A Brief Guide To Women’s Underwear Styles

Women’s underwear comes in many different styles. These styles come with all kinds of fancy names and can sometimes be difficult to tell apart. To help you distinguish more easily between different styles, here is a brief guide to some of the different types of panties. 

Briefs

Briefs are the most popular form of women’s underwear and typically offer the most coverage. They are designed for everyday wear and their waistband sits naturally on the waist to provide comfort. Some high waistline briefs cover the entire tummy and may have slimming qualities, but may not be as suitable for everyday use as the constant compression could cause stomach discomfort. 

Hipster

Hipsters are like briefs but they have a lower waistline that sits on the hips (hence the name ‘hip’-sters). These underwear are great for wearing with low-rise jeans and low-rise skirts if you don’t want your underwear poking over the top. The waistband is typically elasticated to encourage it to stay in place. This can make hipsters a comfortable option, but some women with less prominent hips may find that they slip. 

Boyshorts

Boyshorts are modeled off of men’s boxers – they are designed to look more like shorts, offering more coverage and comfort. While they may be called ‘boy’-shorts, they are designed for women and have a curvier figure-hugging look. The likes of this Natori boyshorts collections shows some of the different styles of boyshorts. As you can see, the amount of leg coverage and waistband height can differ and some are close in design to briefs. Different styles may suit certain body types better. 

Bikini

Bikinis were popularized in the 50s and have been in style ever since. The bikini is a type of swimwear consisting of a bikini top and bottoms. However, you can buy bikini-style underwear that is not designed for swimming. This type of underwear is often low-waisted and offers slightly less cheek coverage than briefs or hipsters. Modern bikini underwear is very comfortable and can be worn as everyday underwear. 

Thong

Thongs offer less cheek coverage than bikini underwear. They are designed to have a sexier look and may require more bravery from some women to wear. Thongs can vary in style when it comes to the height of the waistband. Low-waisted thongs typically sit on the hips, while high-waisted thongs sit on the waist – sometimes with a thick waistband that extends over the tummy. Many people may find this underwear uncomfortable to wear every day, however some styles are more comfortable than others.

G-string

G-strings are the most daring style of underwear. They offer even less coverage than thongs, allowing the entire cheeks to show. Their skimpiness can have benefits such as ensuring that underwear isn’t visible through tight clothing. As with thongs, the waistband of G-strings can vary in height with some designed to sit low while others are designed to sit high. G-strings are generally not considered an everyday form of underwear and can cause uncomfortable chafing for some people. It is important to find a g-string suitable for your shape.