Agent Orange: The skimpy offerings at Agent Provocateur.

Lingerie Directory

Agent Provocateur
133 Mercer St., nr. Prince St.
212-965-0229
agentprovocateur.com
This pink-and-black boudoir is a must-stop when picking up undergarments for your wedding day or honeymoon. Frilly corsets are the specialty (from $216), but AP also has some darling panties with satin ties at the waist as well as tons of matching sets.

Azaleas
223 E. 10th St., nr. First Ave.
212-253-5484
azaleasnyc.com
This neighborhood store is a treasure trove of all things white and frilly, from bridal thongs and lace thigh-highs to corsets and bustiers, which run up to size 38D. There's also a selection of panties with messages—our favorite is the pair that says kiss the bride. Don't forget the all-important camisole sets for the honeymoon, starting at $60.

Bonne Nuit
30 Lincoln Plaza, nr. 62nd St.
212-489-9730
1193 Lexington Ave., nr. 81st St.
212-489-9730
These bright, unpretentious, sweet-smelling shops are packed with pretty, feminine underthings and sleepwear—fluffy robes from companies like Under Construction and Frou Frou and peignoir sets by Jonquil, as well as lovely, modest bras and panties ($30 to $150) from makers like Lise Charmel and La Perla that are perfectly in keeping with the spirit of a big white dress.

Bra Smyth
905 Madison Ave., nr. 73rd St.
212-772-9400
brasmyth.com
This Upper East Side favorite carries mostly French labels, but the friendly, unpretentious staff welcomes all and is happy to help brides-to-be make sense of the store’s racks of corsets from high-end companies like Le Mystère and Chantelle (from $110). Lots of slinky, lacy panties, too.

Eres
621 Madison Ave., nr. 58th St.
212-223-3550
98 Wooster St., nr. Spring St.
212-431-7300
eresparis.com
This intimate Parisian boutique is a gem for lovers of luxe, elegant underthings. They offer a soft-boned corset (from $435) as well as gorgeous, sheer bodysuits with built-in thongs or boy-cut shorts ($263–$325). Brides going the simpler route will love the exquisite bras, most of which come in whisper-weight, ultraromantic cuts and fabrics (starting at $175).

Henri Bendel
712 Fifth Ave., nr. 56th St.
212-247-1100
In the disco era, Henri Bendel was the epicenter of modish New York. These days, the shop stays cool with sexy undergarments from more than 30 vendors, including the Henri Bendel New York private-label collection. Designers like Diane Von Furstenberg, John Galliano, and Cavalli mix with lesser-known names I.D. Sarrieri, Little Joe by Gail Elliott, and University (from $40).

Laina Jane
45 Christopher St., nr. Waverly Pl.
212-807-8077
416 Amsterdam Ave., nr. 80th St.
212-875-9168
lainajane.com
These friendly boutiques attract women looking for basic bras as well as downtown hipsters and starlets (Liv Tyler, for one) who want sexy, glamorous things to wear under—or as—party clothes. The stores offer a seamless corset (from $69) that's an inexpensive option for brides whose dresses—or bodies—don't require serious whaleboning for support; sexy lacy numbers from Cosabella (around $80) won’t work under white silk, but they’ll certainly heat up your honeymoon.

La Perla
803 Madison Ave., nr. 67th St.
212-570-0050
93 Greene St., nr. Spring St.
212-219-0999
425 W. 14th St., nr. Ninth Ave.
212-242-6662
You may associate this legendary Italian lingerie store with sexy, lacy black underthings, but big-name wedding designers like Vera Wang and Yumi Katsura swear by it for the corsets they use in their fittings. These corsets ($200–$400) come in a range of styles—and, of course, there are pretty panties to match.

La Petite Coquette
51 University Pl., nr. 10th St.
212-473-2478
thelittleflirt.com
The girlie-girl's favorite lingerie shop carries corsets, bras, and panties in mesh, lace, silk-stain brocade, and microfiber, plus all sorts of pretty white stuff for your wedding day from tons of high-end designers. Styles are ready-made, but can be altered to fit. Corsets are $59 to $800.

Le Corset by Selima
80 Thompson St., nr. Spring St.
212-334-4936
Fashion insiders adore designer-owner Selima Salaun's funky, fabulous selection of lingerie. It's hard to resist the bridal and lace bustiers (not to mention the colorful underwear and slips), but those won't really do as underpinnings. For your wedding, check out the more functional silk Victorian corset, which is custom-made in about four weeks (from $450).

Photographed by Kenneth Chen.