Women’s underwear doesn’t need to be complicated. Sure, there’s a range of styles, fabrics and colours out there that would leave any woman scratching her head with confusion. But once you’ve figured out which styles work best for you, you’re over halfway there.

Our Women’s Underwear Guide is here to answer all your questions when it comes to choosing the perfect style of undies for you.

A brief history of women’s underwear

Up until the Victorian era, it was rare for women to wear any underwear at all! Unlike men who were already wearing undies, medieval women wore one long underdress which later developed into petticoats and slips.

This all changed when “drawers” showed up. A longer form of underwear that covers the legs, drawers were a hit among women everywhere – even Queen Victoria! In the years that followed, drawer hemlines moved up and the knickers style we know today had arrived. Once the 1940s arrived, what was once a fashion novelty was a WW2 essential.

Stockings were another undergarment that showed up throughout history for both men and women. By the 1940s, nylons had been introduced to the mainstream, much to the joy of women everywhere (no more ladders in their tights!).

The 20th century also saw other fibres appear such as rubber and elastic. Underwear became more tight-fitting and sexy, with bikini briefs and thongs all becoming popular. Seams and wires still made for uncomfortable wear, until brands such as Boody appeared in the early 2010s challenging these designs.

Our styles not only include seam free underwear and wireless bras, but are made from innovative, sustainable fabrics such as organically-grown bamboo. A new era of women’s underwear has been born and we’re at the forefront of it.

Choosing the perfect style of undies for you

Picking the right styles of women’s panties isn’t easy. From fit and fabric to colour and design, there are several things to keep in mind when choosing the right style of women’s undies for you. 

1. Bikini Briefs

A classic style of women’s underwear with a little less coverage than your standard pair of briefs, bikini briefs tend to sit a few inches below the waist and feature high-cut leg holes. Bikini briefs are nice and versatile, you can wear them with anything from your favourite pair of skinny jeans to a floaty dress. 

2. Briefs

If you’re after a little more coverage, look no further than a pair of women’s briefs. Designed for extra comfort, briefs provide lots of front and back coverage. Women’s briefs come in a range of rises, from low to mid to high. Wear yours with low to high-rise pants.

3. Hipster

If you’re after a pair of women’s undies that teams with low-rise jeans and pants, the hipster style is for you. Women’s hipsters (or hip huggers) sit on the hips, a couple of inches below the waist. Hipster underwear has low-cut leg holes and shows about ¾ cheek.

4. Boyleg

Showing cheek’s not your thing? Maybe boylegs are for you. Women’s boylegs or boyshorts are inspired by men’s briefs and are a little like the hipster. The main difference is that boylegs have a lower-cut leg – some go down as low as the thigh. Wear your women’s boyshorts with medium to high-rise pants and enjoy the comfort they provide.

5. G-string

Forget coverage. G-strings, also known as thongs, form a T-shape like a thong but feature a thinner string for even more cheek exposure. Perfect for when you’re wearing form-fitting styles such as bodycon skirts and dresses and tights and leggings, a women’s g-string will avoid visible underwear lines.

6. Brazilian 

After something a bit more cheeky? Go for a Brazilian bikini. Featuring a low-rise cut, this hybrid of the bikini brief and thong offers a playful touch and provides moderate bum coverage. A fun and feminine design that’s also great for wearing with your favourite dress or pair of skinny jeans.

Why bamboo is the best fabric for women’s panties

So you’ve picked the right style of underwear for you. Congratulations! Now you’ll want to decide on a fabric. In our humble opinion, bamboo viscose is the ideal material for your underwear. Super-soft, comfortable and breathable, bamboo women’s underwear is also better for your skin and the planet. 

It’s comfy

Here at Boody, our story begins and ends with comfort. This is why bamboo is such an essential fabric for us. Light, luxuriously soft and gentle on the skin, bamboo is truly a dream to wear. Which is what makes bamboo underwear a must-have in every woman’s drawer! Whether you go for bamboo briefs, a bamboo bikini or a bamboo g-string, bamboo undies provide you with the comfort you deserve.

It’s eco-friendly

We know the way to a better world has no shortcuts. To protect and preserve our planet in the long run, we need to find ways to live a more sustainable life. This is another huge reason we use organically-grown bamboo in our women’s panties. From the fact our bamboo is grown organically without artificial irrigation to its fast-growing and regenerating nature, bamboo is the number one choice as a sustainable fabric.

It’s healthy

Not only is our bamboo fabric good for the planet, but it’s good for your skin, too. Containing an antibacterial and anti-fungal bio-agent that’s handily retained through the process of fabrication, our bamboo material is also breathable, moisture-wicking and hypoallergenic. This means those with sensitive skin and conditions such as eczema will particularly like our super-soft panties. 

Consider colour

We focus on creating timeless designs here at Boody, to discourage waste and the endless need to chase trends. This is why we’ve created a versatile selection of neutral shades that go with anything and never go out of style.

Black: The hue that goes with everything, black panties are unsurprisingly one of our bestselling shades.

White: Another Boody fan favourite, every woman needs at least a few pairs of white panties in her top drawer.

Blush: Probably the closest we get to an actual ‘colour’ in our undies range, our Blush hue is a fun, feminine but still neutral shade that our customers can’t get enough of.

Light Grey Marl: The newest addition to our family of neutral hues, Light Grey Marl has proven to be an extremely popular new shade.

Shop the best women’s underwear in New Zealand at Boody.

Questions about your size? Check out our Women’s Underwear Size Chart.