I've been designing intimate apparel for 25 years, and the question I get asked more than almost any other is this: "Rhonda, which kind of underwear should I actually be buying?" The answer is never just one type. Different panties do different things, and the woman who has the right style for the right moment is the woman who's comfortable all day long.

Here's the complete guide — every style, what it's for, and exactly which Rhonda Shear panty to try if you want to start somewhere.

Briefs are the original. Full coverage in the front, full coverage in the back, and a waistband that sits somewhere between the hips and the belly button. They've been around since the 1950s and they've stayed because they work — comfortable, secure, and the most forgiving style for any body type.

The brief's real strength is versatility. It works under jeans, under sweatpants, under summer dresses. It stays put without adjusting. And in a seamless construction — which is what we make them in — it disappears under clothing better than you'd expect from a full-coverage style.

Bikinis sit lower on the hips than briefs — below the belly button rather than at or above it — with higher leg openings that give you more freedom of movement. Less abdominal coverage than a brief, but full coverage in the back. The most popular everyday panty style for a reason: lightweight, versatile, and stays put during normal daily activity.

Where bikinis shine is in their combination of simplicity and comfort. They don't add bulk, they move easily, and in a lace or stretch construction they feel almost like nothing at all.

High-waist briefs rise above the belly button to your natural waist — which sounds like a small difference until you actually try one. The extra height eliminates two of the most common underwear problems: the waistband folding down when you sit, and the visible panty line visible above high-waisted bottoms. It also smooths the lower tummy in a way that lower-rise styles simply can't.

This is also the style that protects your waist when wearing high-waisted jeans or skirts — instead of the waistband of your pants rubbing directly against your skin, the fabric of the panty acts as a barrier. Softer, no chafing, no marks at the end of the day.

Boyshorts extend from the waist down to the tops of the thighs, giving them more coverage than any other panty style. That thigh coverage is the key feature: it prevents chafing between the thighs, which makes boyshorts the go-to choice for skirts, dresses, and any day when your thighs are going to spend time together.

They also smooth hips and the backside more effectively than a brief because of that additional coverage area. In a lace construction like the Pin Up Control Panty, they're genuinely beautiful — not purely functional. And the built-in smoothing of a control boyshort means no need for a separate shapewear layer under fitted skirts.

The thong has one primary job: eliminating visible panty lines under fitted clothing. It does this by removing the back fabric entirely — there's a narrow strip at the back rather than a full back panel, which means nothing to create a ridge through thin fabric. Under a bodycon dress, fitted skirts, or any clothing where panty lines are a problem, a thong is the technical solution.

The comfort question is real — and the answer is that a thong in the right size and fabric is far more comfortable than most women expect. A 4-way stretch lace thong in your correct size should be barely perceptible. If your thong is uncomfortable, it's almost always the wrong size or the wrong fabric.

Leakproof panties look and feel like regular underwear — the difference is entirely inside, where a multi-layer absorbent gusset wicks moisture away from the skin, holds it, and keeps the surface dry. They're designed for light bladder leakage (the kind that happens when you sneeze, laugh, or exercise), for period protection, or as backup alongside other methods on heavier days.

The Rhonda Shear Leakproof Collection comes in four absorbency levels — Light, Moderate, Heavy, and Super Hold — so you can match the protection to your actual need. And every style is certified 100% PFAS-free, which matters given the concerns about forever chemicals in some early period underwear brands.