When was the last time you really looked at your knickers?
Are they stretched, faded, or gathering dust at the back of your drawer?
According to British underwear brand Stripe & Stare, the average woman owns about 20 pairs, yet 15 per cent go unworn, and most of us admit to wearing saggy or discoloured undies.
This year, it’s time to rethink comfort, style, and sustainability in your lingerie collection.
Whether you’re a fan of full-coverage briefs, a thong devotee, or curious about performance-focused knickers for workouts, there’s never been a better time to refresh your drawer.
Big Briefs Are Back in Fashion
Comfort is leading the way in 2026. Just as sneakers have overtaken heels in popularity, so too are XL briefs rising above skimpier cuts.
Stripe & Stare’s “Great Knicker Census,” which surveyed 2,000 British women, found that nearly half now favour large briefs over thongs.
Almost two-thirds said they’d happily wear “granny pants” forever rather than compromise on comfort.
Brands like Stripe & Stare offer high-rise Tencel knickers in 32 colours, designed to compost at the end of their life cycle.
Other favourites for full-coverage lovers include M&S, Intimissimi, and Understatement, blending practicality with pretty aesthetics.
Thongs Are Still Holding Their Ground
Don’t think thongs are disappearing anytime soon.
Boux Avenue, a London-based brand, reportedly sells about 2.26 thongs for every pair of briefs.
Their high-legged Fran style, available in 18 shades, is a bestseller, selling every three minutes with hundreds of five-star reviews.
Even stores that champion large briefs, like M&S, report a surge in thong sales.
Shoppers are seeking cheekier shapes made from innovative, comfortable fabrics.
Their high-waisted thong sales rose by 75 per cent by the end of 2025, proving that practicality doesn’t always mean abandoning sex appeal.
Other stylish brands to explore include Dora Larsen, Lemonade Dolls, and Bluebella.
Period-Proof Underwear Is a Game Changer
For younger wearers, functionality is just as important as fashion.
Period-proof underwear has taken off, with brands like Modibodi offering reusable, leak-proof pants in varying absorbency levels—from light to super-heavy—replacing disposable sanitary products.
Environmental impact is another major consideration.
Fluxies, a popular menstrual underwear brand, claims that one pair replaces up to 200 disposable items, with sales since 2017 preventing over 40 million disposables from hitting landfill.
M&S’s period knickers come with a triple-layer design: a moisture-wicking inner layer, an absorbent middle, and an anti-leak outer membrane.
Who knew so much engineering could fit into one gusset?
Sporty Knickers That Actually Work
Gone are the days of sweating in polyester undies that ride up mid-run.
Brands like Underdays and Lululemon have created performance-focused knickers for exercise.
The Workout Thong by Underdays features quick-dry fabric, a cotton gusset, and seams that move with you, eliminating chafing or visible panty lines.
Lululemon’s Invisiwear knickers are perfect for yoga or Pilates, with breathable sweat-wicking fabric, while Uniqlo’s seamless Airism briefs provide comfort under jeans or gym shorts—all for under ten pounds.
Shapewear Moves Into Style
Sculpting underwear has evolved since the early days of Spanx.
Skims, co-founded by Kim Kardashian in 2019, has become a dominant player, with its bestselling Core Sculpt briefs retailing at £80.
These pieces shape without cutting in or causing a “muffin top,” making them a favourite for red-carpet and everyday wear alike.
For those seeking high street options, brands like John Lewis offer firm control briefs with sheer-leg details, non-slip edges, and glamorous finishes, proving shapewear can be both functional and stylish.
Making Your Underwear Work for You
Whether you’re choosing big briefs for comfort, thongs for a sleek look, period-proof knickers for convenience, sporty pairs for workouts, or shapewear for a confidence boost, 2026 is the year to curate a drawer that truly works for your lifestyle.
Practical, sustainable, and stylish options are abundant—you just need to find your perfect fit.
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