The Very Best Women’s Underwear

Sizes: XS/S–L/XL| Cut: Bikini, lower rise, seamless edges | Material: Cotton, elastane | Price: $$$

Behind the scenes, I considered just shy of 60 pairs when I started making this list. Commando, famous for a right-there-in-the-name, gone-commando fit, was the brand I heard about most in my reporting. “If you’ve ever wondered what the stars on the red carpet were wearing underneath those sheer, unforgiving gowns, the answer is almost certainly a pair of Commandos,” explains costume designer Alison Freer. That said, these don’t come in the widest size range. And I know, I know: $36 makes for a pricey panty. But now that I’ve been wearing a number of pairs from the underwear-maker over the past year, I can say that, across the board, they are all ultrasmoothing and supercomfortable. I usually wear some sort of Commando undie almost every other day now, and I think they are worth the splurge. The brand’s Cotton Bikini is a standout, with seamless edges and a not-too-cheeky cut. It doesn’t cause any panty lines, lays flat, and stays put. And it’s made from a combination of Italian cotton and elastane, so it has a very stretchy fit that doesn’t ever sag — even after countless trips through the wash. The only drawbacks are that the size range tops out at L/XL and that it only comes in neutral colors.

Sizes: XXS–4X | Cut: Tanga with higher-cut leg | Material: Cotton, elastane | Price: $$

Like Commando’s Cotton Brief, the Cotton Jersey Cheeky Tanga from Skims provides a good amount of coverage, with a more back-baring cut that doesn’t create a panty line, according to Strategist associate editor Jenna Milliner-Waddell. The tanga cut falls between a brief and thong: “The rise in the front comes about to right under my belly button,” Milliner-Waddell says, “without feeling like I’m in granny panties.” There’s no riding up — or rolling down, either. The style also comes in more sizes (XXS to 4X) and colors than our top pick. But I’ve ranked the Skims a bit lower than the very high-quality Commandos because Milliner-Waddell noticed that her pair seemed to get thinner on the first wash — something she’s paying close attention to with more time. You can get one pair for $20 or three pairs for $36 (exactly what the best-overall Commandos cost at full price).

Sizes: XS–4XL | Cut: Brief with a slightly high rise | Material: Cotton | Price: $

If you’re looking for a granny panty that’s really embracing, the Jockey Elance might be right for you. “You don’t wear these undergarments — they wear you. More exactly, they swaddle you. They’re the underwear equivalent of a hot water bottle or curling up with a puppy,” writes former Strategist senior editor Margaret Rhodes. The full-coverage, 100 percent cotton briefs have a tighty-whiteys vibe, and Rhodes especially appreciates their cotton-covered waistband: “Other high-waisted, ‘borrowed-from-the-boys’ briefs don’t do this, leaving you instead with direct skin-to-stretch-polyester contact,” she reasons. According to Rhodes, they’re the opposite of the sexier offerings on the market and “could be the least risqué panties you ever own,” which is exactly what makes them great.

Joanna Goddard, creator of Cup of Jo and the newsletter Big Salad, is also a fan of Jockey Elance underwear, though she prefers the string-bikini style. “They’re called string bikinis, but they’re like briefs,” she says. “Really good fit. I discovered them on Laurel Pantin’s Substack. She had recommended them, which surprised me because she has such particular and exquisite taste, and she was like, ‘Jockey underwear!’ I ordered a three-pack, and once they came, I loved them and ordered a bunch more.”

Sizes: XS–XL | Cut: Bikini, low-rise with dipped waistband | Material: Modal, elastane | Price: $$

Free People’s in-house intimates line, Intimately, tends to be either super-sporty or effervescently frilly, but this bikini is a good in-between. It’s impossibly soft, made from a modal that’s light against the skin. Even with the seams and trimmings, plus a cheekier cut, there are no unseemly lines to be seen. (I even wore them underneath a sheathlike dress to be sure.) The low-rise, dipped waistband — sitting on my hip bone — keeps the underwear from peeking out of my jeans. The cut is lower than Commando’s, which I thought I would be uncomfortable with at first, but the underwear is still supportive enough with fuller coverage so that nothing’s hanging out. And I have been surprised at how well the briefs have held their shape, with no frayed edges, after once-a-week washes and close to a year’s worth of wear. For $16, that’s impressive. Even better: Free People has three-for-$30 and five-for-$45 deals to bring down the price per pair.

Sizes: XS–3XL | Cut: Boyshort, high-rise | Material: Recycled fabric, cotton lining | Price: $

For a plus-size-specific pair, it was impossible to ignore the power of this hipster. Shanel Esaloo, buyer at luxury plus-size label 11 Honoré, has only two pairs of underwear that she “would literally scream off of the rooftops for people to buy” in multiples: Negative Underwear’s briefs and these classic Calvin Kleins. She wears a pair of the Calvins almost every day — they’re just that comfortable, with a thick, logo’d waistband that offers some midsection support.

Sizes: XXS–XXL | Cut: Brief-boyshort, mid-rise | Material: Nylon, elastane | Price: $

Aerie’s underwear is much loved among Strategist staffers. Because Aerie has a “seven for $30” deal, you can usually buy all its styles in bulk for cheap. Its Boybrief, a cross between a brief and a boyshort, caught my eye. Although this style is available in only two colors (a nude called “sand” and black), Lauren Chan, founder of plus-size womenswear company Henning, owns about 20 of them. In addition to being soft and lightweight, they have a mid-rise, low-cut leg opening, and full bum coverage that Chan considers to be the perfect silhouette — one that’s not always easy to find with the high-rise, high-cut legs popular these days. These come in a colorful crossover version that Strategist writer Brenley Goertzen likes for its ultra-flattering waistband. The “airy” pair also served Goertzen well during a bachelorette trip to Vegas when she wore them beneath a mesh dress that was a “tad see-through.” Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio owns several pairs, liking their minimal appearance. “I’m extremely averse to logos on my underwear,” she says.

Sizes: XS–XXL (equivalent to 0–18) | Cut: Thong, mid-rise | Material: Mesh, spandex | Price: $$

Thongs are probably the most polarizing panty. Originally I awarded the “best thong” medal to Hanky Panky, but now I stand by Tommy John holding the title instead. I especially appreciate that this thong comes in a range of sizes — and is offered in a three-for-$54 set — in contrast to Hanky Panky’s one size-fits-all approach. (Strategist editor Maxine Builder, an avowed fan, advises checking this more thorough size guide rather than the one on the product page to make sure you get the best fit.) The phrase comfortable thong has historically been an oxymoron in my mind, but for the sake of due diligence in my research for this guide, I tested out Tommy John’s Air thong after Builder evangelized it. (Builder credits the material — “the lightest, softest mesh you’ve ever touched” that also happens to be “no show whatsoever.”) There’s decent coverage to the pair — about the same in the front as I would expect from a bikini. The back of the thong doesn’t dig in, which is usually my biggest complaint with thongs. I would warn you to cut off the branded tag in the back, because it rubbed against my behind annoyingly.

Sizes: XS–3X | Cut: Thong, dipped waistband | Material: Lycra, elastane, spandex with cotton gusset | Price: $$

For truly undetectable underwear, ballerina Erica Lall relies on the Under Statements Thong from Spanx. She tends to skip underwear when she’s dancing, so when she does wear a pair, they have to have a similar invisible feel — these do just that with no VPL. “A lot of seamless underwear isn’t actually seamless, but this is,” she says, even going so far as to call the thong the softest she’s ever put on. (Spanx offers three for $48, if you’re hoping to stock up and save a few bucks.)

Sizes: XS/S–L/XL | Cut: Boyshort, high-rise, raw-cut edges | Material: Microfiber (nylon, elastane) | Price: $$$

Because boyshorts have been hit-or-miss for me, I didn’t think I would like Commando’s Classic Boyshort as much as I do. But these are made of a paper-thin microfiber, and I can barely feel them, let alone see any VPL — even underneath a tight pair of pants. I feel like the boyshort really contours around my curves instead of digging into them. The edges, which don’t have any elastic, also have a smoothing effect. These make for a really reliable pair of underwear that you can wear underneath anything. This versatility slightly softens the $30 price tag.

Sizes: XS–5XL | Cut: Cheeky with paneled front and double-layer mesh back | Material: Recycled fabric | Price: $

Although the Feels Like Nothing Cheeky from Parade is cheek-baring, it offers some modesty because of the double layer of mesh in the back. I like the super-stretchy waistband and breathable mesh paneling — the combination holds me in without making me feel constricted. These feature a lower rise, though you can pull the sides up higher around your hips for an even cheekier backside. The waistband will stay up. Parade also offers them in bulk at five or $30.

Sizes: XXS–XXL | Cut: Brief cut cheekier, mid-rise | Material: Cotton pointelle | Price: $$$

Intimates line Cou Cou makes a knicker inspired by French lingerie — it’s sewn from bespoke pointelle, edged with a little lace, and topped with a ribboned bow. The pair is frillier than a standard brief. I think they’re great if you want something that looks knickerlike but without too much bulk. Since these are slightly fancier, they’re like a pick-me-up when I want an underthing that’s not as unassuming. (Note that you can see their outline when wearing closer-fitting clothes.) These are reminiscent of traditional briefs, but they sit right at the hipbone and they don’t have as cheeky of a cut in the back. The cotton is breathable, especially thanks to the eyelets in the pointelle fabric. You can get them in a thong too, or a tanga (which is closer to a G-string).

Sizes: XS–XL | Cut: Bikini, French cut | Material: Cotton | Price: $

For decades, Baywatch nostalgia from her formative years has led novelist Molly Prentiss on a quest for underwear with the same “vulgar V shape of those exaggerated high-cut suits.” Online window shopping has only led to disappointment — the Mishas from Arq have “substantial seams” that interfere with the look she’s going for, and high-rises from Pansy aren’t high enough for her taste. But a “midnight off-market marketplace deep dive” led her to Elsy Marie on Etsy. Prentiss says that she “hit the intimates jackpot” with this high-cut pair, which have a triangle shape well-suited “when slung above a curvy pair of hips,” are made from sustainably sourced cotton, and cost less than $15. She adds, “It was just the jolie laide my private parts needed, and I’ve ordered multiple times since. The rest of my underwear have begun to depress me in comparison.”

Sizes: S–XXL | Cut: Brief, high-rise | Material: Tencel lyocell, elastane | Price: $$$

Montinique Dever, founder of Riot Swim, wore Boob’s briefs all throughout her pregnancy, but even after giving birth, she still reaches for these. They were designed with postpartum bellies in mind and have a double-layered front to provide more support (especially for those recovering from a C-section). The panties are made without any seams to dig into your skin, a feature Dever says she’s especially grateful for.