Florence Uwaeme
When shopping for underwear, first and foremost, it’s important that the underwear fits you properly. If a style is too tight, lingerie experts warn that there’s potential for chafing, rashes and irritation.
First of all, do you know the best material for women’s underwear?
Cotton: It’s a natural fibre that’s breathable and soft, so it feels great against the skin. The downside to cotton is it doesn’t dry quickly, so if there’s any moisture (e.g. from sweat) the fabric will stay wet.
Plant-based fabrics: Fibers like rayon and modal are made from plants, though they’re chemically processed so they’re not technically natural. These fabrics are super soft and drapey, and often have moisture-wicking benefits so they dry faster than cotton.
Performance fibres: Synthetics like polyester and nylon are common in activewear because they wick moisture and dry quickly. For the same reason, these fibres are ideal for underwear, especially if you’re working out. Lace underwear and microfiber styles are also usually made from synthetics. Just remember to remove them after sweating; “it’s important to remove wet exercise clothes as soon as able to avoid infection and irritation in intimate areas.”
Silk: It’s not as common and it’s expensive, but silk is a natural fibre, feels luxurious, and has inherent temperature-regulating and moisture-management properties.
Novelty styles: You can find underwear made of unique materials, like wool, or with added benefits, like extra layers of absorbency for periods or built-in shapewear.
Thong
Giving you the least amount of coverage, a thong has just a strip of fabric in the back to prevent panty lines from showing through clothes. The right thong with a cotton crotch and non-chafing ‘G-string’ that fits well is not a problem for those who prefer them.
Wearing a thong helps you avoid visible panty lines, as there are no bumps on the edges and they stay totally hidden. Thongs are a great option for tighter clothes, but they can be uncomfortable if you don’t find the material or size for you.
Hipster
This low-rise style sits right on your hips, a bit below your waistline with more coverage around the hips and wider panels of fabric. They’re less cheeky than other styles with lower cut leg holes.
Boyshort
A women’s take on boxer briefs, boyshorts have a rectangular shape that has the most leg coverage out of all types of underwear. They are perfect when wearing loungewear and lose skirts, as they’ll provide the most coverage if you’re skirt flies up since it looks like a cross between underwear and shorts.
Briefs
If you want the most coverage, go with briefs as they’ll keep you covered front and back. There are variations within this style, like a high-rise waist or a high-cut leg opening. Although they’ll show panty lines, many people go back to their brief underwear because they’re so comfortable.
Bikini
These are similar to a brief, but with less coverage with a lower rise and higher leg openings. With a low rise and a bit of butt coverage, bikini underwear mirrors the cut of most bikini bottoms. As one of the most popular types of underwear, most people wear these everywhere, including the gym as they won’t create “granny panty” lines without riding up like a thong.
High Rise
High rise underwear will keep your whole tummy covered. If you hate the feeling of underwear digging into your belly, high rise panties are a great solution, as most pairs go to your waist.
French Cut
To show off more leg, go with a French-cut (sometimes called high-cut) pair of underwear. They’ll have the same waist as a classic brief, but with higher cut leg holes.
Cheeky
Like bikini underwear, cheeky styles show more of your derriere for more back coverage than a thong, but still less than a bikini. Many styles have a wider hip band to prevent panty lines.
Control Top
With the effects of shapewear, underwear with a control top helps smooth you out. They go either to your belly button or above with some even going all the way to your bra.
G-string
With a barely-there feel, G-string underwear provides the least amount of coverage with a very thin thong back and a low rise fit in the front.
