In the UK panties used to be known as knickers but this term is now being less used - the term panties somehow has more 'sexy' connotations as opposed to the more 'sensible' overtones implied by the term 'knickers'.



The following description of types of panty should help you in your purchasing decisions, and this is addressed particularly to men who may well wish to treat the significant woman in their life to some new panties.

Bikini panties

These panties tend to ride low on the hips and usually a bikini brief has a full back, although this can vary.

Full brief

The top of the panty is generally higher, resting on the waist. They achieved humorous notoriety as the panties featured in the Bridget Jones movie. There are a few variants of this design too:

Boy leg

These briefs finish across the legs horizontally, giving the effect of tight-fitting boys' shorts. Generally such designs are created in lacy or sheer materials.

High Cut Panties

These are the opposite to boy leg, in that the sides of the brief are cut in such a way to show more of the top of the thigh - these do look very sexy as they have the effect of accentuating and enhancing the apparent length of the person's legs. They are also known as French cut.

Thong Panties

The thong consists of a waistband connected to a narrow (sometimes little more than a string) at the rear, and a small triangle of fabric at the front.

Very little material goes into a thong - generally the back is very slim, and disappears between the buttock cheeks! Great for wearing under very tight-fitting trousers as it eliminates the visible panty line, often known by the acronym VPL. It is also great when worn under white, as it appears that no panties are being worn at all! The downside is that initially such panties can feel very different; however once you've become used to the different sensation you'll probably find yourself hooked on these! There have been surveys online, and certainly in ladies up to twenty five years old the thong appears to be the most favoured type of underwear. However it must be said that the survey should not be taken too seriously because it only related to a fairly small group of individuals, and was self-selected. It is possible that more thong wearers has chosen to respond, whereas wearers of other types of panties had not responded.

The thong, or the tanga as it is known in Brazil, has a number of variants:

G-string, V-string and T-back vary the amount of material attaching to the waistband at the back. Some authorities assert that the G-string owes its derivation to strippers' underwear, and there does seem to be a blurring of how these items are described from country to country.

Crotchless panties (also known as open-crotch)

This design of panty is self-explanatory; generally a well-received choice for bedroom wear, for obvious reasons!

Panty sizes

However the biggest problem when buying panties online tends to be the sizing. The prime issue is that many countries all have their own method of specifying sizing. In a 'bricks and mortar' shop you can inspect the panties whereas online you will be dependent on the accuracy of descriptions. Some companies on the Internet will provide sizing charts that allow conversion from say continental Europe to UK, to Australian sizes. Even in Europe sizes can vary, so conversion charts will be needed between for example France and Italy. Unfortunately the most awkward sizes to convert to and from are those of panties from USA.

It is strange that with probably more American lingerie outlets online than those from other countries that they have made it difficult for those living in other countries to actually buy from them with confidence, based on sizing!

Materials used for panties

As with other lingerie there are a variety of materials, ranging from lace to satin to nylon. Certainly in the USA it is common to find that the gusset has an inbuilt cotton crotch. Indeed it is probably more difficult to find panties without the cotton crotch although in the UK there are companies who are now making retro copies of fifties sheer nylon designs. They may not be suitable for everyday wear but such designs are intended to drive the man in your life wild! Interestingly, the materials and designs that have resulted in consistently regular 're-orders' from the sites I am involved with are the conventional classic designs in satin finish. The material, with its sexy glossy finish, looks great on, and feels very silky to wear. These are the panties that I wear for preference (sorry guys - no thongs for me!) However I have searched the world for suppliers and there are very few manufacturers that use this soft satin material.

So next time you are thinking of adding to your lingerie drawer, do what so many busy women do, and let your PC help you search out the most comfortable sexy panties from he comfort of your own home!