What Is the Most Comfortable Underwear for Women?
When it comes to finding panties, women are spoiled for choice. Whether you’re filling your drawer with bikinis or high-leg briefs, hipsters, sculpting panties, or shaper shorts, they should fit well, flatter your body, and be easy to wear. Sometimes, finding the perfect pair can be a challenge, but with a little insight into what makes underwear feel good, you can become an expert at finding the most comfortable underwear for you.
What Makes Underwear Feel Good?
Comfortable underwear feels good on your body and helps you feel confident. Design, fabric, and construction, plus your own body type and preferences, all contribute toward making a pair of underwear work well for you. We think everyone agrees that comfortable underwear should fit well and be made from high-quality, breathable materials, but people have different opinions on what makes underwear feel good. Some prefer a seamless panty with stretchy, breathable fabric, while others prefer a supportive brief that gently hugs their torso or a full-coverage short that prevents chafing. Discovering which fits, fabrics and styles suit you best can help you find underwear you love to put on every day.
How Should Underwear Fit?
Whatever style you prefer, comfortable underwear should skim your body without feeling tight — ideally, you should forget that you’re wearing it. When you’re shopping for new underwear, comparing your waist and hip measurements against a size chart goes a long way toward helping you find a great fit. Underwear that’s too big can bunch up beneath your clothes and rub against you, while too-small underwear can feel tight, dig into your skin and create unflattering lines and bulges under fabric. The fabric of panties should feel snug and supportive and move with you without sagging or binding. The waistband and leg bands should keep your underwear in place yet stay invisible. If your body is soft and has a tendency to bulge, you’ll feel better avoiding panties with tight or thin strips of elastic around the waist and legs.
What Fabrics Feel Best on Skin?
The fabrics you wear next to your skin make a big difference in how you feel. Breathable natural, synthetic, and blended materials help keep your skin cool and dry. Moisture-wicking fibers, mesh weaves, and features like cotton gussets can help regulate your body temperature and prevent sweat from causing discomfort. Cotton fabrics, for instance, feel airy and gentle on your skin, and some are blended with stretchy fibers that help them hold their shape. Technical fabrics with elastane or polyamide can provide a smoothing effect without feeling too tight. Many of these materials have a soft, luxurious feel with a smoothness that helps clothes flow over them easily. Strong, sturdy fabrics that stretch as you move can help support your curves, make your clothes fit better, and prevent chafing. Since they snap back into shape, you won’t have to worry about underwear that rides up or falls down as you move.
Comfortable Underwear Styles
Whether you prefer full-coverage panties or something that shows more skin, the style of underwear you feel best in is a personal preference that may depend on what you’re wearing. Skirts and dresses may flow more easily over briefs, while Brazilian-cut panties and thongs may work best against close-fitting bottoms or tailored pants. Any moisture-wicking, close-fitting panties should be comfortable under gym clothes like leggings and yoga pants. Below, we discuss how the style and cut of your underwear can contribute to how it feels.
Bikinis
Bikinis are made in all kinds of fabrics in high- and mid-rise styles. They have a low-cut waist and high-cut legs with moderate coverage over your bum. Some bikinis will show off your lower back and butt cheeks; others are a bit more modest. They don’t offer much support, but many women with slim, athletic, or hourglass body types find them easy to wear when they fit well. To be comfortable, the waistband and leg openings should sit high enough on your body that they will stay up easily without restricting your movement.
Briefs
Briefs are designed to fully cover your hips, torso and backside. They have low leg openings, a high waistband, and a full back. When briefs are crafted from a lightweight compression fabric, they can smooth out your figure and help your clothes glide over your body. While these panties have a reputation for frumpiness, modern designs have lacy details, mesh cut-outs, and butt-lifting bands that can boost your curves. They can flatter and support all body types and provide everyday comfort.
Thongs and Brazilian-Style Panties
Thongs and Brazilian-style tanga and samba panties can have low to moderate amounts of coverage at the sides and top, with little to no coverage in the back, depending on the style. Thongs usually have full coverage in front and a narrow strip of fabric that sits between your butt cheeks. G-string thongs have a small triangle of fabric in front, a narrower elastic waistband, and a thin band of fabric in the back. Brazilian-style thongs and tanga or samba panties are high-cut underwear with full coverage in the front and a broad waistband in the back that narrows as it goes down between your butt cheeks, leaving at least half of your bottom exposed.
The most comfortable thongs are made from breathable, stretchy synthetics and cotton. Some thongs offer curve-enhancing tummy support and shaping in front. They work for all body types, and they’re the perfect choice for women who want to avoid panty lines, but they are only comfortable when they fit well. Too-tight thongs can give you a wedgie, while too-loose thongs can shift around when you sit down and cause irritation. However, some women find that going up a size helps the underwear breathe better and sit more comfortably on their bodies.
High-Waisted Briefs
High-waisted briefs have high-cut waistbands and leg openings with full coverage in the back. They can feel less restrictive than traditional briefs, and when they’re crafted from a light compression fabric and shaping technology like butt-lifting pads, they can smooth out and lift your tummy and butt. These panties work well for apple and hourglass shapes because they can support the belly and define your waist.
Hipsters and Boyshorts
Hipsters and boyshorts are somewhat similar to classic briefs because they have full coverage in the back and low leg openings, but they sit below the waist like a bikini. Boyshorts look like close-fitting microshorts with leg openings that skim your skin and end at the top of your thighs. Hipsters are cut higher on the leg, but they offer more coverage than a bikini. These styles are made in all kinds of fabrics with varying levels of support, and they typically lack elastic bands that could dig into the skin. They work well on athletic and pear-shaped bodies and can be very easy to wear under loose-fitting pants, shorts, skirts, and dresses.
Tips for Picking Out Comfortable Underwear
When you’re stocking your wardrobe with comfortable underwear, you must pick out pieces that work for you. Your preferences and priorities are unique, so you may need to experiment with different fabrics and styles to learn what feels best on your body. Ask yourself which panties might fit your shape best and provide the balance of support, stretch, and breathability you need without creating lumps, bumps, or lines. In general, if you pick underwear with elastic leg bands or waistbands that encircle or cut across areas where your body is very soft, you could create bulges that show up under your clothes. For instance, bikini underwear could cut across your butt cheeks and create visible panty lines, while a thong or a full-coverage brief or hipster will give you a smoother silhouette. Be sure to get the right size, or go up a size if you need to, and look for seamless styles that sit flush against your skin and smooth out your figure.
Things That Can Make Underwear Uncomfortable
If your underwear feels tight, hot, or irritating, it probably doesn’t fit well. Underwear that rides up in the back may not provide enough coverage, and wearing a bigger size or a different style could help. For instance, if bikinis are giving you problems, you might try a hipster or a brief. If your underwear slides around or falls down, you might be wearing the wrong size or style for your body type. If your underwear cuts into your skin or creates a muffin top, you could be wearing underwear that’s the wrong size or cut for your shape. If the panties feel good and don’t pinch but still create lines and lumps, try a style with a higher or lower rise. Otherwise, try a larger size if they feel tight.
How to Avoid Visible Panty Lines, Bulges, and Sagging Fabric
Once you find underwear that fits well and works with your body shape, avoiding visible panty lines is easier. Generally, underwear with laser-cut or seamless leg openings is less likely to create lines and bulges underneath your clothes. You must also take care of your underwear by hand washing them with a gentle detergent and letting them air-dry. This helps keep your panties from losing their shape, which can lead them to sag and bunch up under your clothes.
Find Comfortable Underwear with a Perfect Fit at Leonisa
When you’re looking for comfortable panties, finding the best size and styles for your body is key to looking and feeling great. The best underwear for you will be easy to wear and help you face the world with a smile. With a range of styles that feature innovative, breathable fabrics and the latest shaping technologies, Leonisa can provide underwear you’ll love to wear every day.
