I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that the right underwear can mean the difference between a good and bad day. Get it wrong and your day will involve retrieving fallen bra straps, pulling up socks or retrieving knickers sliding towards an uncomfortable spot.
My evidence? The moment when, in 2020, aged 35, I put on my first pair of truly comfy pants. It was a warm day in lockdown. The banana bread was cooling, Joe Wicks was lunging, and I slid into my high-rise undies with a “full coverage” seat. That was the day I introduced myself to true underwear contentment (the fact that bras and I were on a break added to the sense of comfort).
I wore them on repeat for years: no elastic snapped, no shape was lost, and no joy was stolen by discomfort. The best underwear worn on repeat will eventually look like a bargain when it comes to price-per-wear – and it makes sense to spend a little more on a good fabric, given it will spend its life in such an intimate spot.
Of course, what the best underwear looks like will differ depending on your style, body shape, budget and priorities (although I suspect even the most devoted lingerie fan wouldn’t say boo to a fancy bra that was also comfortable). For many people, what they look for in underwear has shifted post-pandemic. The ricochet back to dressing up is being mirrored in our drawers as well.
So, with a range of needs and desires in mind – from fancy to quotidian, sustainable to seamless – I have searched far and wide to find the best underwear for most (if not quite all) occasions. Much of this underwear I have tried, some I have worn for years, and others are the underwear heroes of friends and family with different needs and preferences to my own.
The best women’s underwear
Knickers and briefs
Best knickers for everyday
M&S pure cotton high leg knickers
£7 for pack of five at M&S
These cheap – and if not cheerful, then at least inconspicuous – M&S knickers served me fine for many years. They’re extremely good value, and these black ones are inoffensive and come in a range of sizes from 6 to 28.
Stripe and Stare high-rise knickers
£50 for pack of four at Stripe & Stare
A similar proposition, if you have a bit more budget, is this four-pack of high-rise knickers. Made from 95% Tencel, they’re supremely soft and – big bonus – biodegradable (minus any lacey bits). They come in several colours that will suit everyday use and subtler tastes, but there are also more garish pairs going for half price.
Chantelle soft stretch high waist knickers
£50 for pack of three at John Lewis
I have it on good authority that these high-waisted briefs are excellent. Their soft stretchiness means they’re one-size-fits-all (or 8-16 at least), taking some of the jeopardy out of buying underwear online. The work of a French brand that’s been in the underwear business since 1876, they don’t come super-cheap – but I would pay good money to make each wear a treat rather than a pain in the backside.
Best for something a little fancier
Bella yellow organic bamboo silk knickers
£42 at Ayten Gasson
If you’re after something a little less workhorse and a little more dressage, these yellow knickers from Brighton-based Ayten Gasson are pretty – and they haven’t given up all efforts to be comfortable. Handmade from organic bamboo fibres in this sustainably minded company’s seaside studio, these pants will also biodegrade. The lace comes from the Cluny Lace Company, which also produced the lace used in Kate Middleton’s wedding dress.
Kiki floral embroidery knickers
£18 at John Lewis
If the Ayten Gasson price feels excessive for knickers (I get it), the And/Or range from John Lewis has pretty briefs that come recommended by lingerie lovers. These embroidered ones are a case in point: a comfortable bikini shape, the decoration looks like a floral centrepiece on a harvest festival table. Plus, there’s a matching bra, should you want some vertical symmetry.
Best for full coverage
Sloggi Basic+
£36 for pack of four at Sloggi
£36 for pack of four at M&S
For most people who were young in the 90s, the name Sloggi will bring back warm memories of visible, branded pant elastic, worn just above a low-slung jean. The brand is still around – offering a range of midi, hipster and string styles – and people continue to sing its praises. If you’re after a pant that gives full coverage, its maxi style is forgiving and soft, while coming high enough to give your belly button some company. It’s available in a range of colours.
Not Basics women’s boxer briefs
£18 at Not Basics
If navel-grazing isn’t quite enough for you, these women’s boxer briefs give coverage in different directions. They’re made from deadstock fabrics – the company was set up by two sisters during lockdown to transform T-shirts into underwear. Available in more classic colours as well as a refreshing blue called Salty Air, they range from XS to XXXL. This is a good style on days when you feel the need for more coverage or support.
Best eco-friendly knickers
Elliot Organics Bettie hipster short
£24 at Elliot Organics
Elliot Organics makes high-quality organic cotton underwear that is soft to the touch. The styles are simple in an earthy kind of way, ranging from ribbed cotton briefs to side seam-free, high-waisted gym knickers. This pair of hipster shorts reads like an elevated take on something the American modernist pioneer writer Willa Cather might have worn on a Nebraska plain. I bet hers wouldn’t have come in “extra soft slub cotton jersey”, though, or spared a thought for avoiding a VPL. The only downside: they’re expensive for a pair of underpants.
Pico high waist knickers
£20 at Pico
Few knicker companies would go to the trouble of washing your pants using soap nuts – an eco-friendly alternative to washing detergent – but this one does. Again, if you’re worried about your yoni rubbing up against fabric that has been potentially dyed with harmful chemicals, this is among the most natural pair of pants you’ll find. They’re made from unbleached and undyed organic cotton sourced from farmers’ cooperatives in India, plus a bit of elastane. A lot of thought and care has gone into this simple pair of pants. Crucially, they’re superlatively comfy.
Best seamless knickers
Bamboo Clothing seamless high waist brief
£18 at Bamboo Clothing
Stretchy and high-waisted, these pants give you a lot of coverage – equivalent to comfort, in my mind – without chunky seams screaming that you’re wearing a massive pair of pants. They’re made from viscose bamboo and come in either classic black or racier purple. There are also briefs and midi shorts if you’re after the seamlessness without the full coverage. There are seamless bras to match, too.
Skims soft smoothing seamless brief
£22 at Skims
Seamless doesn’t have to mean massive, of course, so if you’re looking for something skimpier these seamless briefs may be more tempting. I hate to drive more business in the direction of the already omnipotent Kardashian family, and Skims is very far from a leader in ethical or sustainable practices when judged against most standards, but I can’t ignore the fact that underwear aficionados swear by this shapewear brand.
Best thong
Organic Basics flex thong
£13 at Organic Basics
Cotton jersey feels like a smart fabric for a thong: soft enough that it won’t leave you smarting. This thong comes in neutrals, as well as lime and melon pink, and is available to buy in a bundle. It is the work of Organic Basics, purveyors of attractive undies that also prioritise comfort – and planet.
Best for an unexpected-but-great pair of pants
Merino wool briefs
£14.39 at Dilling
I once met a man who wore cashmere boxer shorts, attesting that he’d “put them through their paces in Berlin’s clubs” and they were worth the cash. I won’t repeat what I thought of him here – not least because I no longer have a leg to stand on. This winter I bought a pair of mulesing-free merino wool pants and I will not look back. They’re cosy and breathable and, while they’re deeply unsexy, they make me feel as if I belong in a cabin in Maine, about to shuck oysters. A not unenjoyable feeling. They also come in plus-size.
Bras
Best everyday bras
Organic Basics core triangle bralette
£28.50 at Organic Basics
For me and many others, comfort simply cannot be found when wearing an underwire. However, it certainly can be found – and is being found while I type – in this cotton jersey triangle bralette. It comes in a range of sometimes quite unexpected colours, from XXS to XXL. Considering you can forget you’re wearing it, this feels like good value to me.
Boody Lyolyte triangle bralette
£19.95 at Boody
For me, “everyday” means fairly full coverage – who needs to see nipples in the office – so the double front layer is a nice touch in an otherwise unpadded bra. The deep V suits a range of outfits, particularly as summer hits and buttons are unbuttoned. The work of a B-corp, this bralette is made using lyocell and in a seamfree construction that apparently reduces waste.
Best eco-friendly bra
Pico crop top
£34 at Pico
Once again the work of Pico, the company that washes with soap nuts, this crop top made largely from organic cotton is a worthy contender. It’s minimal and inoffensive – plus allows that dream situation of being so comfy you can forget you’re even wearing it – although it “provides light support”, which is perhaps why it’s available only up to a size 14. The only downside I have discovered: the underband can get a little twisted in the wash and need rejigging.
Best strapless bras
John Lewis Ivy seam-free bandeau bra
£16 at John Lewis
While strapless bandeau bras can admittedly feel a little bit more like a bandage than a bra, there are certain outfits where that is what is needed. This John Lewis seam-free bandeau bra won’t win any awards for style, but it may just make the outfit worn over it that much more streamlined. Some strapless bras pincer you to stay put, but this one opts for a more gentle squeeze. It might need the occasional hoiking-up but I am yet to meet a strapless bra that doesn’t. Bra tape can help.
M&S Flexifit multi-way bra
£16 at Marks & Spencer
If you’re after something with more structure, you could do a lot worse than this M&S bra. If, like me, you need a strapless bra only every now and again, it makes sense to get one that can double as a bra with straps. Available from a 30A to a 42E, this is a classic shape and comes in a range of skin-toned shades.
Best bras for bigger busts
Freya undetected moulded bra
£39 at Freya
Bras don’t come much more classic than this. Some bras designed for extra support can look a little over-engineered, but this one is sleek, elegant and seam-free, so it won’t be too visible under clothes. Unless you want it to be, that is: the chilli red iteration is the good kind of red flag. Available up to a double H cup, and in a more inconspicuous black.
Bravissimo Millie Bra
£39 at Bravissimo
Underwired, non-padded and made from soft stretchy lace, this pretty bra from the bigger-boob specialists that my bigger-boobed friends favour, Bravissimo, is available up to a K cup. Opt for cobalt, green or a more classic shade if you would rather something more low-key.
Read our guide to the best bras for more comfy and supportive styles
The best underwear sets
Dora Larsen Bea graphic lace bralette
£62 at Dora Larsen
Dora Larsen Bea lace knickers
£42 at Dora Larsen
Dora Larsen makes extremely pretty lingerie, minus the usual tropes: less Ann Summers, more Patricia Arquette’s iconic True Romance bra (with a modern shake). The colours pop, with often brave combinations, such as this bright red with sky blue, and the fabrics are impeccably soft.
This lace bralette comes in sizes 32B to 36D. A set with matching pants will come in at more than £100 – but this isn’t underwear for every day, meaning one set should have a longer lifespan than your workhorse bras and pants. The company, which is named after the founder’s dog also spares a thought for sustainability: where a lot of lingerie is pure virgin polyester, the Dora Larsen lace and tulle are made partly of recycled materials. Sort the bras by price to find some relative bargains, particularly if you’re a less “typical” size.
Pink City Prints Feeling Fresh bra and pants set
£35 at Pink City Prints
Speaking of pretty underwear, this screen-printed organic cotton set is also worth praise. With teams in London and Jaipur, the company places emphasis on preserving traditional craftsmanship – hence the block printing. The results look almost too good to be worn under clothes. Be warned: they run big and are more of a style to be worn for lounging than for marching to the corner shop and back.
Socks
Best everyday socks
Arket cotton rib socks
£15 for three pairs at Arket
Multipacks are the sock equivalent of a cereal variety pack: perfect for those who don’t feel like Frosties every day. This particular three-pack will add pizzaz to a loafer on a Monday (the red), look Scandi and chic on a Tuesday (the beige), and mysterious and highbrow on a Sunday (the plum). There are reinforced toes and heels for added durability, which is a nice feature for a sock you plan to wear on the regs.
Colourful Standard classic organic
£9 at Colourful Standard
Everyday doesn’t have to mean dull and Colourful Standard knows it. Its organic cotton socks, made in Portugal, come in 31 different colours. From burned yellow to spring green, there’s a pair to suit every outfit, mood and occasion. They’re a little dear for an everyday sock, but mine have been brightening my feet for some time and show no signs of dimming.
Best socks for cold weather
M&S Thermal Sumptuously Soft socks
£10 for pack of three at M&S
Of course M&S knows its way around a pair of socks. Thermal, soft and affordable, these socks are available in black or a charcoal mix, with reinforced toes and heels that should keep your socks wearable well into 2026 and beyond.
Le Bon Shoppe Margot socks
£15.46 at Le Bon Shoppe
Le Bon Shoppe makes delightful, if expensive, socks. This chunky, fuzzy pair is designed to keep feet warm and toasty. The lavender colour is an unexpected dash of levity on a grey day.
Best for a special occasion
Nishiguchi Kutsushita linen socks
£22 at Toast
There are fancy socks and then there are very fancy socks, and this pair from Toast is the latter. Made from linen and crafted by Nishiguchi Kutsushita, a Japanese sock company established in 1950, the Toast website tells us pleasingly that they’ve been made “in a small workshop using old knitting machines”. The colour feels contemporary even if the makers are heritage and the breathability of the fabric will make sure feet feel fresh.
Swedish Stockings Elin premium knee-highs
£20 for pack of two at Swedish Stockings
These apple-green 20-denier knee-high socks may not have the plushness of the Toast pair, but they’re very much here for a good time. Knitted from recycled yarn in Italy, they’re just as good for work as for parties, with either a pair of kitten heels or a more businesslike loafer.