i wasn’t sure where to post this but it’s driving me crazy
in recent years, i’ve noticed underwear no longer has proper elastic around the edges (not including the waistband). i get underwear from M&S but now i’m having the same problem with them and also John Lewis
i cannot understand the logic here. is it cheaper? because the elastic was there for a reason, now my knickers are just moving around left right and centre…
i’m not talking about the “seamless” ones, but even ones that look like they have elastic have no elasticity on the edges
does anyone know where i can get proper knickers which are good quality and comfy, for smaller sizes? 😭
26 comments
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I really dont know because I feel like everywhere is the same now they all try to save money use less materials you could try Google ones with elastic see what pops up
I swear by FatFace for knickers. They are on the pricey side but almost always have a 3 for 2 offer on them. They are comfy, wash well and come in a range of cute styles
F&F at Tesco sell lovely Brazilian knickers. Very comfy.
As a picker, I am kind of glad they don’t have elastic. Soon as I see a stray elastic I can’t help but pull it and keep doing so until I end up with just a crotch
I have also noticed that the undercarriage bit (the bit that has a cotton lining) seems to not even sit under my fanny. It goes up my arse, which then means my discharge goes through the thinner part of the knickers rather than catching on the cotton lining. It also means pads sit weird too. It is so fucking annoying. These are M&S knickers. I bought some from Next a couple months ago and they are genuinely the best I have worn in a while.
Next!
Just had a good ping of my favourite knickers to check as hadn’t ever considered it …. they are indeed elasticated round the legs…. Bought not too long ago from H&M 👍
Edit. P.s not just elasticated but like, fricking sturdy high quality elastic…. That was an unexpected slightly smug and disproportionately impressed moment 😂
I’ve been struggling to find cheap plain (black) knickers. They’re all either fancy and patterned or a duvet a pair! And they don’t seem to last as long as they used to. I’ve been going sans knickers frequently because I refuse to pay through the nose.
I don’t know if Aldi UK has the same ones as Aldi US, but on a business trip not long ago I found myself, uh, “underpacked” and had to order an Uber delivery of said knickers. Aldi was open and listed on the site that came to my hotel. I expected these to be an emergency survival tool, but I’ve found I rather prefer them!
Never imagined I’d be recommending discount grocery knickers.
BPC pants are generally great, no idea how the leg elastic is though because I haaaate leg elastic and exclusively wear styles that don’t have any.
Been wearing boxer shorts for decades (F 59), so maybe give it a try hun? I could never go back to ‘conventional’ uncomfortable elasticated women’s undies now, honestly!
This is probably a completely useless and uninvited answer (sorry) but the only place I can buy decent pants as a bloke now is Next. They’re a bit pricey at £30 for five pairs but everywhere else only seems to do these awful ball crushing tight A front boxers. Maybe worth checking the ladies stuff?
Hmmm I have been glad about the moving away from elasticated, I found elastic dug into my skin and I detest visible panty lines. I buy my underwear from muji, tezeni’s, intimissimi, or monki for some fun ones and find that everything fits well
I used to love M&S ultimate knickers, and then they stopped making them. I’m so disappointed. I totally get where OP is coming from. I have found Sloggi good but pricey. Miss Mary of Sweden also does some that are decent.
I order mine from Japan for this reason. If I wanted a wedgie all day long I would wear thongs. Bring back leg elastic please
companies have realised they can stop sewing altogether by making the pants material out of one whole peice and attatching the seams at the crotch and one side by glue. they can then upsell this as ‘seamless underwear’
This makes them much less durable (the glue will wash off after a few dozen cycles) plus means sizing is much less variable as theres no stretch allowing the pant to coform to a woman’s curve.
Because pants are considered to be cheap and are obviously a neccessity people will continue to buy them regardless so companies will continue to sell their cheap tatty crap.
yep, mine are all kind of baggy around the legs, soo annoying!
Asda nickers crawl up every orifice, who the hell approved those things.
Hey, come over and cross post to r/womenoftheuk
Whilst we are on the subject, does anyone have any good alternatives to Skims? I have endo and adeno so I bloat like I’m six months pregnant and every other pair of pants I’ve ever bought has been too wide in the gusset area so I get the leg holes digging into my all day. Skims are perfect and really comfy but expensive and I’d just rather not give my money to Kim K if I can help it!
Also who needs a gusset 2.5 or 3cm wide for heavens sake? Shrinkflation has not made my mfanwy smaller ? Arse is huge on them as well, who is this woman? From the front it looks like mfanwy is flossing ?
Yes I have noticed this and I’ve also noticed it’s getting increasingly difficult to find cotton underwear. The spandex % just keeps going up
Try Matalan, they still have proper knickers.
And what happened to the comfy short style knickers? Why do they all go up my crotch or have half my arse hanging out now?
Lingerie designer here!
One reason I feel is the “fear of VPL”. Silly I know but in the 2000’s alot of brands started to look at how to remove the elastic from knickers and go for a more seamless look with technologies such as bonding or laser cutting become popular. Great for no VPL but quality can be hit and miss if not done correctly.
These two very popular technologies can’t really work effectively with natural fibers like cotton. So then you’ll start to get more synthetic fibers used rather than breathable natural fibers.
The cost can also be cheaper as it’s less sewing and cutting usually, thank fast fashion for this as they need to compete.
M&S are still one of the best as they have a good design team and that’s who I still buy from of if I need them.
There is definitely a space for a re-worked version, and this thread has actually given me some food for thought so thankyou for the inspiration!