The Complete Bloke's Guide to Knickers
Want to buy some knickers for your partner but don't know your tangas from your hipsters? Read our easy to follow Complete Guide and you'll be a panty pro in no time!
As Joey Tribbiani once said, "Thongs are a feat of engineering; it's amazing what they can do with such little material…"
If you are similarly in awe of the thong but want to check out some different shapes and designs for your partner, our no-nonsense, easy to follow guide will explain each main variation of 'the knicker' so you know exactly what you're looking for when shopping in our lingerie section.
In order to make your life a lot simpler, we've cut down the flouncy world of female underpants to 10 main styles, starting with some ultra-classy French knickers…
French knickersHigh-waisted full, floaty panties that sit in the small of the back, skim the hips and buttocks then curve into a thong piece |
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Suitable for: |
Women with fuller bottoms and shapely hips |
Wear with: |
Empire line dress |
Why buy? |
To persuade your girl to have a Parisian-themed romp in some posh hotel room |
Celeb style: |
Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Kelly Brook |
ThongsA minimal coverage panty with wider sides than a G-string (see below), a triangle shaped front panel and a thin 'Y' or 'T' shaped back panel |
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Suitable for: |
Thongs suit most body shapes, especially slimmer figures, but it takes confidence to wear a thong and be comfortable in it |
Wear with: |
Pencil skirt |
Why buy? |
You can ogle your girl's booty bouncing around the bedroom |
Celeb style: |
Christina Aguilera, Paris Hilton, Chantelle |
Hipsters
Mid-coverage low-rise panties that sit on the hips and cling to the buttocks |
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Suitable for: |
Sleek figures with a flat tummy and toned hips |
Wear with: |
Hipster jeans |
Why buy? |
Makes your partner's buttocks look pert and juicy |
Celeb style: |
Sienna Miller, Jennifer Aniston |
Girl Boxers
More high-waisted than hipsters with complete coverage of the buttocks |
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Suitable for: |
Any body shape |
Wear with: |
Tracksuit pants |
Why buy? |
To make her feel better when slobbing out in your boxers |
Celeb style: |
Britney Spears, Hilary Swank, Lily Allen |
Brazilian KnickersVery thin, high-leg ruffled panties that sit just above the hips |
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Suitable for: |
Long-legged beauties with firm thighs and trim bikini lines |
Wear with: |
Skimming mini dresses |
Why buy? |
So you can worship your girlfriend's perfect pins |
Celeb style: |
Gisele Bundchen, Eva Longoria, Mischa Barton |
Full BriefsMaximum coverage panties that aren't as high waisted as 'control' panties but just as wide across the hips and buttocks |
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Suitable for: |
Full-figured women who prefer maximum coverage and complete support |
Wear with: |
Anything high-waisted and loose fitting - full briefs equal a huge visible panty line (VPL)! |
Why buy? |
Er, because you like your partner to wear the same underwear as your mum? |
Celeb style: |
Bridget Jones, Fern Britten, Lorraine Kelly |
Bikini BriefsIn between a thong and a brief, bikinis rest below the navel and a high-cut leg |
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Suitable for: |
Sporty types who need flexibility from their panties |
Wear with: |
Skinny jeans |
Why buy? |
They're naughty without being full-on slutty |
Celeb style: |
Lindsay Lohan, Victoria Beckham, Brittany Murphy |
String bikini
A sexy panty with string sides or ribbon ties that offers a wider back panel than a G-string |
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Suitable for: |
Well-toned curvaceous types with firm thighs and flat tummies |
Wear with: |
One of your old Hooter's T-shirts |
Why buy? |
Ripping off your girlfriend in the heat of the moment |
Celeb style: |
Pamela Anderson, Nicole Richie, Billie Piper |
G-String
Also known as micro-pants and usually made from microfiber, these are the tiniest pants you can buy while still covering your girl's modesty |
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Suitable for: |
Sexy girls with bags of confidence |
Wear with: |
Tight, teeny dresses - there's no VPL! |
Why buy? |
Sending you into meltdown |
Celeb style: |
Katie Price, Jenna Jameson, Abi Titmuss |
High-cut BriefsModerate coverage brief that's cut very high on the leg |
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Suitable for: |
Shorter women who need to add length to their legs and support their tummies |
Wear with: |
Butt-skimming, wide-leg trousers |
Perfect for: |
Making your partner's small but perfectly formed pins look longer |
Celeb style: |
Jessica Simpson, Kylie Minogue, Fern Cotton |