Did you know that underwear as we know it today only came around in the 20th century? Before that, women wore long, baggy bloomers with open bottoms. Early in the 20th century, the openings closed up and underwear became much shorter.
Finally, in the 1950s, longer and more flowy underwear was replaced with briefs, which is what we still wear today. However, there are many types of panties that go far beyond briefs. In fact, there are so many options to choose from that it can be hard to choose in the first place.
After all, how can you know what kind of underwear will be best for you? What will be the most comfortable for your body shape? What should you wear under certain outfits? Keep reading and learn more about the details with this panties buying guide.
What You Need to Know About Briefs
Briefs are undoubtedly the most classic underwear option for women. As mentioned before, they've been around for decades and their design has remained relatively unchanged since the 1950s. Briefs sometimes get a bad wrap because some people refer to them as "granny panties," but don't let this deter you. We make granny panties look good!
Briefs can be as sexy and comfortable as any other type of underwear on the market. The great thing about briefs is that they come in all sizes to accommodate all body types. We have styles up to 5X that are designed for all ages and shapes. They also come in many different colors and patterns to fit your mood for the day.
What is really so great about briefs anyway? First, a good pair of high-quality briefs will be made of comfortable and breathable panty fabric. You will find that some cheap panties have fabric that is rough and uncomfortable against your skin. Yuck! We are all about soft, smooth stretch styles... yes, please!
When you invest in a good pair of underwear, you'll find that the fabric will be super soft and won't irritate your skin in any way. They are also very versatile. There would be nothing to stop you from wearing briefs with your favorite summer dress or under a pair of sweatpants or jeans. Wearing the right size means that even under fitted clothing you won't have to worry about visible panty lines.
Many people favor briefs because of the coverage they provide. In a world full of thongs and g-strings, some people prefer the gentle coverage of briefs instead. Some briefs rise all the way up to the belly button or your natural waist while others stop just beneath the belly button.
This height allows the panties to give you plenty of front coverage. But what about the back?
The Details
More often than not, briefs will offer full coverage at the back.
This makes them very comfortable and, as long as they hug your body in the right fashion, they should stay in place all day. So, there would be no need to readjust them throughout the day and you won't have to worry about them peeking out above the back of your pants.
If you are looking for a bit of shaping from your panties, some briefs are made with power mesh or spandex which can help shape or smooth your body in any way you desire. You also won't have to worry too much about panty care because most briefs are quite sturdy and last wash after wash. No need to fret about throwing your Rhonda Shear briefs into the washing machine even on the strongest washer setting.
But what if you don't like the way briefs look or feel? Don't worry, because there are plenty of other options you can choose from.
All About Boyshorts
Boyshorts are much like briefs in many ways, but they do have some important differences. Many people think that boyshorts are for athletes and those who are very active, but this isn't necessarily true. Boyshorts are designed in a way that they can fit just about anyone without any problems. Some are designed for smoothing and anti-chafing. Some short or "tap length" style panties may even come in options with lace like the retro sexy Pin Up Panty by Rhonda Shear.
They are arguably even more versatile than briefs because of how they look quite a bit like real shorts. Of course, they are sometimes much shorter than real shorts and they can be made out of thinner material. Even so, you will find that they can be a great accompaniment to a short skirt or dress since they look a lot like an ordinary slip.
But what if you want to wear boyshorts as regular underwear? The first thing you should know is that boyshorts are full coverage underwear. They offer even more coverage than briefs.
Boyshorts tend to measure up to the belly button, but some brands stop beneath the belly button. Boyshorts extend to the tops of the thighs which gives them their characteristic shorts look. Because of that little detail, boyshorts are quite similar to men's underwear (although men's underwear tends to extend farther down the legs).
If you want to streamline your body and make sure every inch is covered, but still look cute, boyshorts might be the perfect option for you. Keep in mind that boyshorts should be comfortable and you shouldn't feel like you're squeezing yourself into them.
What You Need to Know
Boyshorts are typically made out of stretchy and breathable material that should grip your body but not be uncomfortable in any way.
There are, of course, boyshorts that are made of shapewear material that will squeeze and smooth your body a bit, but even these should not be uncomfortable. If your boyshorts are uncomfortable, you probably bought them in the wrong size.
One of the biggest benefits of boyshorts is that they protect against chafing. If you often wear skirts or dresses, this is likely your number one priority. The soft fabric that covers the upper thighs will ensure that your thighs glide past each other without any trouble. Boyshorts are also ideal for smoothing out your hips and backside.
The smoothing effect and full coverage of boyshorts make them a great choice for tight pants, skirts, or dresses. This is not to mention that many boyshorts are designed in a way that renders them very sexy.
The Details of the High-Rise Brief
What is the difference between regular briefs and high-rise briefs, you might ask? As the name suggests, high-rise briefs typically rest higher on the waist. They may stop at the belly button or they may even go a few inches higher and rest at your natural waist.
High-rise or high-waist briefs are full coverage and they certainly offer more coverage than ordinary briefs. You might not think that raising the height of a pair of briefs would make much of a difference, but you would be surprised to discover that this small change in design can make some significant changes. When you wear a regular pair of briefs that stop below the belly button, you might notice a few problems.
In particular, you might find that the waistband tends to fold down, especially when sitting, down, which can be quite annoying and even uncomfortable. More than that, the lower line of an ordinary brief may create a roll if they are too tight, showing through when wearing certain dresses, especially dresses that are made out of thin material. Finally, an ordinary brief may not provide all the front coverage that you desire or require if you are self conscious about your lower tummy.
Fortunately, a high-rise brief can fix all of these problems. If you don't have these issues in the first place, then a regular pair of briefs should be just fine. The great thing about high waist briefs is that they look good and feel good no matter what you're wearing.
Are High-Rise Briefs Right for You?
High-rise briefs are ideal if you often wear high-waisted skirts or pants. High-waisted items of clothing look great but they have the downside of rubbing against your waist in an uncomfortable manner. In some cases, this can lead to some nasty chafing, but you can avoid this problem entirely by using a high-rise brief as a barrier between your skin and your pants.
High-rise briefs tend to be quite durable, so you won't have to worry about your pants rubbing against them and ruining the fabric. In the same vein, these high-rise briefs are a great choice for skirts or dresses that are tighter around the waist.
Similar to boyshorts, high-rise briefs do well to give your body a slim and smooth look under clothing. When it comes to coverage, because high-rise briefs rest around your natural waist, you won't have to worry about the waistband moving at all. This kind of underwear will completely encompass your lower abdomen and make it look as smooth as possible under clothing.
This is not to mention that because these panties rest high on the waist, they can do a lot of good when it comes to emphasizing your waist. While these panties won't cinch your waist, they can smooth and shape your lower body in a way that will flatter your waist and upper body.
There are, of course, some high-rise briefs that are made of sturdier and stretchier material that will help to shape your waist and the rest of your lower body, but you may not find this material to be comfortable to wear on a daily basis.
What You Need to Know About Bikini Underwear
If you're not looking for serious coverage but still want a bit of coverage, bikinis might be the perfect choice for you. You will find that bikinis are very similar to ordinary briefs, but there are a few important differences. In particular, bikinis don't rest as high up on the waste as briefs do and certainly not as high as high-rise briefs.
Instead, bikini panties rest below the belly button on the tops of the hips much as swimsuit bikini bottoms do. This cut can give the majority of your abdomen a chance to breathe and relax. Because bikinis rest lower than briefs, they should stay in place quite well even when sitting down and the waistband shouldn't fold.
Keep in mind that while bikinis don't have a lot of coverage in the front, they do have plenty of coverage in the back. They are quite the opposite of thongs in that they do well to cover the entire buttocks. The leg holes for bikinis are quite different compared to briefs.
Are Bikinis Right for You?
Briefs tend to have low-rise leg holes while bikinis, on the other hand, have high-rise holes. While this certainly gives bikinis a bit of extra style, the difference is more than a stylistic choice. You will find that these higher leg holes will make bikinis much more comfortable to wear compared to panties that have lower and smaller leg holes.
While your range of motion will be about the same, it will be far more comfortable to move your legs around when wearing bikinis. This is especially important if you have shapely thighs since small leg holes can be very uncomfortable to wear and, in some cases, they can even cause chafing if they're too tight.
Bikinis are known for being lightweight and quite versatile. For that reason, they are a great choice to wear on a daily basis whether you're wearing jeans, shorts, a skirt, or anything else. They come in all sorts of colors and designs, so you shouldn't have any trouble picking some that fit your style and mood.
Everything You Need to Know About Different Types of Panties
There are many types of panties available, so many that it can be hard to choose sometimes. Some of the most popular types are briefs, boyshorts, high-rise briefs, and bikinis, among many others. These four particular panties offer plenty of coverage while still being comfortable and sexy.
What else could you ask for when it comes to underwear? To learn more about undergarments, don't hesitate to contact us.