UNDERWEAR, DECODED

What’s
my type?

There are seventeen names for a pair of underwear that mostly covers your butt. Let’s make the drawer make sense.

Find your cut

BRIEFSBIKINITHONGYOUR
BUTT.
YOUR
RULES.

The extremely unscientific finder

What’s bugging you?

Pick a priority. No body measurements, no “ideal” shape, no underwear police.

FULLER COVERAGE

Briefs

The dependable classic. Sits around the natural waist, with a full seat and leg opening.

Also called: full brief, classic brief, granny panty (affectionate or derogatory—your call).

Good for: everyday coverage, soft waistbands, lounging, and days when a wedgie is not on the agenda.
Watch for: a high leg opening can still ride up; “full coverage” varies wildly by brand.

MEDIUM COVERAGE

Bikini

Lower rise, higher leg, medium seat coverage. The category name is doing a lot of work.

Also called: classic bikini, hipster bikini (often wider at the sides).

Good for: a middle-ground cut and mid-rise jeans.
Watch for: “bikini” can mean anything from barely there to pretty full coverage on a product page. Check the actual back view.

MINIMAL SEAT

Thong

Narrow strip at the back, minimal seat coverage. Designed to reduce visible panty lines under fitted clothes.

Also called: string thong; G-string usually means an even narrower back.

Good for: leggings, fitted dresses, or when you simply like the feel.
Watch for: it is not automatically more comfortable or hygienic. Fit and fabric matter; skip it if it rubs or irritates you.

THIGH COVERAGE

Boyshorts

Shorts-shaped underwear with fabric extending over the upper thigh. Full seat, longer leg.

Also called: boyshort, shortie, cheeky short (usually shorter and less coverage).

Good for: sleeping, lounging, or avoiding a tight leg elastic at the crease.
Watch for: leg hems can roll or show under close-fitting pants; inseam length makes a difference.

WIDE SIDES

Hipsters

Lower on the hips, with a wider side panel and usually moderate-to-full seat coverage.

Also called: hip hugger, low-rise brief. Sometimes overlaps with bikini.

Good for: mid- or low-rise waistbands and wider side coverage.
Watch for: terminology overlaps with bikini and brief. Look at where the waistband sits and how much seat is covered.

SOME CHEEK

Cheeky

More seat coverage than a thong, less than a bikini or brief. The name is literal-ish.

Also called: cheekini, Brazilian cut (often—but not always—more cheek exposed).

Good for: a lower back line with some fabric still doing its job.
Watch for: “cheeky” is not standardized. Product photos are your friend.

ABSORBENT GUSSET

Period underwear

Underwear with absorbent layers built into the gusset. It comes in briefs, bikinis, shorts, and thongs.

Also called: menstrual underwear, period panties, leakproof underwear.

Good for: backup on lighter days, overnight styles, or pairing with another product if you want extra reassurance.
Watch for: absorbency and capacity differ by product. Read care instructions, change as directed, and use the protection that matches your flow. Not every pair replaces your usual period product.

SMOOTH EDGES

Seamless / laser-cut

A construction detail, not a cut. Seamless briefs, bikinis, and thongs are all a thing.

Also called: no-show, raw-edge, bonded-edge.

Good for: fewer raised seams under clothes.
Watch for: “no-show” is a marketing promise, not a force field. Fabric can still show, roll, or dig in if the fit is off.

A quick note: cut names are not standardized. Brand sizing, rise, fabric, and how much butt you want covered vary. The best style is the one you stop thinking about.

Quick fit reality check

If you’re adjusting it all day, it’s not “just you.”

Waistband rolling, leg openings digging in, fabric disappearing into places fabric should not be: try another size, rise, or cut. The size on the tag is a starting point, not a personality test.

Digging or red marks? Try a roomier size or softer/wider elastic.
Gapping at the waist? Try a different rise or a cut with narrower sides.
Wedgies on repeat? Try more seat coverage or a different leg opening.
Chafe where fabric ends? A longer short can help; seams and moisture matter too.

A real solution for a related annoyance

Thighs doing that friction thing?

These are approved picks from our catalog for skin friction. They are not underwear, and we’re not going to pretend they are.

Megababe Thigh Rescue

A travel-size glide stick for thighs, arms, and bra-line friction before it gets loud.

Buy on Amazon ↗

Gold Bond Friction Defense Stick

A pocket-sized barrier for thighs, bra lines, and other places where walking gets personal.