Plus Size Briefs – Fit Guide

Short answer: Briefs in larger sizes should be chosen by fit rather than by the size label alone: good coverage, soft elastic and a stretchy material such as bamboo viscose that follows the body without pinching or cutting in anywhere.

What defines a good model

The most important details are a wide, soft elastic at the waist, leg edges that do not cut in, and a fabric with natural stretch. Bamboo viscose is elastic and holds its shape at the same time, so the brief follows the body without rolling. See the range of bamboo briefs.

Measure rather than guess

Measure the waist at its narrowest and the hips at their widest, and use the brand's own chart. A medium is not the same across brands, and the difference can be several centimetres. See the size guide for JBS of Denmark women before you order.

The hips carry more weight

Most models sit on the hip, which makes the hip measurement the decisive one of the two. If your two measurements fall in different sizes on the chart, follow the hips. The exception is high waisted models, where the waist decides because the edge sits up there.

A wide edge rather than a narrow one

The more body an elastic has to hold, the wider it needs to be. A narrow elastic cuts in and rolls down during the day, while a wide, softly knitted edge spreads the pressure over several centimetres and stays where it is put. That is the most important detail.

Leg length solves chafing between the thighs

If the thighs touch, only a model with a leg solves it. The leg has to end past the widest point of the thigh, otherwise the edge rolls up and makes the problem worse. That applies at any size, but it shows most clearly when the skin areas are larger.

Do not size up to solve pressure

If something pinches in one place, the rest becomes too big when you go a size up, and then it folds and creates a different kind of chafing. Find the model whose cut fits instead. It is more often a cut problem than a size problem.

Try one pair before buying more

Fit is personal, and brands vary more in cut than in number. Buy one pair, wear it for a week, and notice whether the edge stays put and whether anything shifts when you sit down. If it fits, buy more of the same model.

Washing that keeps the elastic springy

Wash at 30 to 40 degrees and hang them to dry. Elastane loses its spring in high heat, and the elastic is what gives up first. Skip the fabric softener, which closes off the moisture transport without softening the edge. See also bamboo underwear for women. See also find the right style of briefs and size guide for bamboo clothing.