If you don’t own at least several pairs of boring, no-frills underwear, get some. As a collector of understated, even grandma-ish underwear from brands like Baserange and Commando, I can tell you that bland, sexless underwear is the best. It’s comfortable, flattering, and always gets the job done without extraneous wires, lace, or tags. So when I heard that Everlane was producing its first line of underwear (which launched in stores on Monday), the minimalist in me rejoiced.
Like Everlane’s established crop of elevated basics, these undies aren’t reinventing the wheel or looking to become a date-night staple (no lace trim, padding, or sheer bits here). Instead, they are aggressively plain in shades of white, black, pale pink, and gray. I’ve fallen for thin, nylon undies from Uniqlo before, which have the texture of angel skin, but also the tendency to ride up into a wedgie by midday. These are not that. Trust me. Upon hearing about the launch, I asked to test out a few styles firsthand and ended up with the high-rise hipster and the bikini.
On first impression, they are light and tagless, but not to be mistaken for a basic Hanes (they’re soft Supima cotton, excuse me). They have the comfort level of a lived-in pair of undies, but still have shape and structure. They flatter your waist and hug your curves, but don’t pinch at the waistline like other elastic briefs or ride up. You’d have to be really squinting to detect any VPL, too, but if you’re looking to eliminate it completely, Everlane also makes a thong and a hipster style to round out your options, plus boxer briefs for men. Sizing runs up to an XL in bras (38-inch band size, or 34-inch bust) and panties (32 3/4–inch waist). Below, my thoughts on the specific styles I practically lived in this week.
I love a good high-waisted moment because it makes your butt look like it’s starring in its own ’90s Calvin Klein commercial. A month or so ago, I was hunting for some high-waisted undies that gave me the feel of a pair of Baserange bell pants (sturdy, but muted), minus the price tag. Reader, this comes pretty damn close. These slide right up to your navel, hug but don’t squeeze your midrange, and don’t lose their shape or bunch up around your hips during the day. I could see myself loading up on these in a bunch of different colors, though white really nails that “Carrie Bradshaw in tighty-whities” vibe.
For low-rise people who want something in the reliably wedgie-free zone, here you are. These are lightweight, bikini-cut options that are made for wearing every day (I’d advise buying them in multiples).
Besides underwear, Everlane also offers a bodysuit and a tank bra (which, of course, I had to try as well).
I find typical “soft bras” that aren’t padded, like this, very comfortable, but probably best suited for lounging at home, going to yoga, or wearing with a loose sweater, since they tend to lack support and show off everything. This Everlane bra is double-walled, though, so there’s a little more shielding going on, and I have a feeling it would look very cute peeking out from underneath a workout top. It has that athletic, sports-bra-like feel.
As someone who doesn’t identify as a “bodysuit person,” I wasn’t really sure about this one. Teaser photos show models wearing these with high-waisted jeans, so it comes across as an everyday look that you could ostensibly wear out of the house. There’s no lining, though, so virtually everything is on display, and the back is so low that it defeats the purpose of wearing a bra with it. It’s tough to get the fit right on bodysuits, too, and this wasn’t very form-fitting on my petite five-three frame, but if you have broader shoulders and a longer torso, you would look more natural lounging in one of these guys.
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