Women’s underwear has changed from a modest pantaloon worn by both men and women way back in the day to the narrow cut backs of today’s thongs, g-strings and brazilian cut underwear (also worn by both men and women). With so many cultures intertwining and new perspectives on fashion and comfort we have a wide array of options when it comes to our undergarments for bras and underwear alike. I think many women would agree that the bikini is a great everyday cut but have a variety of options available for any occasion whether that be a date night or a sophisticated evening out. Let’s dive into what our underwear options are and what to best wear them with!
Glossary of Women’s Underwear:
- Classic Bikini
- String Bikinis – including G, T, C strings
- Cheeky
- Thong
- Tanga
- Brazilian
- Hipster
- Boyshort
- Maxi
- Control Brief
- High-Waist Brief
- Pantaloon
Bikini
Bikini underwear is like a modified brief. It has less coverage but enough to make you feel comfortable. It has a lower waistline usually a few inches below the belly button and a higher cut for the leg opening. Bikini underwear is very common. It is modest but fashionable and is a commonly used cut for swimwear.
Many women prefer this style of underwear. It is cute, functional and comfortable for all ages and it works for almost any type of clothing especially everyday wear. You will probably find you have the most retail options for this style and there are so many great sewing patterns available too!
String Bikinis
What’s up with all these string variations? Is there really a true difference? I wasn’t sure until I wrote up this post so let’s explore.
G-String & T-String
This style of underwear has no coverage whatsoever. They consist of a string wrapping around the waistline from the covered front of the underwear. This string attaches to a string in the back that goes through the buttocks hence no coverage. The g-string and the t-string are very similar. The main difference is that the g-string has a little bit more fabric where the waist string and the rear string meet. This creates a triangle shaped fabric at the top of the buttocks. The t-string does not have this triangular piece of fabric rather the two strings (waistband string and rear string) intersect.
G-strings and t-strings are meant to be worn when you do not want the appearance of any pantyline whatsoever. Tight-fitting clothing such as a bodycon dress, pencil skirt or very form fitting lightweight pants or shorts would probably be the reason you would want to wear this style of underwear.
This style of underwear is not necessarily worn for comfort unless you have gotten used to the fit rather it is more to compliment certain types of form-fitting fashions for a seamless look.
C-String
The C-string is a whole other story. It is essentially an underwear with no waistband. It has coverage in the front then wraps up through the buttocks. Not sure how this one works but this is also not worn out of comfort rather it is worn to accommodate a certain fashion that requires no underwear string or waistband to be showing.
Cheeky
Cheeky underwear are less modest than a bikini underwear cut and are true to their namesake. They show a little more cheek but not nearly as much as a thong or g-string. They sit low on the waistline but have a lower cut leg opening and more side coverage than a bikini. If you want to try something just a bit more sexy than a classic bikini this is a great option.
Thong
Thong underwear is a no-show style of underwear used under some of your most form-fitting clothing. It has the same frontal coverage as a bikini and more back and side coverage than a g-string or t-string. It still leaves the majority of your rear exposed with a thicker waistband leading to a thin strip of fabric that goes down your behind. There are several styles of thongs including high-cut leg opening, low-riding waistlines and differing widths on the back “thong” piece. This type of underwear is favorite for women if they are wearing form-fitting clothing such as bodycon dresses, tight slacks or a pencil skirt. There is also a great number of women who find this underwear very uncomfortable. If you absolutely detest showing any pantyline then this might be the underwear for you. Otherwise, if you don’t mind people knowing you’re wearing underwear then keep on doing what works for you!
Tanga
The tanga silhouette is a European style underwear that is more modest than a thong or a g-string while still being more revealing than a bikini or cheeky style panty. The frontal coverage is similar to a bikini style underwear. This style of underwear can be low rise or mid rise with wider side coverage. The back coverage is the main difference between this underwear and a regular thong underwear. Tangas have a triangular piece of fabric in the back that is wider than a thong or g-string but narrower than a bikini or cheeky underwear. Tanga underwear is a great midpoint between a very revealing thong and a more modest bikini. This style of underwear is also gaining popularity as a bikini bottom.
Brazilian
The Brazilian cut underwear gained its namesake from the beaches of Brazil where culturally it is acceptable and encouraged to bare more cheek. The Brazilian cut is popular in Europe and South America but is gaining popularity in the United States where it is becoming trendier and more acceptable to show more of your buttocks.
The Brazilian cut bikini underwear is more modest than a thong or a g-string but has more coverage than a tanga, cheeky or classic bikini. It is a narrow cut style with a high waistline which create a narrow side coverage and the appearance of longer legs. The front of the Brazilian bikini has the same coverage as your standard bikini but the side still appears narrow from the front and is worn high on the waist adding to the appearance of longer legs for the front as well. This is a sexy style that is more popular as a swimsuit than an everyday underwear.
The Brazilian cut bikini underwear comes in a few different styles with the same narrow back coverage. Some of these styles include the Brazilian boyshort which is a combination of a boyshort style in the front and a wide-cut thong style in the back and the Brazilian brief which is a higher waisted brief with full coverage in the front and a wide-cut thong style in the back.
Due to the wider back coverage than a thong this underwear is not ideal if you do not want to show a seamline. The back coverage is often decorative which can be easily seen through a thin pair of pants or the fabric can easily bunch up as you are walking. This can either be unflattering or just uncomfortable.
(It should be noted that a tanga and Brazilian cut can sometimes mean the same style of underwear depending on the manufacturer or personal opinion.)
Hipster
The hipster style underwear takes elements of the bikini cut, boyshort cut and brief cut underwear. They are a low rise style worn around the hip hence the name hipster making them a great underwear for lower rise pants. They also have modest back coverage but can be designed with less coverage giving the appearance of cheeky style underwear or even the Brazilian cut.
Hipster underwear are popular because they are worn below the waistline at the hip giving a more seamless appearance underneath clothing such a tight or thin pants with a lower rise. This gives way to a more flattering appearance that many women desire in their undergarments.
Hipster cut underwear is modern, functional and stylish. Women gravitate towards this style for its sporty yet comfortable appearance and for its seamless qualities.
Boyshorts
Boyshorts derived from men’s brief style. They are a full coverage underwear that are comfortable for everyday wear. This style of underwear has full frontal coverage that extends to the top of the thigh and wraps around the hip with a wide band of fabric covering the whole buttocks and some of the upper thigh.
This type of underwear is modest yet fashionable and can be enjoyed by all age groups. Despite the namesake and inspiration of this style, boyshorts have been designed to be very feminine and to fit the female figure comfortably. You will often find this style with feminine details such as lace, ribbon or bows. Boyshorts still maintain a sexiness factor despite being full coverage. Even though the are underwear they are often used as loungewear when matched with a light camisole during the summer months or pajamas.
When purchasing boyshorts be sure to consider the overall size of your underwear. Remember this underwear wraps around your thighs and depending on your size this may make the fabric in this area too loose or too tight which can be unflattering under some clingier clothing.
Briefs
Briefs are an everyday classic underwear. This underwear is typically worn close to the waistline, has full back and front coverage and wide side coverage. This type of underwear is typically worn for comfort. It is often referred to as “granny panties” although a trend in full coverage underwear is making a comeback as these are flattering on full figured women which is has become a desirable body type.
There are several briefs styles, below we will explore three types:
Maxi
The maxi cut brief is a practical everyday underwear that fits like your basic brief. The maxi cut is full coverage from back to front with a mid-rise to high waist. The waistband and leg openings are usually made with thin elastic or seamless. This style is common in shapewear as it can shape the tummy and have seamless leg openings. This underwear fits a range of body types but is not ideal to use while wearing low-rise pants or thin clingy pants as your pantyline will show.
Control Briefs
Control briefs offer the same or similar cut to the maxi underwear style except they are more focused on shapewear. Their full coverage allows for a front compression panel to slim the appearance of the tummy while similar fabric compression is pushing up the buttocks in the back creating what some would consider a more seamless body shape and overall appearance. This style of underwear will typically have a seamless waistband and leg openings to contribute to the overall flawless appearance.
This style of underwear can be worn under anything and is ideal under special occasion outfits that are more structured. It is not ideal under low rise pants if accompanied with a short or midriff top. Ideally you will wear a similar rise underwear with a similar rise pant, short, or skirt.
High Waist Briefs
A traditional high waist brief does not necessarily shape the body similar to a control brief that functions as a foundation garment. This is more a general style of briefs. The high waist will typically reach over the belly button and may contribute to some tummy slimming. It will also have a full coverage back side and wide side coverage. This is a supportive garment that offers comfort, stability, function and ease to the wearer. You can call it a “granny panty” if you would like but this style of underwear has come back into fashion. It is often seen worn as a swimsuit bottom and is especially loved by new mamas who may have a bit extra skin around the midsection.
Pantaloons
For fun, let’s talk about pantaloons! Specifically bloomer pantaloons worn in the late 18002 and early 1900s. Historically, pantaloons were worn by both men and women as an undergarment. They were baggy, trouser like pants that could be knee-length, calf-length or ankle length. These were typically worn under dresses over uncomfortable petticoats. Bloomers were a bit controversial when they appeared as they were the first pant-like garment created for women when it was only acceptable for men to wear “pants”. Bloomers gained more acceptance for women as bicycle attire which was a large stride in women’s fashion due to activism for women’s dress reform.
Conclusion
We didn’t cover every single type of underwear in this article but we did cover the most widely used along with some that may be considered a bit risque all the way to the historical beginnings of a bifurcated underwear for women. Modern day has all sorts of functional underwear options for women of all shapes and sizes and to accommodate a variety of outfits. A great looking outfit always begins with a well-fitting foundation. Be sure to always buy what fits you well rather than the size listed. When you feel good and your underwear fits you well it can create a world of improvement to any outfit!
