Panties

Cuts and How Much They Cover

The names describe rear coverage, and that is the whole difference. A full brief covers completely. A bikini cut reduces coverage at the side and back. A hipster keeps the coverage but drops the waistband. A thong removes the rear panel entirely, which is why it is chosen for what it does under clothing rather than for comfort. Coverage and support are separate things: a fuller cut is not automatically more supportive, since that comes from the elastic and the fabric rather than from fabric area. Leg opening finish matters as much as the cut, because a bound edge presses less than a stitched hem on a close fit.

Rise and Where the Waistband Lands

Rise is measured from the crotch seam to the waistband, and it is the number most responsible for a pair feeling wrong in the right size. A high rise sits at or above the natural waist and stays put under high waisted pants. A mid rise sits below it. A low rise sits on the hip, where it can roll if the elastic is not firm. A waistband that rolls is almost always a rise problem rather than a size problem, and going up a size usually makes it worse. Torso length varies far more between people than hip measurement does, which is why rise is worth checking on every new style.

When to Replace Rather than Keep Wearing

Underwear fails at the elastic long before the fabric wears through, which is why a pair can look fine and fit badly. Once a waistband no longer returns to its original length after stretching, the pair is finished regardless of how the fabric looks. Heat is what kills elastic, so a hot wash or a dryer shortens the life of a pair considerably. Washing in a mesh bag prevents the hooks and zips of other garments catching fine fabrics, which is the other common cause of early failure.

For nursing, postpartum and support pieces sized for a changing body, the range sits in Maternity & Nursing, and the wider underwear range including seamless construction is in Lingerie.