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Not exactly the easiest topic to write about (I mean, underwear?!). But, me being who I am, I jump when something’s important to talk about, even if it’s hidden in plain sight. (Kind of like talking about being heavy and not finding chairs that fit your hips or shirts that won’t stay buttoned, or, well you get the idea…)
I digress. What I want to talk to you about is underwear that avoids the dreaded thigh chafing. I grew up with chafed thighs. Somehow nobody had come up with the brilliant idea of putting a pair of close-fitting shorts UNDER your skirt so your endowed thighs would not chafe together. It was years of painful experiences, let me tell you. Finally, tight, stretchy shorts made an appearance and some brilliant women realized you could wear them under dresses and skirts and–magic!--no more thigh rubbing.
As creative a work-around as it was, us fat people found we were still stuck in the same cycle–almost impossible to find things sized for us. And then, very gradually, they started making plus-sized items. And then they started making them even bigger. (It’s almost as if they looked around and noticed that there are a lot of heavy women!)
I am happy to present to you a few options available at everyone’s store, Amazon. (I know, sometimes it’s painful to shop there, but gosh, between their prices, reviews, and speedy delivery, it’s hard to resist!)
First are the anti--chafing cotton boy shorts. These are great They come in XS to 5XL, which in this case means hips up to 63.5”. And they’re stretchy, so if you worry that you’re a little over that, I’d advise giving them a try to see if they’ll fit. There is a touch of ride-up on your thighs, so I take 2 points off for that. If they don’t work for you, always return them! (Another plus for Amazon. Easy returns. Sorry. Not sorry.)
I wear these under skirts and dresses in the cooler months. I’ve been known to swim in them. I use them as PJs all year, throwing on a cotton t-shirt to go with them. They’re so comfortable that I forget I’m wearing them--it’s like they’re an extension of my body. I love the fun colors, too–I got hot pink, turquoise, and lime green :) If you need something comfortable to slip into, these fit the bill. Just yesterday my daughter was complaining about her burning thighs, after spending a day in a dress. I’m sending her some of these!
These Wirapa shorts get a 95% rating.
The second kind that I recommend is these shortlettes. (Side note, please, somebody come up with a good name!) Unlike the ones described above, these are made of polyester and spandex, and are both comfortable and durable. I don’t know if it’s climate change or me getting older, but I get super hot in the summer. And when I wear the cotton shorts, they feel a little too heavy. I realize that cotton should make things cooler, but that’s not how it shows up for me. These, however, do the trick.
They are very stretchy and go up to a 66” hip. They come in multiple colors and styles. These are great for when it’s hot out and I need the inner thigh protection that comes with wearing a sundress. Like the cotton shorts, if you get these and they don’t fit, return them. If people can’t carry the sizes we need, we’re making a statement by returning things that don’t work for us!
These shorts are super smooth and stretchy, which I love. I have a couple of short-ish skirts that I wear in the summer, and these cover enough that I’ve got the benefit of thigh protection while still being discrete (my middle name. HA!). And if I feel they are showing a bit, I can always scrunch them up a little to allow less coverage.
These Undersummer Shortlettes also get a 95%. I think they are a tad pricey and I don’t love the style, but definitely do the trick. And they feel pretty smooth, too.
The third ones I’m reviewing today are called boxer briefs. Which, in fact, is a pretty good name for them. Better than other suggestions, in my book!
The shorts are a little different, in that they do not automatically come as waist-high briefs. They fit around the hips more like a modest bikini. They do offer high-waisted ones (which I prefer), but they only go up to a 3x, not a 5x like the others. However, I will point out that their 5x goes up to 70”, which is very difficult to find. (Hello manufacturers, there are many people that need these bigger sizes!!) Could somebody point out that we larger women like to have full coverage?
Other than that OOPS!, these are great shorts. They are 95% micro-modal and 5% spandex. For those of you who, like me, need a definition of micro-modal, it is a sustainable material made out of renewable beech trees and is very luxurious, not unlike linen and silk. Nice–and it’s a lot easier to care for! These are very comfortable, and, amazingly, not at all see-through.
These Poseshe boxers get a 96.25%, with a couple of points off for the hip-hugger style. They are much less expensive than the shortlettes, but significantly more than the first choice.
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