In search of the perfect knickers

[Umph]

Is there such a thing?

I’m not the right shape for knickers it would seem. I’m a size 12ish but with a small waist and big bum and thighs (28 inch waist vs 41 inch hip). However I also currently have a bit of a tummy due to a combination of gynae issues and comfort eating. As it stands, all but the biggest of big cotton m&s knickers are swallowed by my bum and then end up all scrunched up in the gusset region and I hate it.

I would like the following:
High waist - to bellybutton or just below. At least high enough not to irritate my c section scar.
Non scratchy seams that don’t cause too much VPL
Some compression/support to the tummy
A wide enough gusset that it doesn’t end up like vulva floss
Decent bum coverage - anything high legged or Brazilian style just becomes a thong on me.

I feel like I’m not asking for a miracle but nothing works!

I had to check I hadn’t written this post as I went to Sainsbury’s as well yesterday to buy some of my usual knickers and they seem to have stopped doing them! I buy the lace top, no VPL, black shorts in a pack of three and have been wearing them for years. Why would they stop making such good knickers???

coskefy Underwear Women, High... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B091KH2N61?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Another vote for the wirapa. Confort is so much more important to me than style, although I like the different colours.

I’ve had those. They lose their shape and become baggy quite quickly so they just fall down all the time.

I second the Chantelle ones mentioned. I went through a long and expensive quest for the perfect knickers and think I have found them. Thought I had found them with the M and S Flexifit but fall down after a few washes and was forever having to hoist ten back up again.

May l deviate from some of the thoughts provided? Thick cotton may not be your friend here, it has no stretch and consequently can get caught up where you don’t want. Thoughts of it being the holy grail as it is natural is, after processing, a little way off the mark too.

It might pay you to consider a finer fabric or a soft stretch lace which is more likely to stop in the place you want them. Avoid multipacks and try one pair!

I’m another one saying avoid Stripe and Stare. I bought 4 pairs and every single one developed holes within a couple of months. I wash at low temps and don’t tumble dry, so they were treated well. Yes, they feel lightweight and don’t dig in, but that’s because they are so flimsy. The sizing is also skimpy, so you need to size up quite a bit if you want coverage and avoid vulva floss, but then they fall down because the waist band has no elastic or grip to hold it in place. Honestly, the worst pants I’ve ever bought - even the cheapest supermarket pairs I’ve tried are better.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07KYVBRXB?psc=1&ref=ppxpoppmobbbasin_title

I bought these in 2021 and never looked back. Soft, high waisted, gusset that actually covers stuff and just so comfy. They do need replacing after about a year though, but it's worth it.

I wear mine under leggings and skinny jeans all the time and they are fine.

Size wise I currently have three different sizes on the go because I am hopeless about my actual size (and saw some smaller ones cheap on ebay lol) and they are all fine and comfy because there is a lot of give in the fabric. They also wash well and are my go to knickers that I recommend to everyone.

Sorry I haven't got a chance to read the whole thread but have you tried getting them a size or two bigger than you are?

I'm a 6 to 8 and I wear size 10 to 12 knickers.

PS I also have small waist and much bigger hips

I tried these and they were terrible! Great knickers but within a couple of washes the gusset separated because they are only glued along the edges rather than stitched.

I'd paid a fortune and was using an eco liquid in my washing machine and wasn't tumble drying (don't have one) and Step One could not have been less helpful. Demanded photo after photo and also photos of the underside of the tags even though they all had the same serial number.

I've just called up all of my email correspondence with them from this time last year and it is grim. Email after email demanding more photos and I still never got a refund.

This is from my last emails -

Right, all of my pairs are failing. Whatever adhesive was used to stick the two layers of gusset (urk!) together just is not fit for purpose. As well as the total and one side failures I have others that are starting to come away on both sides, they are still holding for now but the resin/glue is clearly showing underneath on either side now as the top layer gets closer to separating.

My photos clearly show the same issue in numerous pairs so it's obviously not just a flaw with one pair.

Even with the bulk discount these are still very expensive knickers and I'm very disappointed with the response so far!

Sorry but no, the fault is with all pairs of pants in every colour that I bought.
I probably should have raised this sooner but at first it was only a couple of pairs and that wasn't worth making a fuss about, it's only now that they have all failed/are failing that I felt that I needed to raise it with you guys

I will still have the photos showing the separated gussets somewhere or I will happily take more to upload on here if needed because I still have a bag of the utterly useless Step One ladies knickers kicking about somewhere.

@Sinamin that's shite, I've put mine through the wash quite a few times and tumble dried them and yet to have any issues.
Customer services are always a nightmare to reply to, no one can ever deviated from a set script 🙄

A VELVET gusset?!

I also bought some of these and couldn't get them on, even though they were supposedly my size.
They were very, very small and not very stretchy.

Oh really?

I think what made it worse is that they have a double thickness gusset so when they start to separate there is... err... scrunching...

What really got me is that they were wanting one photo showing proof that the gussets had failed but also showing each pairs under tag number at the same time. Most were the same colour (Caramel - for ages it was the only colour available for women) and how can you line up 10+ pairs of knickers clearly showing the gusset failures?

Right, regarding the faulty pairs, we are happy to replace all of them if they are faulty due to a factory defect. You can line up all the damaged products and take a single photo and another photo of all the affected flag labels. We will submit them to our supplier and QC manager for feedback and replacement approval.

Let's just re read that shall we?

take a single photo

That was Step One's last ditch attempt, how was I supposed to 'pose' ten plus pairs of faulty gussets in one pic then another of ten plus exact same undertab codes? I actually managed it out of pure bloodiness and still didn't get a refund.

All I'll say is have a good look and if the gussets aren't stitched now ask yourself why because if they are only glued that's not so environmentally friendly and lovely as the company make out.

Sorry @Umph , I really didn't mean to hijack your thread but the Step One lovers needed to hear a few realities.

A VELVET gusset?!

Found them: they describe it now as a 'soft cotton terry' gusset but I'm sure they used to call it velvet. Cotton with a velvet-like pile, anyway. As an older woman who sometimes has a little accident if I sneeze unexpectedly, I find it reassuring as well as comfortable. I started buying them about 10 years ago, buy a couple of new pairs each year and they have lasted years. Wash well, don't shrink, don't fall apart. Obviously I have nicer, more glam knickers too, but these are the workhorses of my knicker draw.

https://uk.sloggi.com/women/knickers-panties/maxi-midi/10213273.html?color=0004Black

Ordered some Wirapa from Amazon. They don’t go up the bum (yay!) but they do produce a VPL so no good for under leggings, and I wear leggings a lot!

I don't think it is possible to have comfort and no VPL!

I never understand the VPL thing? In private, l admit that on a warm summer’s day l am often commando with a dress. But only a few besties and sister know that.

On that basis all VPL means is that you have knickers on, which is generally assumed. Bra outlines often show after all.

I hate a VPL under my clothes-it just makes jeans/work trousers/leggings look crap.

Calvin Klein

Intimissimi light support high waist are good

Another vote for Wirapa here. I am all about the bright colours.

I've been wearing these for years. They wash amazingly, fit my similar shape body, aren't too frumpy and are light control, super comfy and cheap enough to have loads.

www.matalan.co.uk/lingerie/lingerie/4-pack-lace-trim-full-black-black/14709931.html

Wrong bloody link 🙄

www.matalan.co.uk/lingerie/lingerie/3pk-full-jacquard-black-black/14312501.html