Ask FGG: Where Can I Find Comfy Plus-Size Panties?
We track down underwear with plenty of coverage and just the right amount of stretch
Dear FGG,
I’ve worn thongs since HS (big fan of no panty line), but it’s time for a reboot for me and my Target doesn’t sell my tried and true thongs anymore. I’ve worn other types of thongs and now understand what most people say re: thongs and uncomfortable. But regular panties feel weird on my used-to-no-fabric cheeks. Can we have a roundup on the best knickers out there? Thongs, boy shorts, panties – meant for women who might be carrying a little extra behind or in their tummy?
Oh, do I feel your pain. A few years ago, Target stopped carrying my favorite panties (I prefer a hipster style for coverage where I’m widest) and I still don’t think I’ve completely recovered. I think it’s common to become accustomed to a certain style, fabric, or cut, making everything else feel anywhere from alien and annoying to downright uncomfortable. You don’t mention a price range, but I did some digging and found some more affordable styles. For specialty boutiques that offer sweet nothings on the more frilly side, check out our Ask FGG column on plus-size lingerie.
If comfort is your first priority over the thong style, I’ll start with a few words about fabric. Avoid nylon and look for cotton paired with Lycra or Spandex (cotton keeps you cooler and Lycra®/Spandex adds stretch so your panties move with you comfortably). For a bump in cost, seek out performance, sports, or microfiber panties made with fabrics designed to wick moisture away from your body while you sweat while also moving with your body as effortlessly during workouts as everyday activities. (Junonia’s QuikCool™ fabric is a good example).
Keep in mind that these are just suggestions and, sadly, our staff hasn’t taken the opportunity to test these brands ourselves (but that would be a fun outing!). For a basic necessity, underwear is a finely honed personal preference and it might take some trial and error before you find a style or brand that suits you.
Comfy plus size bikinis, hipsters, and briefs
I hit the websites for many major big box and department stores and frequently recoiled in horror as I discovered that white and beige granny panties are still alive and well in the 21st century. So it took some digging, but I knew that Old Navy is a popular resource for affordable casual clothing, and while their plus size offerings are now available online only (what’s up with that, Old Navy?), their selection isn’t bad. These cotton/Spandex plus-size hipster 3-packs look great and the price is right at 3/$12 (also available in a bikini cut). These silky-smooth Hips and Curves microfiber bikini briefs ($9.99; sizes 1X-4X) come in fun colors and is also available in a boy short and thong style.
Plus size boy shorts and boxer briefs that fit like a second skin
Lane Bryant has a decent selection of boy short panties in plus sizes, but their lace trim microfiber boy shorts look super-comfy (3 for $29; up to size 26/28). Avenue has a utilitarian but super-sleek looking seamless boy short panty ($9.90/buy 2 get 1 free; up to size 26/28; also in a cute stripe pattern), and Just My Size (also available at Walmart) sells super-cheap ($9.98/4-pack) cotton boy shorts (watch their sizing, which goes from 9 to 14 but those correspond to 44-45″ and 61-64″ hips). I offer up these seamless plus-size boxer briefs for women by Junonia (cotton/Lycra® blend, $24.95, up to size 6X) as neither as a cheap-and-easy or adorable find, but a style I’d love to see more of out there.
Plus size Thongs with some stretch for comfort
These lace-trim Old Navy thongs (up to size 4X, they also come in stretch lace singles and cotton 3-packs–remember, sold online only) look perfect: stretchy, comfy, generously sized (some reader reviews suggest buying a size down, which means better odds that they’ll fit bigger girls) and they’re on sale as of this writing. Lane Bryant Cacique stretch cotton thongs look comfortable (sizes 12 – 26/28; 5 for $29); check their in-store sale tables for seasonal markdowns. I like the fuller coverage at the sides of this Woman Within stretch thong; they’re also tag-free for even more comfort (sized by hip width up to 68″). Avenue’s stretch lace thongs are also on sale now, come in vibrant colors and look super-comfy (sizes 14/16-30/32).
Good luck in your search for the perfect panties!
C’mon girls: tell us about your underwear. What’s your preferred style, brand, and/or retailer, and how do they best fit your body type?
I’ve been buying Hanes underwear from Wal-Mart up until recently, but Wal-Mart carries Just My Size panties which are soft and come in a variety of fabrics.
However, I recently made a trip out to Lane Bryant and picked up their panties and can’t recommend them enough. They’re downright comfortable and come in sexy styles. They sell thongs too. (Not my cuppa tea though.)
I love Avenue’s undies. They fit right, they’re comfy, and they look nice, too. Lots of styles and sizes to choose from. My favorite’s the boy short, though, for coverage reasons. Avenue’s prices are good, too.
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yay! Thank you so much for this. The cheaper options are definitely more in my price range. One day I swear I will have 7 days of matching bras and panties. Until then – Old Navy/Lane Bryant here I come!
They’re pretty utilitarian, but the Jockey Queen collection panties are decent, comfortable and affordable.
I love the cacique ones that Lane Bryant sells. They’re a little pricey at 5/$25 but SO worth it as they’re both cute and comfy.
I’m a fan of the Lane Bryant full coverage seamless briefs. They’re a little expensive, but worth every dime. They are also a little more coverage than I’m used to, but with a healthy rear end and a sagging tummy thanks to a twin pregnancy, I welcome the spandex that they contain that makes me feel a little less jiggly in those areas. Cute colors, too.
For me, it’s all about the Lane Bryant cotton string bikinis. The combination of openness on my legs and fuller coverage on my butt is just right. I’ve found that they last a long time, and if you catch an in-store sale you can sometimes snag fun patterns & colors from the $2.50 bargain bins.
And Toni, just let me know when the FGG staff panty raid is taking place.
I’ve never been able to find underwear that fit me.. not when i was skinny and not now.. every panty maker seems to think that my crotch is a mile long.. Look I’m not trying to park the damned Lusitania in there.. but seriously to wear them i have to fold over the entire crotch and sew it.. otherwise.. permanent wedgie (not boy shorts not anything) I’ve ended up going without for YEARS as a result. I wish i could find some that would fit tho.. (but i also can’t have ANY elastic.. lace.. or plastic thread anywhere near my skin)
I only wear Jockey French-cut briefs and Lane Bryant underwear; I don’t know the name of the LB’s I like, but they’re a microfiber knit that wears well. The only time I don’t like these is in exceptionally hot weather.
Either of these are usually available in outlet malls, too.
TORRID, TORRID, TORRID!!! I am telling you girls — the panties are cute (attitude) and the cotton is soft, they are high quality (no holes/rips), they don’t bind, they stretch and hug, and they are the ONLY panties I wear!! 3 for $21 is the standard price….and I stock up every chance I get. I wear a 22/24 (most days) and I never have purchased larger than their size 2. : )
Hipsters are my favorite cut too. For years all I wore were Addition-Elle cotton panties. I swear by cotton (breathe). Then it was Pennington’s cotton. They stopped the 100% cotton and added spandex to help them keep their shape. I don’t care for them really but still get them b/c they have nice patterns. For my 100% cotton fix I go to Cotton Ginny for their organic cotton and they have hipsters.
I buy my undies from either Walmart (Hanes) or JC Penney’s (they keep changing the name brand but it’s their basic brand)-both have a low rise option. I bought thongs from Fredrick’s of Hollywood. Very comfy and my favorite thongs ever (both lace and cotton).
Some good selections that I’ll have to check out. I once went on a dump-and-restock of panties and bought up some cheaper packs of Hanes and such, cotton panties in packs from Kmart/Walmart. I hate every last one of them. Terribly uncomfortable leg bands.
I bought up a ton of these boyshorts from Target, the Gilligan and OMalley brand: http://www.target.com/Gilligan-OMalley-Seamless-Boy-Shorts/dp/B000VRCCRG/ref=br_1_25?ie=UTF8&id=Gilligan%20OMalley%20Seamless%20Boy%20Shorts&node=13768281&searchSize=30&searchView=grid5&searchPage=1&sr=1-25&qid=1280363951&rh=&searchBinNameList=style_name%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&searchRank=pmrank&frombrowse=1
I like the fabric, and the coverage (they’re not as low-slung as some boyshorts because I have a large tummy that needs coverage, and they’re very stretchy) but half the time when I wash these the top “band” unravels leaving runs in the panties, and an unfinished top band (which is just the fabric folded over itself).
Here’s tiny url for the underwear above:
http://tinyurl.com/282lbsa
As a bigger girl it is always hard to find panties that are comfortably and yet stylish!
As a health care professional I have to throw in the uncool public service message about thongs. The fact is that there is only about an inch of space between the front door and the back door on a woman’s body, and even when we clean very carefully, there can still be stray bacteria in the bottom area. Thongs are notorious for helping this bacteria migrate up front. If you’ve ever noticed a funky smell down there during that time of the month, that’s because the environment in the vagina turns more alkaline during one’s period and makes ample breeding ground for the infamous E. coli bacteria. Particularly if you are prone to urinary tract infections or yeast infections, I would advise against wearing thongs.
[...] would be “boring.” Readers, I’ll grant you that healthy gums may not seem as exiting as finding comfy undies or learning how to flirt, but we keep it real here at FGG, and that means balancing the sexy with [...]
When I was younger, I had SO much trouble finding underwear that fit well, that I just gave up wearing them at all. (Horray commando!)
But then I discovered Torrid. Sweet, sweet Torrid. I shopped there for years, but eventually it became too expensive, and I started to exceed what they carried. (I wear about a 28/30 now)
I’ve been going to Lane Bryant for the Cacique hipsters for about 3 years or so, and I absolutely LOVE them. I’ve tried the string bikinis, cotton thongs, and seamless hipsters as well.
Seeing as my hips are giant, I definitely swear by the cotton hipsters. The seamless ones slip down a lot, and the string bikinis tend to roll. I’ve had on and off luck with the thongs.
I’ve been thinking about trying Old Navy, too.
I found this thread very helpful. I, too, wear thongs only and I’m a size 16. I used to wear nothing but the Target cotton thongs before they discontinued them and I am at a loss. I loved those panties!!!
I dunno about you guys, but I like my undies to hit about an inch below my belly button. The problem with most cotton thongs is they make em’ to where they fall below my belly fat hump (I call it my ‘udders’). I like my udders to feel supported and covered.
Also, most of them are too long and not wide enough in the crotch, then I end up with half my F.U.P.A. hanging out on both sides. They need to make a cotton thong with a wider vag area and a higher rise so we can get the benefit of a little tummy support without looking like a muffin.
All the brands Wal-Mart carries are useless. I have tried them all…Hanes, Just my Size, Faded Glory, Simply Basic, Fruit of the Loom….total garbage.
Lane Bryant’s cotton thongs used to be decent but it seems they have a new manufacturer now and the price is the same, but the quality is right up there with Wal-Mart now. Shame.
K-Mart used to carry some wonderful Joe Boxer cotton thongs but now they carry the long crotched cheap panties.
I am going to try the ones from Old Navy…but I am skeptical. I can tell by the pictures they are going to fall below my udders.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LaneBryant undies! I’ve tried buying hanes hipsters and boyshorts and they’re O.K., but eventually they stretch out (after only a few washes and wears actually), and I end up not wearing them. But I have loved Lane Bryant panties, all styles when I was younger, and now boy-shorts forever. They are a little spendy, but if you time it right you can get them on sale and with coupons, or seasonally on clearance. They fit perfectly and are super cute and sexy and always manage to boost my confidence. It’s like my little sexy secret that I have super sexy undies on under my jeans and they even sell matching bras.
[...] would be “boring.” Readers, I’ll grant you that healthy gums may not seem as exiting as finding comfy undies or learning how to flirt, but we keep it real here at FGG, and that means balancing the sexy with [...]
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When I found your site I was looking for Plus Size Swimsuits not panties but I ended up reading your post anyway and actually learned a lot.
Thanks!
thong n panties from hanes i liked:)