bodysuit with looser or structured pieces, such as wide-leg jeans, a midi skirt or a blazer.
- Shapewear bodysuits are a different garment, built for compression. They smooth under clothes but do not change your shape.
What is a bodysuit?
A bodysuit is a close-fitting one-piece that covers the torso and ends in a brief, thong or cheeky bottom, with a closure at the crotch. The modern fashion version took off in 1985, when Donna Karan built her first collection, "Seven Easy Pieces", around a bodysuit as the base layer under jackets, skirts and trousers (Donna Karan). The Museum at FIT notes that a bodysuit was often the first layer of those looks, and that they were designed to go from day to evening with minimal changes (The Museum at FIT). That is still the best way to think about one: it is a top that stays put.
Bodysuit vs teddy vs leotard vs shapewear
All four are one-piece garments, so they are easy to confuse. The difference is what each is made for.
| Garment | Made for | Typical fabric | Closure | Worn as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bodysuit | Fashion and lingerie | Lace, mesh, jersey, leather-look trims | Snaps or hook-and-eye | A top, or alone as lingerie |
| Teddy | Lingerie | Lace, satin, sheer mesh | Often none (thong back), sometimes snaps | On its own, in private |
| Leotard | Dance and exercise | Opaque stretch knit | Usually none; you step in | Activewear |
| Shapewear bodysuit | Smoothing under clothes | Firm nylon and elastane | Hooks or snaps, sometimes an open gusset | Under a dress, unseen |
Teddy. Dictionary.com defines a teddy as a woman's one-piece undergarment combining a chemise and underpants, sometimes with a snap crotch. It dates the word to the 1920s, of uncertain origin (Dictionary.com). In practice, a teddy is the lingerie version of a bodysuit: lighter, more open and rarely meant to go under jeans. Our teddy vs chemise vs babydoll guide covers teddies in detail.
Leotard. It is named after Jules Léotard (1839–70), the French trapeze artist (Oxford Learner's Dictionaries). It is cut for movement, usually opaque, and usually has no closure.
Shapewear bodysuit. We do not stock shapewear, but it is worth explaining honestly. A shapewear bodysuit uses firm compression fabric to smooth the line under a fitted dress. The effect lasts only while you wear it. Cleveland Clinic says shapewear is generally fine with common sense. Its cautions: a garment tight around the hips can restrict blood flow to the legs, and long wear can irritate the skin. Its rule of thumb: if it leaves a mark, it is too tight, so size up (Cleveland Clinic). The bodysuits we carry are about how they look, not compression.
Bodysuit styles we carry
Lace and long-sleeve bodysuits
Lace is the most versatile choice, sheer enough to feel like lingerie and structured enough to wear out. The Mapale Leather & Lace Long Sleeve Bodysuit ($63.95) has underwire cups, gothic lace with leather-look accents, a bare back and a hook-and-eye crotch. It is 90% polyamide and 10% elastane, in S/M and L/XL. The sleeveless Leather & Lace Bodysuit ($59.95) adds a lace-up front and adjustable straps.
Mesh and fishnet bodysuits
The Leg Avenue Tell Me More Fishnet Bodysuit ($34.95) is long-sleeved, with an opaque high-neck collar and a snap crotch. It is designed to layer over a bra and briefs (not included), which makes it ideal for festivals and costumes.
Satin and lace teddies
For something to wear only in private, choose a teddy. The Coquette Kissed By Satin Teddy ($59.95) has soft underwire cups and a high-cut thong. The Roma Infinite Lace Teddy ($54.95) has a plunge bralette cup and runs S/M to 1X/2X. The Roma Electric Shimmer Teddy ($72.95) has a demi underwire cup and a hook-and-eye closure.
How to find your bodysuit size
A bodysuit has to fit two ways: around you, like a top, and from shoulder to crotch, like a swimsuit. That second measurement is torso length, and it is where most fit problems start.
- Measure your torso loop. Run a soft tape from the top of one shoulder, down the front, between your legs and up the back to the same shoulder. Compare it with the brand's chart if one is given.
- Measure your bust, waist and hips for the usual size.
- Too short? Straps dig in, the snaps pull forward and the leg openings ride up. Size up or choose adjustable straps.
- Too long? The fabric bags at the crotch or wrinkles at the waist. Size down or choose more stretch.
- Between sizes with a long torso, size up. Lace with elastane forgives a little; rigid trims and leather-look panels do not.
Many lingerie bodysuits come in paired sizes such as S/M and L/XL, so the torso-loop check matters even more. Want to be sure? Try one on at any of our seven boutiques, listed on the store finder.
Snaps and hook closures: tips
- Fasten before you dress. Close the snaps or hooks before you pull on jeans or a skirt, then check that they lie flat.
- Snaps are quick and sit flat. Hook-and-eye closures hold more securely under heavier fabrics.
- Skip tight, rigid waistbands over thick snap tape if they press on it. Higher rises sit more smoothly over it.
- Thong and cheeky backs make the least visible line under trousers.
How to wear a bodysuit: outfit ideas
Under a blazer
A black lace bodysuit under an open blazer is the Donna Karan idea, made a little after-dark. Choose a high neck or long sleeves if you want it office-adjacent, and a plunge or lace-up front for evenings.
With jeans
Tuck into high-waisted straight or wide-leg jeans and add a belt. The bodysuit keeps the top half sleek while the jeans add volume.
With skirts
Bodysuits solve the untucked-blouse problem with midi and pencil skirts. For a softer look, wear a satin slip skirt with a lace bodysuit.
As lingerie
Wear it alone, or add a garter belt over the top with thigh-high stockings. A sheer robe finishes the look. Browse more one-pieces in teddies and bodystockings.
Halloween bodysuit ideas
A bodysuit is the easiest base for a costume, because it stays in place all night. A black long-sleeve bodysuit with ears and a tail makes a cat, and with a cape it is a vampire. Add red tights and horns and you have a devil. The Leg Avenue Gloved Leopard Catsuit ($37.95) is a full-length leopard net with gloved sleeves and an open keyhole back. It is sheer, so layer it over a black bodysuit or a bra and briefs. For complete looks, see sexy costumes and our Halloween costume guide.
How to care for a bodysuit
- Hand-wash cold with a mild detergent. Fasten the snaps and hooks first so they do not snag the lace.
- No bleach and no iron. That is what the Mapale care label says, and heat damages elastane and leather-look trims.
- Drip-dry or lay flat, as the Leg Avenue label advises. Hanging a wet bodysuit by the straps stretches them.
- Rotate. Elastane recovers between wears, so the fit lasts longer.
Want the bigger picture? Read what lingerie is and every type explained, or see the corset vs bustier guide if you are eyeing a corset bodysuit. Orders ship in plain packaging, with free standard shipping over $75.
