The Best Underwear in Our Drawers

The Cut editors have spoken.

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Ask a bunch of people to recommend what they consider to be the best underwear for women, and you’ll get a bunch of different answers. Everyone has an opinion on their faves, and it usually depends on body type and personal preference — one person’s “most comfortable thong ever” is another person’s torture device.

What makes a good pair of underwear?

“The most important thing when it comes to underwear is always comfort; you’ll have your underwear on all day, and the fabric should be soft, breathable, and stretchy enough to move with your body,” explains Chine Leclere, head of operations at Gooseberry.

Besides comfort and wedgie-free wear, a good pair of underwear feels like you’re wearing nothing at all. Gush founder Hannah Richtman prefers moisture-wicking fabrics for comfortable wear all day. If that’s not for you, organic cotton or cotton in general is always a safe and breathable bet.

Lastly, it comes down to style. Do you want the full coverage of briefs and boy shorts, a cheeky bikini, or a high-rise thong?

Below, we’ve done most of the work for you, rounding up the brands that are in the Cut editors’ drawers.

The Best Thongs

Best Cotton Thong

Skims Cotton Jersey Dipped Thong

Size: XXS–4XL | Material: 75 percent polyamide, 25 percent elastane, 100 percent cotton gusset

“Not to be dramatic, but I have never in my life owned a pair of underwear as good as Skims’ Fits Everybody dipped front thong. From the way they sit on my hips to the barely-there material that is made with magical technology that Kim Kardashian refuses to spill tea on (rightfully so), they go under my favorite dresses and hold me down during my workouts. I used to think thongs were just overrated strings going up my butt until Skims. I’m forever indebted to these underwear and Joanna Nikas, our deputy style editor, also seconds this ode to Skims underwear.” —Asia Milia Ware, beauty and fashion writer

$18 at Nordstrom

$18 at Skims

Best Lacy Set

Hanky Panky Low Rise Cotton Thong (Pack of 3)

Size: One Size | Material: Cotton

“I have aged out of the Pink five for $25 sale. Hanky Panky thongs are my go-to underwear now. They don’t dig into places they shouldn’t and are made with Supima cotton, which I love.” —Danya Issawi, fashion writer

$72 at Amazon

$72 at Shopbop

$66 at Zappos

Best Barely There Thong

Commando High Rise Thong

Size: S/M–M/L | Material: 78 percent nylon, 22 percent spandex

“Simple and seamless: two of the reasons why I love my Commando thongs. They are incredibly reliable, whether it’s to wear with leggings or under my everyday clothes. Ten out of ten.” —Bianca Nieves, senior shopping editor

$24 at Amazon

$24 at Bloomingdale's

$24 at Saks Fifth Avenue

Best Silky Thong

Negative Underwear Silky Thong

Size: XS–XXL | Material: 75 percent polyamide, 25 percent elastane, and 100 percent cotton gusset lining

Harper loves this barely-there thong that’s made of a stretchy nylon blend and cotton gusset lining because you get a comfortable fit sans panty lines.

$30 at Negative Underwear

Best Deep-V Thong

Gush LBT

Size: XS–XL | Material: 90 percent recycled polyamide, 10 percent elastane, and 100 percent cotton gusset

“When we say you need to add some deep v’s to your drawer, we do not mean that of the mid-aughts menswear ilk. We mean the Little Black Thong from Hannah Richtman’s Gush, which is designed with a high waist and low cut for a universally flattering (and surprisingly comfortable) shape. At first, it can be a little intimidating. Is this a thong for ants? But no, it actually covers everything down there. I love my pair and I definitely feel confident when I wear mine.” —B.N.

Most Comfortable Thong

ThirdLove All Day Thong

Size: XS- 3X | Material: nylon and spandex blend, and 100 percent cotton gusset

“The best underwear are the ones that don’t feel like underwear at all, and this one from ThirdLove fits the bill. It’s so lightweight, seamless, and silky smooth, I forget I’m even wearing it. The fabric feels like butter and the seams never roll up, plus this thong features a stitch-free design so I never have to worry about panty lines.” —Hanna Flanagan, shopping editor

$16 at ThirdLove

Best Bikinis

Best Risqué Bikini

Savage x Fenty Mesh Crotchless High Leg Bikini

Size: XS–3X | Material: 80 percent nylon, 20 percent elastane

“This crotchless bikini is certainly not for the faint at heart, but may be perfect if you’re looking for something spicy. And, amazingly, reviewers say they’re comfortable enough to wear regularly. I wear mine when I’m running low on underwear. It takes a while to get used to, but overall they are comfortable.” —B.N.

$20 at Amazon

$20 at Savage x Fenty

Best Seamless Bikini

Nude Barre Seamless Bikini Panty

Size: S–XL | Material: 85 percent polyamide, 15 percent elastane, cotton-lined gusset

“This Black-owned brand is doing neutral and seamless underwear right. They’re available in 12 diverse shades, and the brand offers a number of virtual tools to achieve the most accurate match.” —B.N.

$24 at Nordstrom

$22 at Saks Fifth Avenue

$21 at Bloomingdale's

$26 at Nude Barre

The Best Hipsters

Most Flattering Hipsters

Calvin Klein Invisibles Hipster Briefs

Size: XS- XL | Material: 73 percent nylon and 27 percent elastane

“I love a multipack underwear set, and this one from Calvin Klein is always my go-to because they’re seamless and reasonably priced, and I can wear them under anything sheer or tight without concern. They’re also super lightweight and comfortable yet virtually invisible under clothing, which is why I’ve bought more than I can count.” —Lindsay Peoples, editor-in-chief

$35 at Amazon

$35 at Calvin Klein

$35 at Nordstrom

Best Leakproof Hipsters

Proof Leakproof Hipster Underwear

Size: XS–3XL | Material: outer shell is 75 percent nylon, 25 percent spandex, and gusset is 69 percent cotton, 25 percent polyester, and 6 percent acrylic

“You may not be able to tell from the looks of it, but these top-rated hipsters can absorb up to five (five!) tampons’ worth of liquid. They also have some odor-reducing properties to help you feel fresh throughout your period. I normally wear mine when my period is almost over and I don’t want to stain my other underwear faves.” —B.N.

$43 at Amazon

$43 at Nordstrom

$43 at Proof

Best Mesh Hipsters

Parade High Rise Cheeky

Size: XS–3XL | Material: Recycled fibers

“When it comes to Parade underwear, I swear by the Seamless Universal collection (more on that below). However, a close friend kept raving about the mesh underwear and I’m glad I tried them out. You do have to size down since they run a bit larger, but once you find the right size for you, they’re the right amount of sexy and comfortable.” —B.N.

$16 at Parade

The Best Briefs

Best High-Waisted

Cuup The Highwaist

Size: XS–3XL | Material: 88 percent modal, 12 percent elastane with a 95 percent bamboo and 5 percent gusset

“Cuup gets all the love when it comes to its bras (and swim!), but I’m here to let you know that its underwear deserves all the hype, too. This cut from Cuup hugs your curves in all the right ways and is incredibly soft.” —B.N.

$20 at Cuup

Best Silk Briefs

Gooseberry Intimates Manhattan Briefs

Size: XS–L | Material: 100 percent silk side split with lightweight tulle

One of Leclere’s favorites is this fancier pair made of 100 percent silk.

$45 at Gooseberry Intimates

Best Mom-Approved Briefs

Negative Underwear Silk Brief

Size: XS–XXL | Material: 75 percent polyamide, 25 percent elastane, and 100 percent cotton gusset

While these aren’t exactly maternity underwear, these are the briefs mom-to-be and Harper the Label founder Claire Harper hasn’t ditched during her pregnancy. The smooth and stretchy briefs are made of nylon and spandex with a cotton gusset lining, and you can wear them comfortably even when you aren’t expecting.

$35 at Negative Underwear

Best Seamless Briefs

Wacoal High Cut Briefs

Size: S–XXL | Material: nylon/spandex and cotton blend

“They don’t show underwear lines at all,” says one fan. And the high-waisted cut provides coverage without feeling too grandma-esque.

$14 at Amazon

$16 at Nordstrom

Best Lounging Briefs

Richer Poorer Cotton Modal Boxer Brief

Size: XS–XL | Material: 48 percent modal, 48 percent cotton, and 4 percent spandex.

“There’s nothing better than just lounging around in some extremely comfortable boxer briefs. While you do need to size up to get the perfect fit with this option from Richer Poorer, they are well worth it. I wear mine as pajamas.” —B.N.

$28 at RicherPoorer

$28 at Verishop

Best Formfitting Briefs

Spanx Fit-to-You Pima Cotton Brief 3-Pack

Size: One Size and One Size Plus | Material: 300 percent stretch fabric with LYCRA® ADAPTIV fiber and puma cotton gusset

When you don’t want shapewear but still want some extra support, these briefs from Spandex have you covered. For less than $50, you get three pairs that will go with all your closet and won’t show any visible panty lines when you wear them.

$48 at Spanx

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