The Underwear Edit

What every twenty-something needs in her top drawer. By our Expert, Chloe Grant

As a twenty-something, your life is constantly changing.

You move towns, you move careers, you move relationships.

Yet, for some reason, your underwear drawer doesn’t often get a much-needed refresh with each transition.

Then, one day, you look around and realise you’re still wearing the Primark multi-pack of pants you picked up in the first year of uni — with the occasional lacy Boux Avenue thong thrown into the mix for good measure — and realise that you, as a woman, have changed dramatically, but your underwear drawer has remained the same.

More often than not, it’s because we’re never taught how to curate a top drawer that works for our bodies, planet, and lifestyles. How to know what fabrics work best with our intimate areas. How to find a bra that actually fits.

Introducing: The Underwear Edit. The guide that every twenty-something needs for creating an underwear drawer that’s elevated, comfortable, and sustainable.

Okay, first things first, let’s start with bras, and the all-important question:

When was the last time you had a bra fitting?

If, like me, you grew up in the UK and hit teenage years in the early-to-mid 2010s, then I can likely envisage your first (and probably only!) bra fitting. Picture the scene: it’s the summer after Year 8, and your mom has dragged you to your local M&S for your first ‘big girl bra’. After a few awkward minutes with a middle-aged shop assistant and a tape measure, you were told you were a 32B and sent on your way.

Sound familiar?

A lot of us haven’t considered returning for another professional bra fitting since that day and, as a result, have hung on to that size we were given at the age of 12 ever since.

It probably won’t come as a surprise then that 80% of bra-wearers are wearing the wrong size bra, which means, statistically, the size currently sitting in your underwear drawer probably isn’t a true reflection of your body size. Especially if that size hasn’t been updated in a decade.

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As women in our twenties, we’ve been particularly impacted by this. As we hit early womanhood — and our bodies transitioned from teenagers into women—the entire world was deep in a lockdown, and you couldn’t easily get your bra size measured.

This lack of access to fitting — and Covid’s consequential impact on everyone favouring comfy bralettes over supportive bras—has resulted in a high percentage of our age group struggling to find bras that are comfortable and, most importantly, correctly-fitting.

So, naturally, the first step to auditing your undies drawer is to go and get properly measured.

The best bra fitters fit by eye, not with a measuring tape, so my top tip is to try and find a local bra fitter offering this service. Often the quickest way to do this is literally to Google ‘bra fitters near me’; most independent bra fitters will use this technique! If you’re still struggling to find someone I highly recommend following Helen Masters from Pudding Lingerie, she’s sure to know someone local to you if you’re based in the UK.

Truly feel too awkward to let someone else measure you? Most women are wearing a band that’s too big and a cup that’s too small. Go to a local bra retailer, try on this size, known as a sister size (for instance, if you’re wearing a 36C try a 34D), and see if that makes any difference. A bit of trial and error will get you there in the end!

Remember: a well-fitting bra should have a firm back band that sits straight across your back, cups that contain all of your breast tissue (even the bit that sits almost under your armpit!), and should sit flat to the centre of your chest.

Now, on to knickers.

While it may be a lot easier to find your size for this section of your underwear drawer, another problem presents itself: fabric choices.

Whilst sorting through your drawer, make a note of how much of it is made from synthetic fibres, such as polyester, nylon, or polyamide. These are all plastic-based, man-made fibres that don’t work well close to intimate areas. They trap moisture, sweat, and smells (not ideal for underwear!) and can interact badly with our bodies, immune systems, and hormones.

Want to understand more about how polyester pants can impact your body? Read this.

When buying underwear, it’s always best to opt for natural or bio-based fibres that are able to work more in tune with our bodies. They’re naturally more moisture- wicking, temperature-regulating, and comfortable; and they don’t emit harmful toxins!

I love Stripe & Stare’s Original Knicker — made from a fabric created from wood- pulp!—one of their multipacks is a great place to start. HUHA’s Mineral Undies™ are a great choice if you’re prone to irritation or frequent UTIs, as their mineral-infused gusset has been designed to allow your body to truly breathe. I’ve also got my eye on these cute polka dot ones from Underdays; they do bundle offers on their knickers, making them a great choice for when you’re starting your undies drawer from scratch.

If you’re on a budget and can’t splurge on any of the bio-based options above then you can still get great natural fibre options in supermarkets and high street brands, just make sure to look for ones marked as ‘100% cotton’.

Let’s collectively say goodbye to the days of plastic pants clogging up our undies drawer.

Want some more suggestions of plant-based pants? Check out this post here.

Okay, so now we’ve successfully cleared out our underwear drawer, what can you do with the bras and pants that no longer work for you?

Unfortunately, due to their intimate nature and synthetic blends, the majority of underwear is relegated to landfill at end-of-life. That’s another great reason to opt for natural or bio-based options from the get-go; at the end of their life they can be composted, feeding back into our beautiful Earth, rather than ending up in landfill for centuries.

With that being said, any polyester undies that you’ve cleared out will likely end up having to go in the bin. First, double-check if any local textile recycling facilities accept underwear or garments made from textile blends. If so, this should be your first port of call.

Bras are a little easier to pass on.

Against Breast Cancer are a brilliant UK-based charity that accept bra donations through their bra banks. Reusable bras are donated to women in need, whilst others are sent to textile recycling facilities or sold on as scrap, allowing the charity to raise money for vital research into breast cancer. You can find your local bra bank here.

Not based in the UK? The Bra Recyclers are a great option for those of you in the USA & Canada, and Etam stores offer in-store bra banks across Europe.

With a new bra size, fresh new natural undies, and a boost of confidence in your underwear drawer, you’ll feel ready to take on the world, safe in the knowledge that your boobs are supported, the planet is being protected, and you’re wearing knickers that you (and your body!) will love.

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A huge thank you to Chloe Grant, the voice behind Making Sustainability Sexy, for sharing her expertise with us. As a sustainable intimate apparel designer and Editor-in-Chief of People Over Product, Chloe is pushing for a more thoughtful future in lingerie and swimwear — a space that’s long overdue the conversation.

Her work explores everything from material innovation to the realities of the industry, all grounded in the belief that fashion can be both beautiful and kinder to people and planet.

Read more of Chloe’s work over on Making Sustainability Sexy.