Teddies are now primarily used as sexy lingerie, while bodysuits may be either sexy or functional and are often both. Bodysuits generally add sleeves and/or legs to the basic teddy design. By definition, teddies combine a camisole top and panties into one garment. Teddies and bodysuits are very similar items of sexy lingerie.
Teddies are still useful under certain clothing styles, but now only sexy teddies are commonly available. The shorts gradually got shorter and tighter and the sleeves disappeared. Over the years, teddies began to appear in more luxurious and sexy fabrics such as silk. The teddy was used primarily to provide full coverage underneath clothing, and often resembled a combined short sleeve top and loose, full shorts. Early teddies, like most early lingerie, were more functional than decorative.