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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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
	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