Slip Shorts – The Complete Guide
Short answer: Slip shorts are close fitting, soft shorts you wear under dresses and skirts to stop the thighs chafing and to feel secure. In bamboo viscose they are breathable, soft and all but invisible under clothing.
What slip shorts are
Slip shorts sit close around the thighs and hips like short, soft shorts with no pockets and no seams that show on the outside. They are worn under dresses, skirts and thin trousers, either directly against the skin or over an ordinary pair of briefs.
Why so many people use them
Three reasons come up again and again: they stop the thighs rubbing against each other on warm days, they hide underwear under floaty dresses, and they give peace of mind on windy days. Many wear them daily all summer, others all year under a skirt at work.
The fabric matters most
Precisely because slip shorts sit close to the skin in a warm place, the fabric is what decides. Bamboo viscose is soft, breathable and moves sweat away from the skin, so nothing turns clammy. Have a look at the range of slip shorts, where the leg openings are sewn flat.
Choosing the size
Take your usual size. The leg opening should sit firm so it does not roll up, but without digging in and leaving a mark. If you fall between two sizes, take the larger one, because shorts that pull at the thigh travel upwards during the day.
Length decides how well they work
Short models disappear under most dresses but only protect the upper part of the thigh. If chafing is what you want to avoid, the shorts have to reach past the point where the thighs touch. Measure that on yourself rather than guessing.
What to wear them under
Under a light summer dress they are almost invisible, because the fabric is thin and the edge lies flat. Under a close fitting skirt a thick edge can show, and then a model with a laser cut edge works best. Dark shorts under pale clothing can be seen.
What they do not replace
Slip shorts are a layer on top, not a substitute. Most people wear them together with ordinary bamboo briefs, because the shorts do not have the same gusset and are not sewn to be washed as often. The rest of the range sits under bamboo underwear for women.
Washing and lifespan
Wash at 30 degrees on a gentle cycle and leave out fabric softener, which settles in the fibres and makes the fabric less breathable. A tumble dryer wears the elastane in the leg opening, and that is the part that has to hold its shape. Hung up to dry, they are ready the next day. See also bamboo and temperature regulation and washing and caring for bamboo clothing.
Frequently asked questions
Can slip shorts be worn instead of briefs?
Some people do, but most wear them on top. Slip shorts are sewn as an outer layer, which is why the gusset and the edges are not the same as in an ordinary pair of briefs.
Do slip shorts roll up the thigh?
Not if the size is right and the leg opening sits firm. It happens when the shorts are too small and pull at the thigh, or when the fabric is smooth and has no silicone edge.
Can they be seen under a thin dress?
Rarely, if the colour is close to the clothing and the edge lies flat. Under very pale, thin dresses skin tone shows least, just as with the rest of your underwear.
See our range of bamboo shorts for women.
