From Briefs to Boyshorts: Your Definitive Guide to Women’s Underwear

Whether you’re in need of a lingerie-drawer refresh or you want to try out some new styles, it’s important to get back to basics: What are the types of women’s underwear? 

We’ve got your back(side). Not only do we have lots of options to choose from for women’s underwear styles, including plus-size underwear in every style, but some of them serve totally different purposes or have very subtle differences that you might not be aware of. Or, perhaps you’re less confused and more indifferent about underwear variances, having never given much thought to them before.

Either way, it’s good to be educated about these things so you can reach for the best underwear every time without hesitation. To make things easy, we’ve compiled a guide to the types of women’s underwear, so you can shop silk panties, seamless underwear, and more with ease.

Briefs

Briefs are the most classic cut of women’s underwear. Some styles, like our Soft Silk Briefs, have a higher waist as well as full bum coverage. Then there’s our No Brainer briefs, which offer mid-rise coverage to fit a lot of different outfit silhouettes and needs. The No Brainer is also stretchy, tagless, and made without any stitched seams for added comfort. We tend to think of briefs as the easy, go-to choice if you’re looking for more coverage,, or if you just need something hassle-free to put on in the morning rush. 

Bikini Underwear

Bikini cuts, like the bikinis you wear to the pool, have less coverage than a brief, with a lower rise and narrower sides. They can also include string bikini underwear, which just includes an elastic band at the hips, rather than a wider piece of fabric. You can easily find cheekier styles (or less cheeky styles) that fall into this category, depending on what you’re looking for.

Thong Underwear

Thongs are no longer reserved for special occasions: It’s a staple in any woman’s underwear wardrobe. Any type of thong-style underwear will have little to no coverage in the back, which makes them the ideal choice to wear with those leggings, linen pants, or a little black dress that hugs in all the right places.

But gone are the days of uncomfortable, wedgie-like thongs; ours won’t ride up, ever. Our Soft Silk Thongs, which have a pretty, lay-flat lace trim and mid rise, as well as a tear-off label. Then there’s our VIP Seamless Thong, made of our sweat-wicking Happy Seam fabric (perfect for the gym). Looking for plus-size thongs? Both styles are available in sizes XXS-3XL, to fit every body. 

A G-string thong has the most minimal coverage of all undie styles, featuring a single string of fabric down the back and usually around the sides as well. (V-string and T-string are similar to the G-string, with V or T-shaped fabric right at the tailbone).

Hipster Underwear

While they are similar in shape to bikini underwear, hipsters fit a bit higher—usually just above the hips—and have a wider waistband. When it comes down to it, both bikinis and hipsters are incredibly versatile and go perfectly with most outfits—especially when they’re seamless. They make great options plus size panties too. So it’s really just a matter of personal choice. These Silk Panties are a great option if you’re in the market for bikini or hipster underwear.

Boy Short Underwear

Boy shorts are a feminine twist on a men’s classic boxer style, with coverage past the cheeks and a hipster waistline. Boy shorts are a fun, flirty style that may not be the best option if you’re looking to avoid panty lines, but they’re great to wear for lounging with just a big t-shirt or a cute cami.

Cheeky Underwear

As the name suggests, cheeky panties show off a bit of cheek—not nearly as much as thong underwear, but they have a bit more of a flirty look than, say, boy shorts. One thing to note about standard and plus size cheeky underwear is that they are not designed to stay in place throughout the day in the same way as briefs, and don’t offer the same guarantee when it comes to VPL, especially if you’re looking for seamless underwear. That’s why our team recommends a thong or a full coverage brief instead—the "in-between" styles are what causes unwanted underwear problems!

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