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Types of Panties: Which Underwear Style is Right for You?


Types of Panties

 

Updated: December 4, 2024

Panties come in a beautiful array of sizes, fabrics, patterns, and styles. While finding a cute print you love may be easy, understanding the different types of underwear may be another story. Read to dive into the differences between classic styles like bikini panties, hipster panties, thongs, and more.

What are the types of underwear for women?

At its core, underwear is worn to protect your skin under outer layer clothing—helping against friction and for hygienic purposes. Finding a perfect pair of panties can look a little different for everyone, whether you’re shopping for everyday comfort, a special occasion, a seamless fit under certain outfits, or something that simply makes you feel confident and stylish. In general, these are the most common types of panties that provide unique fits and functions:

  • Bikini Panties

  • Boy Shorts and Boxer Panties

  • Brazilian Panties

  • Brief Panties

  • Cheeky Panties

  • High-Waisted Panties

  • Hipster Panties

  • Thongs & G-Strings

  • Specialty Panties

    • Adaptive Panties

    • Period Panties

    • Shapewear Panties


Bikini Panties

Bikini panties are a popular underwear style that feature moderate waistband coverage. They have a higher cut leg design and narrower side panel. This design exposes more skin around the hips and thighs compared to hipster underwear. Bikini panties are extremely versatile and can easily be worn as everyday underwear providing comfort while still complementing your natural silhouette.

  • Coverage level: Light to moderate coverage

  • Rise level: Low-to-mid rise

  • How to wear: Wear with everyday clothes including low-to-midrise pants and shorts.
     

Boy Shorts and Boxer Panties

Boy shorts are inspired off traditional men’s boxer shorts but feature a form-fitting design. Boy shorts and boxer panties usually have a mid-rise and high-rise waist with fuller coverage around the hips and butt. Boy shorts and boxer briefs can come in a variety of lengths depending on which fit you like best. This style of underwear can fall a little below the crotch for a bit of playfulness or can fall on the mid-thigh. Boy shorts and boxer briefs give a flattering look that accentuates your curves while being oh-so comfy. With their longer design, these undies can help against chafing and are perfect for wearing under dresses when you want to feel more secure.

  • Coverage level: Full coverage

  • Rise level: Mid-to-high rise

  • How to wear: Wear under dresses and skirts, under thermal layers, and as loungewear
     

Brazilian Panties

Modeled off swimwear from Brazilian beaches, Brazilian panties have full front coverage with a dare-to-bare back that shows off your cheeks. This type of panty features high cuts around the legs with a lower rise fit. Brazilian panties are extremely similar to cheeky panties with their flirty, functional design that keeps you secure while showing off your best asset.

  • Coverage level: Light coverage

  • Rise level: Lower rise

  • How to wear: Wear with everyday clothes including low-to-midrise pants and shorts.

 

Brief Panties

Classic brief panties are known for their comfortable, full-coverage design making them a tried-and-true staple in most underwear drawers. Brief panties offer complete front and rear coverage with a high-rise waist band. They can come with lower and higher cute leg openings depending on your preferred look. These undies also come in a variety of fabrics. Cotton briefs are a popular choice especially if your skin is sensitive down there and needs a soft, breathable option.

  • Coverage level: Full coverage

  • Rise level: Higher rise

  • How to wear: Wear with everyday clothes 
     

Cheeky Panties

Cheeky panties, cheeksters, cheekies. Whatever you like to call them, one thing for sure is that this underwear is all about accentuating your butt with peek of the cheeks. Cheeky panties come in a variety of styles and fabrics so you can go for an extra sexy look with lace or keep it simple with cotton. These panties have a mid-rise fit that falls a few inches below your navel and provides nice coverage on the front and sides.

  • Coverage level: Light-to-moderate

  • Rise level: Mid rise

  • How to wear: Wear with everyday clothes 
     

High-Waisted Panties

High-waisted panties, sometimes called French-cut panties, are underwear that sit right above the hip to provide coverage and support. High-waisted panties can overlap into other underwear categories since you can find high-waisted thongs, high-waisted bikini panties, and more styles. These panties help flatter silhouettes and enhance your figure.

  • Coverage level:  Moderate-to-full coverage

  • Rise level: High rise

  • How to wear: Wear with everyday clothes including high-waisted jeans and leggings
     

Hipster Panties

As the name suggests, hipster underwear (also called hiphugger panties) are a type of underwear that provides more coverage around your hips. The back of these panties provides some coverage around the cheeks and often has a mid-rise that sits below the natural waist. Hipster panties can be thought of as a hybrid between boy shorts and bikini panties–designed to provide more coverage on the hips and waist while still having a very subtle dash of cheekiness.

  • Coverage level: Medium coverage

  • Rise level: Mid-rise waist

  • How to wear: Wear with everyday clothes including mid-rise pants and shorts 

Thongs & G-Strings

Thongs and G-strings are extremely similar providing front coverage with an exposed back that tucks into your bum. Both thongs and G-strings are a go-to choice for avoiding visible panty lines  (VPLs) so you can wear tight-fighting clothes with ease. Thongs typically feature a thicker band in the back and a wider material for the strip. They offer a tad more coverage compared to G-strings. G-strings, known affectionately at Victoria’s Secret as V-strings, are a nearly zero coverage underwear. G-strings have the needed triangular shaped fabric on the front for coverage with a sexy string-like finish on the sides and in the back. The backside of G-strings is often shaped like the letter V or T.

  • Coverage level: Little-to-no coverage

  • Rise level: Low waist

  • How to wear: Wear with tighter fit clothes to avoid visible panty lines.


Specialty Panties

Panties are all about finding the pair that’s perfect for you and your body. In addition to classic types of panties, you can also find multi-functional panties that provide extra support.

Adaptive Panties

Panties are for everyone. Adaptive panties provide modifications that make it easier to put on for those with disabilities. These types of panties can feature sensory-friendly fabrics and side closures at the hips. Victoria’s Secret Adaptive panties were developed in partnership with GAMUT Management, the premier consulting company working with and for people with disabilities.

Period Panties

Period panties, also called menstrual panties, are a type of leak-proof underwear specifically designed to absorb blood during your period. These panties can be worn to replace traditional feminine products or for added backup during heavier flow days. This panty features a multi-layer gusset that absorbs blood, prevents leakage, and has odor control qualities. Learn more on how period panties work.

Shapewear Panties

Shapewear panties can come in the styles you love like thongs and bikini while helping to boost your confidence with a secure, cinching fit. These panties help smooth and contour the body to give a shapely effect. Shapewear panties can be the perfect layering piece when wearing tighter dresses and pants. Learn more on all things shapewear types and styles

 

Victoria’s Secret Panties

Victoria’s Secret spent 2+ years working with 600 women to perfect the fit of our panties. Learn about the revolutionized panty design with updated leg openings, wider gussets, and wider elastic waistbands. From barely-there thongs to classically cool hiphuggers, shop our wide range of women’s panties.