What Should Women Over 50 Look For When Buying Underwear?

Finding underwear you love shouldn't become harder as you get older. But for many women, the styles they happily wore in their twenties and thirties simply don't feel as comfortable anymore.

Bodies change. Pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause and ageing can all affect our shape, skin and what feels comfortable against the body.

The answer isn't to hide or change your body. It's to find underwear designed to work with the body you have today.

So, what should you look for when buying underwear for women over 50?

1. Look at Where the Waistband Sits

The rise of your underwear can make an enormous difference to comfort.

For many women, lower-rise briefs finish across the softer part of the stomach, where waistbands can dig in or roll down. A higher rise moves the waistband further up the torso and can provide a more secure, comfortable fit.

This doesn't mean compression. Comfortable high-waisted underwear should gently follow the body rather than squeeze it. And it certainly shouldn't dig in uncomfortably.

2. Pay Attention to Leg Openings and Bottom Coverage

A pair of underwear can technically be the correct size and still be the wrong shape for your body.

Leg openings that are too tight can dig in, while insufficient coverage across the bottom can lead to underwear riding up throughout the day.

Look for full-coverage underwear with thoughtfully shaped leg openings and enough fabric across the bottom to stay comfortably in place.

3. Choose Fabrics That Feel Beautiful Against Your Skin

Comfort isn't only about fit. Fabric matters enormously.

If your skin has become more sensitive over time, pay attention to what actually sits against it all day. Look for soft, breathable underwear and avoid unnecessarily scratchy fabrics or heavy elastics around sensitive areas.

At Wicks, every piece is lined with GOTS-certified organic cotton.

We do this because we believe the part of your underwear sitting closest to the most sensitive areas of your body deserves particular consideration. So while our pieces are much more technical in their construction, to the wearer they feel like a simple, organic cotton brief.

4. Think About Moisture, Not Just Absorbency

Not every woman needs absorbent underwear every day. But almost everyone benefits from underwear that manages moisture well.

Heat, perspiration, discharge and life's little leaks can all leave ordinary underwear feeling damp or uncomfortable.

This is where moisture-wicking underwear can be particularly useful. Wicks All Day Fresh range pieces are designed with moisture-wicking technology, alongside antimicrobial and anti-odour protection, to help you feel fresher throughout the day.

Different styles also offer varying levels of discreet absorbency when you need a little more protection.

5. Don't Assume Practical Means Boring

For too long, underwear for older women has been treated as an entirely practical category.

More coverage? Make it boring.
More comfort? Make it grey in colour.
A little discreet absorbency? Make it look medical.

We don't think any of those things need to be true.

Lingerie for mature women can have higher waistlines, fuller coverage and clever functionality while still using beautiful fabrics, considered proportions and elegant design.

We understand the women don't suddenly stop appreciating beautiful things when they turn 50.

6. Buy for the Body You Have Today

Perhaps the most important thing to look for isn't a particular fabric, waistband or brief shape.

It's how you feel when you put it on.

Don't buy the size you think you should wear. Don't keep buying the same cut simply because you've worn it for 20 years. And don't assume discomfort is something you have to accept as you get older.

The best underwear for women over 50 should work with your body rather than asking your body to work around it.

At Wicks, we design underwear for bodies that have lived a little. Because your body isn't supposed to stay the same throughout your life.

Your underwear can evolve with you.