Do you avoid wearing dresses because your thighs rub together uncomfortably? I know the literal pain of it, but I love dresses! So today, I’m sharing the best anti-chafing underwear for curvy women, and you’ll want a pair, too.
My passion for cotton underwear is not a secret. But they must be a perfect combination of softness and stretch, with a high enough percentage of cotton to keep you cool but not so much that they stretch out.
If you’ve purchased cotton slip shorts before and had loose bloomers by the end of the day, you know it’s a challenge. But I promise you, the anti-chaffing underwear I’m sharing today is pretty close to perfection and offers something for every size.
**Since I share shoppable links with awesome peeps like you, this content may contain affiliate links for products I use and love. If you take action and purchase from one of these links, I’ll make a little money to help keep this blog afloat. As an Amazon associate, I also earn from qualifying purchases.
Hey girls! Let’s talk about chub rub.
If you’re a curvy girl with no thigh gap – “Hello there, average woman” – you know the literal pain of wearing a dress, especially on a hot day. While it may look easy and breezy on the ‘skinny-straights,’ it’s anything but easy for us curvalicious ones.
Has this happened to you?
It’s a hot summer day, or perhaps you just run hot (Hello, Menopause). You pull out that gorgeous dress that will have you looking and feeling like a cover girl, easy, breezy, and beautiful. You head out the door perfectly put together, but the party hasn’t even begun before you’re miserable. You have no memory of putting “sticky fly paper” between your legs, and you could literally ring your underwear out. If only you could pry your thighs apart without it feeling like you’re ripping off a thousand Band-Aids at once!
For the Love of Dresses!
From the time I was a little girl, a dress has been my jam. My mom made lots of my childhood dresses. If I had any daughters (or granddaughters), my husband was warned that I would keep her well stocked in what I like to call ‘schoolgirl dresses.’ Those cute little numbers that are neither too frilly nor too grown. Just the right amount of feminine to make them adorable.
But alas, I have no girls, and wearing dresses without tights or pantyhose after I “filled out” has been too uncomfortable to enjoy fully.
THE BEST ANTI-CHAFING UNDERWEAR FOR CURVY WOMEN
HALLELUJAH! I found COTTON anti-chaffing underwear to wear with dresses that are so awesome. These longline cotton underwear from Calida are amaze-balls (no pun intended – we girls don’t have those 😉 )
Let me gush for a second. I’m pretty sure angels made the cotton. I had a couple of Calida briefs and knew the fabric quality was stupendous, so I figured there was a good chance that if this long-legged style fit well, they’d be keepers.
I wasn’t wrong! The Calida anti-chaffing underwear are like putting on comfort itself. I can’t remember the last summer I wore so many dresses and loved it! I have my childhood back.
I have them in black, white, and nude. The Calida Long Leg Cotton Short doesn’t stretch out with wear.
The only drawback is that extra-large is their largest, but they have a generous fit. I wear the extra-large, and I’m a size 18 for reference and about 52″ at the fullest part of my hips.
THE BEST SIZE-INCLUSIVE ANTI-CHAFING UNDERWEAR
For those who need plus-size anti-chafing underwear and more variety in style and materials, look no further than Thigh Society. When I started wearing these, Thigh Society only offered one buttery soft material with a nice “slip” under clothes.
But now they have five style options, including my beloved cotton. And some are available in up to 11 colorways!
Unsurprisingly, The Cotton is my favorite, but I’m also pretty enamored with The Cooling style and think of trying their Cargo style. Those would be great under anything without pockets to give you a place to stash your phone or cards.
Use code PAULA5 for a one-time $5 discount on your purchase.
Code valid 10/10/23-1/15/2024
IF YOU DON’T HAVE ANTI-CHAFING UNDERWEAR YOU LOVE, TRY THESE!
Another plus for wearing anti-chafing long-line underwear is the modesty and confidence I feel when I wear them.
None of these shorts discussed offer compression, which is fine by me. Compression would only add to the ‘hot factor.’ And not “hot” like Ashley Graham, either.
But if you long to wear a dress and feel as breezy as you look, I think you’ll be happy with any of these anti-chafing underwear.
When you’re literally running around in them without feeling like your thighs are duct-taped together, I’m pretty sure you’ll thank me.
I’m still crushing on that pink skirt my friend! Those underwear are genius and as per usual, you are just wicked funny! 🙂
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
Haha. I love your tagline for the undies: “stop the chub rub” 😉
Thanks for joining the Top of the World Style linkup party. Great look.
This is so helpful, thank you! I have one question though…are you supposed to wear underwear under shorts like this? Or even under other types of shapewear?
Author
Hi Rach!
I don’t wear underwear under the long line under and almost never under shapewear. At this stage of the game, I wear as little as possible while still being covered and “supported” and being covered. 😄
Stay cool and met me know if you try those undies…. I love mine!
Paula
I’m a new fan your ideas are fantastic !! I and my 50 yr old daughter have the same problems as you.
Author
The undie struggle is real – a real pain in the thigh. 😂
Hope you find some cotton undies you like and can experience comfort in skirts and dresses again. 😘
Hugs,
Paula
I have discovered the Soma “shape wear” level 1-skimming short. I wear them almost exclusively. They are not tight and dresses/shorts/skirts/pants all glide on so easily. I love them because . . . well, as you say, chub rub!
Author
I get it Gale, even at my skinny weight I have chub-rub. The “glide is nice but I think I must have some sort of “sensory” issues and cotton is my preferred fabric although I have other, more smoothing shorts for wearing under other things on occasion. But perhaps I’ll check out Soma’s shorts too.
Hugs,
Paula
Where did you get the white dress??? Beautiful!
Author
Hi Wendy! I do love this dress (affiliate link). I’m wearing the XL but it does run large so you may be able to size down as there are only small sizes left.
Best,
Paula
THANK YOU, Paula!!! I have suffered with chub rub for such a long time and never could find anything I really wanted to put on under my dresses (and I adore wearing them too!). Plus, if you’re wearing a dress for that “cool breeze” feeling, why would you want to add a layer of warmth on your thighs?? True story from when I was in my 20’s- we were at Hershey Park in the summer and I was pregnant with my daughter, and my son was a little more than a year old. I’m thinking I should wear a dress to keep cool. Did not give a thought to the heat and humidity walking around on macadam. By the time we were done at the Park, the stretch marks on my inner thighs were bright red and I was in tears from the pain. I’m now 67 and have never forgotten that pain that lasted days. I so wish they had invented these anti-chafing panties way back in 1982!! Sometimes modern times are actually better than those “good old days”!
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers, Paula.
Hugs,
Donna
Author
Thanks so much Donna!
And you are right, it’s a pain you never forget. 🥲
Hugs,
Paula
I will have to try these out. I just got back from a hiking trip and used Body Glide on my inner thighs. It worked like a charm. Great for when you cannot wear the longer undies.
Author
I’ve never had luck with the Glide products. My thighs might just be too much for it – the don’t just touch, they fight to get past one another. 😉
Best to you.
Paula
Paula, thank you for being so real in your posts. I found you a few months ago, and I’m so happy I did.
Praying for your precious family. Losing our parents is incredibly hard, no matter our age/their age, or if it’s expected or unexpected.
Author
Thanks so much Pam. You’re right, this is a hard season. Today, we were helping Dad with the life insurance claim and when we read Mom’s cause of death from the death certificate, “Metastisis Breast Cancer of bones, bowels, adreanal glands, pancreas, and rectum.” (and we know she had free floating cancer in her abdomen as well) we were struck once again with how strong and brave she was for the past four years and we’re so proud of her. She fought a good fight.
Hugs,
Paula
Gurrrl…I have been wearing chub rub preventers for decades! One time, we were on a little trip, and I’d forgotten them. I ran into the nearest Macy’s because I was in true pain. The Spanx brand were the only things I could find, but no way was I paying $70+. So, I hightailed it over to the workout section and bought a pair of workout shorts. I paid for them, told the lady I was going back to the changing rooms, and put them on! It was a bit too late to not have that awful rash, but I was at least able to walk again!
I get emails from Thigh Society all the time, but I just delete them…my bad! Right now, I have two pairs of CRPs that I rotate. One is by Spanx because I do like the extra compression, and the other is a pair I picked up at WalMart eons ago. Might be time to upgrade or at least add some!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Love thigh society – and will put Calida on my list to try. But have you tried Lume? Changed my world this hottest summmer on record PLUS late 40’s hot flashes all at once 😳. Under my boobs (I was literally getting yeast welts from the boob sweat – until Lume!) Panty line. And for Hotlanta humid 100° days – on the top of the butt as well!
Who would make anti chafing underwater for only sizes up to xl?????
Author
I know! It’s crazy. But the ones from Thigh Society are size inclusive and are now available in cotton as well. 😬
Best,
Paula
You are so charming and beautiful. I was struck by your photo in a red top that keeps showing up on my feed. Stunning!!!