Buying guide for Best women’s briefs
The best underwear is so comfortable that you forget you’re wearing it. And of the various styles of women’s underwear out there, briefs are the likeliest to achieve that goal. While admittedly not as alluring as some other underwear styles like thongs or bikinis, women’s briefs have a definite advantage when it comes to coverage and comfort.
Whether you’re getting them to wear every day, for working out, or even as sleepwear, the right women’s briefs should fit your unique body shape closely and comfortably, hold up to regular trips through the washer and dryer, let your skin breathe, and look reasonably attractive.
Luckily, it’s not too difficult to find women’s briefs that fit all of these requirements. From high-rise to hipster, cotton to synthetic, you can enjoy comfortable, fashionable briefs without breaking your budget.
Key considerations
Choosing the right women’s briefs
Visit the undergarment section of any department or big-box store and you’ll find a vast array of underwear in different shapes and styles. Each has its own pros and cons, and many people find that owning a few pairs in different styles makes it easy to suit that day’s outfit. Here are the main types of women’s underwear you’ll find as you shop.
Classic briefs: The classic style of women’s undergarment, briefs provide full coverage over the rear and the tops of the thighs. The waistband on classic women’s briefs sits over the hips but under the belly button, and the legs hit at the top of the thighs. This style is comfortable and works well beneath just about any type of pants other than very tight or low-cut styles.
High-rise briefs: This is a variation on classic briefs. The waistband is high enough to cover the belly button, providing full coverage and support without creating a “muffin top” or rolling down when you sit. High-rise briefs need to be matched with equally high-rise bottoms to avoid the waistband peeking over your pants or skirt.
French cut briefs: Another variation on classic briefs, French cut or high-cut briefs cover the belly button like high-rise briefs, but the leg openings are cut higher to expose the upper thigh.
Thongs: These barely-there panties don’t provide any coverage, but they also don’t create any panty lines. Thongs are basically a waistband supporting a small triangle of fabric in front that narrows to a thin strip of fabric in the back. G-string panties are thongs with only a thick string of fabric in the back.
Bikinis: Bikini panties provide more coverage than thongs but are likelier to create panty lines. These swimwear-inspired undergarments are cut low in front, cover the entire rear, and have high-cut legs. The waistband can be prone to rolling down on full-figured bodies.
Boy shorts: The newest style of undergarment, boy shorts were inspired by men’s briefs. These panties have a low-rise waistband, fully cover the rear and hips, and have leg openings that fall just under the tops of the thighs. This underwear is very comfortable, gives a bit of support, and doesn’t create panty lines.
Hipsters: These are a good choice to wear with low-rise pants because the waistband hits right over the widest part of the hips. The low-cut legs provide full coverage over the rear. Full-figured people might find that the waistband on hipster panties rolls down when sitting.
Staff Tip
Choose cotton briefs for regular wear and performance synthetic for intense workouts.
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Women’s briefs features
Shopping for underwear shouldn’t be a struggle. Here’s what to consider when looking for the perfect pair of women’s briefs.
Fabric
Cotton is the number one choice for everyday women’s briefs because it’s soft and comfortable, holds up well to regular washing, absorbs moisture, and most importantly, lets your delicate skin “breathe.” This helps cut down on the risk of irritating skin issues like chafing or infections from yeast or fungi. Note that even 100% cotton underwear does have a bit of synthetic elastic material in the waistband.
Organic cotton comes from plants grown and woven without the use of synthetic or chemical dyes, fertilizers, or pesticides. It’s the best choice for people with extremely sensitive skin or anyone concerned about the environment.
On the downside, wet cotton tends to hold moisture against your skin, making cotton briefs a poor choice for workout underwear.
Silk is hard to beat when it comes to luxurious softness, sheen, and overall pampering. Silk is a natural fabric that breathes well, doesn’t hold moisture against the skin, and isn’t too hot.
On the downside, you’ll pay much more for silk briefs than for any other fabric. Silk is harder to care for than other fabrics, and there aren’t nearly as many options available.
Plant-based fabrics like bamboo, rayon, Tencel, and Modal all undergo significant chemical processing to create a textile that’s very soft and silky, lightweight, and good at wicking moisture away from the skin.
On the downside, they don’t handle hot-water washing as well as cotton, may shrink in the wash, and are more expensive than cotton.
Synthetics used to make underwear include polyester, nylon, microfiber, and spandex. These fabrics are soft and silky and can be very inexpensive. Some synthetics are labeled as “performance” and are exceptionally good at wicking moisture away from your skin and drying quickly. They are an excellent choice for workout undergarments.
On the downside, some synthetics tend to hold in body heat and don’t breathe well. As a general rule, it’s best to avoid synthetic fabrics for everyday underwear.
Components
Waistband: Most women’s briefs, as well as other styles of underwear, have an elastic waistband. Depending on the style, the waistband can be very narrow or an inch or more wide. Inexpensive underwear often has an exposed nylon waistband that’s sometimes sewn in place with a thick seam. This can be itchy or irritating against delicate skin. The best briefs have a fabric-covered waistband, which reduces the risk of pinching, chafing, or rolling.
Leg openings: Classic women’s briefs have a fairly round leg opening that’s slightly higher in the front than in the back. Depending on the brand and style, you can also find briefs with high-cut leg openings that show off the entire upper thigh, often labeled as “French cut,” as well as briefs that fall somewhere in between classic and high-cut options.
Gusset: The gusset is the fabric liner in the crotch of women’s briefs. Ideally, it’s 100% cotton even if the rest of the garment is made of synthetic or plant-based fabric. The cotton gusset lets your delicate skin breathe and doesn’t hold on to body heat the way synthetics can. You might notice in some underwear that the gusset isn’t sewn down at the front. This is to avoid a seam in an area that can be easily irritated. In many briefs, especially inexpensive brands, the gusset is plain white cotton, but in some more expensive briefs, the gusset is the same color as the rest of the underwear.
Some synthetic briefs, particularly those made of microfiber, don’t have a separate gusset. These briefs are fine as exercise wear, but you’ll find that briefs with a gusset do a better job of absorbing moisture and protecting your health.
Seamless briefs
If you have very sensitive skin, you might find the rubbing of a seam to be particularly annoying. Seamless panties are woven in such a way as to eliminate seams at the sides, gusset, and waistband of the finished garment. Most seamless briefs are made of synthetic fabrics, but you can find cotton options too. Seamless briefs are an excellent choice for workouts.
Shapewear
Some briefs function as shapewear, with spandex, Lycra, or a similar material forming a tight panel in the front to hold in tummy bulges. Shapewear briefs typically rise over the belly button, and some extend down over the upper portion of the thighs as well.
Colors and patterns
When it comes to colors and patterns of women’s briefs, the sky's the limit. Your personal preference is the only important factor. Go neutral, go bright, go white, go black, go zebra-striped or leopard-spotted: the choice is entirely up to you. If you’re looking for the color least likely to show through light-colored pants or skirts, however, look for briefs that closely match the color of your skin.
Briefs that come up over your belly button are called high-rise briefs, and those with high-cut legs are often called French-cut briefs.
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Pricing
As with most articles of clothing, the price range for women’s briefs is a large one.
Inexpensive
You can buy a package of five or six basic women’s briefs for less than $15, although you shouldn’t expect the highest quality of fabric, stitching, or design at this price point.
Mid-range
A package of higher-quality briefs with sturdy and soft fabric, tight seams, and covered waistband typically costs between $15 and $25.
Expensive
Designer briefs can cost as much as $80 for a package of five and even more if they’re purchased individually.
Staff Tip
Replace your briefs if they wear through at the crotch, the waistband stretches out, or the fabric sags.
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Tips
There is no industry-wide standard for sizing women’s briefs. Still, you can find your correct size by taking a couple of simple measurements.
- Measure your hips at the widest point. This is the main measurement used by most brands to determine underwear size.
- Measure your waist at the narrowest point. Do this if you plan on getting higher-end briefs because some brands include this number in their sizing system.
- Check the package or tag on the briefs for the manufacturer’s size range. As a general rule, if you’re between sizes, it’s better to go up a size than down. While size ranges vary from brand to brand, the following are general guidelines:
Size 4/XS: Fits hips from 34 to 35 inches; size 2 to 4 in women’s pants
Size 5/S: Fits hips from 36 to 37 inches; size 4 to 6
Size 6/M: Fits hips from 38 to 39 inches; size 8 to 10
Size 7/L: Fits hips from 40 to 41 inches; size 12 to 14
Size 8/XL: Fits hips from 42 to 43 inches; size 14 to 16
Size 9/2XL: Fits hips from 44 to 45 inches; size 16 to 18
Size 10/3XL: Fits hips from 46 to 47 inches; size 18 to 20
FAQ
Q. How do I wash my women’s briefs?
A. Unless otherwise specified on the package or tag, just about all women’s briefs, whether made from cotton, synthetic, or plant-based material, can be washed in warm water in the washing machine and dried on a medium or high setting in the dryer. As a general rule, you should wash your underwear after each time you wear it.
Q. Is it better to buy a pack of briefs or purchase them separately?
A. It’s typically more economical and more efficient to purchase a pack of briefs rather than buy them individually, and many brands only offer this option. However, if you’re choosing designer briefs, shapewear briefs, or briefs designed to match a specific bra, you’ll probably need to purchase them individually.
Q. Do women’s briefs work with all clothing styles?
A. Briefs are the ultimate in everyday underwear. Comfortable enough to forget about, they are the perfect choice beneath most bottoms. However, if you’re wearing low-cut pants, it’s best to go with hipster or other correspondingly low-cut women’s briefs to avoid a waistband peeking out of your pants.
