High-waisted briefs

Fabrics and comfort

The wide panel of fabric across the tummy smooths your shape without the squeeze you get from firm control briefs.

The cut is comfortable during pregnancy and after giving birth, and also after abdominal surgery, when an elastic sitting halfway up the tummy digs in. It works well in winter too, because it covers the lower back.

When choosing, check whether the top edge is finished with a soft, wide elastic or simply a turned-over hem. A wide elastic holds more securely; a narrow one tends to roll. In a knit with elastane the knickers keep their shape after many washes; pure cotton feels nicer against the skin but stretches out sooner.

The collection includes cotton, lace and seamless styles, including larger sizes. Wash at 30°C without fabric conditioner. Dispatch in 1-2 working days, orders over PLN 199 ship free, returns within 14 days.

Which style to choose

High-waisted knickers are back in favour, and not only because high-rise trousers are in fashion. Their advantage is practical: the waistband sits above the hip line, so they do not slide down as you move, they do not cut a dent into the tummy and they lie flat under a jersey dress.

High-waisted styles fall into several types. Classic high-rise briefs in soft cotton are simply comfortable and work well in pregnancy and the postnatal weeks, because they do not compress. Versions in a dense knit or microfibre have a light shaping effect and smooth the waistline under close-fitting clothes. Firmly compressing styles with a reinforcing panel are already shapewear - wear them occasionally, because prolonged pressure on the tummy is simply uncomfortable. A separate group is high-waisted lace knickers, where the raised waist is mainly a visual effect.

What should you watch out for when buying? Above all, where the waistband ends: the higher it sits, the more your waist measurement matters, not just your hips. A pair that is too small will roll up. Check that the waistband elastic is wide and covered - with a high waist, a narrow elastic leaves the deepest mark. Look at the leg line too: the higher it is cut, the more the style lengthens the leg visually, but the more easily it rides up.

Washing and care

The usual rules apply to washing: a low temperature, no fabric conditioner, drying without wringing. That is enough to stop the wide elastic losing its spring after a few months.