How to hide panty lines
How to hide panty lines under leggings, dresses and fitted pants: why they show, which underwear styles help, the color rule and a quick test before you go out.
You love the pants. Then you catch the back view in a store window and there it is: a line cutting right across your seat. Visible panty lines are one of the most common outfit annoyances, and they have a few simple causes. Fix the cause and the line goes away.
Why do panty lines show?
There are three usual reasons.
- The edge is in the wrong place. A leg opening that crosses the fullest part of your seat will show under anything fitted.
- The seams are thick. Tommy John calls heavier, thicker seams the most common culprit, and notes that thin, tight clothing can reveal even slim ones.
- The fit is off. Commando explains that underwear that is too small cuts into skin and causes bulging, while underwear that is too big bunches and wrinkles.
The clothes matter too. Commando points out that very sheer or poorly fitting pants, skirts and leggings show more of what is underneath.
What kind of underwear hides panty lines?
- Seamless or raw-cut edges. Commando recommends raw-cut edges for a smooth look, and Tommy John says seamless, hem-free styles help most.
- Thongs. Commando calls a thong close to a guarantee against panty lines, and Tommy John says thong lines are far less noticeable. If you do not like thongs, keep reading.
- Boy shorts and hipsters. Commando says these give full coverage without cutting across the back the way a bikini cut does.
- Shapewear shorts or a bodysuit. Commando lists shapewear as a seamless option, and Leonisa suggests a bodysuit with a thong bottom or one that ends mid-thigh so no edge runs across your seat.
How do I hide panty lines without wearing a thong?
Move the edge. A short that ends at mid-thigh puts the leg band on your thigh, where a dress or wide-leg pant hangs freely, and a high waist puts the top band at your natural waist instead of across your hips. That is why shorts are a favorite under fitted skirts and dresses.
Our High Waist Shaping Short is one option made for this. It is a seamless nylon and spandex knit with a high waist, mid-thigh legs and a cotton gusset, and you choose your size by waist, from XS/S to 5XL. Fit still matters: if the legs ride up or the waist folds, try the size chart again rather than sizing down.
What color underwear is least visible?
A shade close to your own skin tone. Commando notes that under white clothing, skin-tone shades blend in while white underwear can show. Leonisa adds that black shorts can be visible through a lighter dress. Under dark clothes, matching the garment color works too.
Which underwear for leggings, jeans and dresses?
Tommy John suggests matching your underwear to what you are wearing on the bottom. A quick guide based on their advice and Commando's:
- Leggings: ultralight seamless underwear or a thong.
- Skinny jeans: boy shorts.
- High-waisted pants: high-rise briefs, so the waistbands line up.
- Loose skirts and flowing pants: slip shorts.
- Fitted dresses: seamless shorts or a bodysuit that ends mid-thigh.
For a fitted dress where you want one smooth piece, our Smoothing Faja Bodysuit ends at mid-thigh, has a 3-level hook-and-eye front and silicone lace bands at the leg.
Other ways to hide lines
- Choose thicker fabrics. Tommy John says cotton and wool cover better than sheer silk or lace, and suggests holding a garment up to the light to test it.
- Wear prints. Tommy John notes bold patterns camouflage lines.
- Layer tights. In cooler months, tights over your underwear smooth the whole leg.
Does the size of your clothes matter too?
Yes. Commando notes that poorly fitting clothes and low-quality leggings show lines more easily, and that overly sheer pants, skirts and dresses reveal what is underneath unless that is the look you want. If a pair of pants pulls tight across the seat, even perfect underwear may show. Sometimes the fix is the next size up in the pants, or a thicker fabric, not new underwear. Tommy John also points out that some underwear leaves indentations that stay for a while after you take it off, which is another sign the elastic is pressing too hard.
The two-minute test
Commando's last tip is the best one: before you leave, bend over, sit and squat in the outfit, and look at it in natural or bright light. If a line shows, it will show then, and you can still change.
Keep going: Shapewear compression levels explained: light vs firm and Shapewear bodysuit vs shaping shorts: which do you need?.
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Questions
What causes visible panty lines?
Mostly seams and edges that sit across the seat, plus fit. Commando explains that underwear that is too small cuts in and bulges, and underwear that is too big bunches. Tommy John adds that thick seams are the most common culprit.
What underwear does not show panty lines?
Seamless or raw-cut styles that lie flat. Thongs leave the fewest lines, and boy shorts or shorts move the edge off the seat entirely.
Should underwear match your skin tone or your clothes?
Your skin tone, especially under white. Commando notes that skin-tone shades disappear under white clothing, while white underwear can show.
How do you hide panty lines without a thong?
Wear a style that ends somewhere else. Boy shorts, high-rise briefs or mid-thigh shorts put the edge on your waist or thigh instead of across the curve of your seat.
How can I check for panty lines before I leave?
Commando suggests bending, sitting and squatting in the outfit, and checking it in natural or bright light.
Keep reading
Sources: Commando: how to get rid of panty lines · Tommy John: how to avoid visible panty lines · Leonisa: the best shapewear for dresses