The Best Underwear for Every Body Type: A Complete Guide

Key Takeaways

• Underwear styles differ in two ways that matter for fit: rise, or where the waistband sits, and coverage, or how much fabric covers your back.
• Match the cut to your curves, like high-rise briefs if you're an apple shape or a wider leg opening if you're a pear.
• Your size comes from your hip measurement, and since a too-small size causes most rolling and digging, use Thirdlove's XS-3X range to size right.
• For a smooth look under clothes, choose seamless or laser-cut styles with no thick elastic or raised stitching at the edges.
• Pick fabric for your specific need, like 4-way stretch if fit frustrates you or TempSync™ or cotton if you run warm.

Finding the best underwear for your body type comes down to fit. If your waistband rolls down, your leg bands dig in, or your underwear rides up by lunch, the style probably isn't matched to your shape.

This guide to the best underwear for body type covers the main underwear styles, how to read your shape, and which cuts suit you. You'll also get a fit troubleshooter, fabric tips, and a plan for building a drawer you'll actually wear.

What Are the Main Types of Women's Underwear?

The main types of underwear for women are briefs, hipsters, cheekies, bikinis, thongs, and boyshorts. They differ in two ways that matter most for fit: rise, or where the waistband sits, and coverage, or how much fabric covers your back.

Briefs and High-Waisted Briefs

Briefs have the highest rise and the most coverage of any style. A classic brief sits at or just below your natural waist, while high-waisted briefs sit at or above it. Thirdlove's high briefs offer full coverage with 100% cotton gussets.

Hipsters and Cheeky Styles

Hipster underwear sits on your hips, a little below your belly button, with mid to full coverage. Cheeky styles share a similar rise but cut higher on the back for less coverage. Both have a wider side panel, which spreads pressure across your hips.

Bikinis

Bikini underwear is mid-rise with moderate coverage. The sides are narrower than a hipster's, and the leg opening is cut higher. It's a versatile everyday pick if you want less fabric without going all the way to a thong.

Thongs

Thongs offer minimal coverage and no panty lines. T-strings sit low, while high-waisted thongs sit near your natural waist. A higher rise gives you a steadier waistband with the same smooth back.

Boyshorts

Boyshort underwear has a short leg that extends down onto your upper thigh, with full back coverage. The rise is usually low to mid. It adds a straight, horizontal line across your hips, which changes how your silhouette reads.

How Do I Figure Out My Body Type?

You can figure out your body type by comparing the width of your shoulders and hips and noticing how defined your waist is. Stand in front of a mirror in fitted clothing, or use a soft tape measure for your shoulders, waist, and hips.

Here's how the five common body shapes break down, and they'll guide which underwear shapes you reach for:

• Apple: Your midsection is fuller, with less waist definition and slimmer legs.
• Pear: Your hips are wider than your shoulders, often with fuller thighs.
• Hourglass: Your shoulders and hips are about even, with a clearly defined waist.
• Rectangle: Your shoulders, waist, and hips are close in width, with a straighter silhouette.
• Inverted triangle: Your shoulders are broader than your hips.

Your shape guides the style, but your size comes from one number. Measure around the widest part of your hips, keeping the tape level and snug but not tight. Thirdlove underwear comes in sizes XS-3X, so you can match that measurement to the size chart.

What Is the Best Underwear for Each Body Type?

The best underwear for each body type is the style whose rise and leg cut match where you carry your curves. Use this table as a quick starting point, then read the details for your shape below.

Apple Shape

If you're an apple shape, reach for high-rise briefs or high-waisted styles. The waistband sits above the softest part of your tummy, so it stays flat and in place. A higher leg cut keeps the look balanced and gives your legs room to move.

Pear Shape

Pear shapes do well in high-rise briefs or hipsters with a wider leg opening. That extra room means the leg band won't dig into your hips and thighs. Be careful with snug boyshorts, since the short leg can squeeze your thighs and ride up as you walk.

Hourglass Shape

For an hourglass shape, try hipsters, high-waisted briefs, and high-waisted thongs. Full hips can make low-back-coverage styles creep, so either commit to more coverage or go fully minimal with a high rise. The higher waistband also follows your defined waist without sliding.

Rectangle Shape

Rectangle shapes have the most flexibility, and bikinis, cheekies, and hipsters are easy wins. These styles have a lower rise and less fabric, which suits a straighter frame. A cheeky cut can also add a little shape through the back.

Inverted Triangle Shape

If you have an inverted triangle shape, boyshorts, bikinis, and cheekies add shape at the hips. The horizontal line of a boyshort draws the eye across your lower half. Bikinis and cheekies do something similar with a higher leg cut that emphasizes your hip curve.

What Underwear Works Best for Curvy and Plus-Size Bodies?

The best underwear for plus size women and curvy bodies combines a higher rise, a wide waistband, and stretch that moves with you. Curves need fabric that flexes in every direction, so it can follow your shape comfortably.

When you're shopping for the best underwear for curvy women, check for these details:

• Wide, flat waistband: It distributes pressure evenly, so it's less likely to roll or leave a mark.
• 4-way stretch: Thirdlove's ComfortStretch fabric stretches to fit your body and never stretches out.
• Wedgie-proof back: ComfortStretch is wedgie-proof, which helps when full hips pull fabric inward.
• Anti-chafe option: ComfortStretch Smoothing Anti-Chafe Shorts give your inner thighs a smooth barrier under dresses and skirts.

Size matters as much as style here. Measure your hips every time you shop, since a size that's too small causes most rolling and digging. With sizes XS-3X, you can pick the size that fits today.

What Underwear Makes You Look Smoother Under Clothes?

Seamless, laser-cut, and no-show underwear makes you look smoother under clothes because it has no thick elastic or raised stitching at the edges. Those edges are what press into your skin and show through fitted fabric.

If you want no panty lines, these are the options to know:

• Laser-cut edges: Thirdlove's Zero Edge™ No-Show Thong, Invisible Hipster, and Invisible Cheeky have no elastic or stiff stitching, so they never dig.
• Stitch-free knits: Seamless Stretch Cotton comes in a hipster, thong, and boyshort, and it lies smooth under clothes.
• Soft seamless cotton: Seamless Cloud Cotton gives you the same stitch-free finish in a cotton feel.
• Flat-lying stretch: ComfortStretch lays flat with no elastic or bulky stitches, which keeps lines minimal in a bikini or brief.

Coverage and smoothness can go together. The Zero Edge™ Invisible Hipster pairs hipster coverage with a laser-cut edge. You don't need a thong to get a smooth line.

Why Does My Underwear Roll Down, Ride Up, or Dig In?

Your underwear rolls down, rides up, or digs in because the rise, size, stretch, or edge doesn't match your body. Each issue points to a specific fix, so start with the symptom you notice most.

• Rolling down: The rise is too low for your shape, or the size is too small. Try a high-rise style or size up.
• Riding up: The fabric lacks stretch, or there's too little back coverage for full hips. Choose a 4-way stretch fabric or more coverage.
• Digging in: The leg band is too tight. Size up or choose a flat, laser-cut edge.
• Long torso: Low and mid rises can sit too low on you. Choose high-rise styles so the waistband lands where it should.

If you've tried two styles and the same issue keeps showing up, remeasure your hips. Bodies change, and your size can shift with them.

Which Underwear Fabric Is Best for Your Body?

The best underwear fabric for your body depends on whether you prioritize breathability, stretch, temperature control, or a smooth finish. Each Thirdlove fabric solves a different everyday need.

• 24/7® Classic: A nylon/spandex blend with a lightweight, cool-touch microfiber feel, in hipster, brief, high waist thong, and T-string thong.
• ComfortStretch: A unique 4-way stretch fabric that fits your body and never stretches out, in bikini, brief, thong, and anti-chafe shorts.
• Organic Cloud Cotton: A premium organic cotton blend with stretch that's naturally soft and breathable, in brief, hipster, and thong.
• TempSync™: Made with 37.5® Tech fabric infused with natural minerals to actively balance body temperature, in hipster, brief, and thong.
• All Day Lace: Over 50% recycled content with a breathable 100% cotton gusset, in thong and bikini.

If you run warm, TempSync™ or cotton are good places to start. If fit is your main frustration, stretch fabrics adapt to your shape better than rigid ones.

How Do You Build an Underwear Drawer That Fits Your Body?

You build an underwear drawer that fits your body by pairing your shape and hip measurement with a few styles for different outfits and days. Start with your everyday style, then add pieces for specific clothes.

• Everyday core: Stock up on the rise and cut that works for your shape, such as briefs or hipsters.
• Smooth layer: Add seamless underwear or laser-cut styles for leggings, knit dresses, and tailored pants.
• Comfort picks: Keep cotton underwear or high-waisted underwear for sleep, travel, and lazy weekends.
• Something special: Mix in lace underwear or thongs for when you want a different feel.

The best underwear for women is the pair you forget you're wearing. If you're still unsure where to begin, Take the Fit Quiz and start with the styles it suggests for you.