Skirts + Summer = Hurray! But what to wear underneath? That can be a conundrum. Avoid thigh rubbing, accidental wardrobe malfunctions, and swamp butt with my tips on what to wear under your summer skirts!
Big shout out to my assistant, Kat, for asking me to share my thoughts in this post. As NYC residents, Kat and I walk almost everywhere. And walking in NYC in the summer is hot, humid, and gross. Wearing a skirt is a great way to ventilate down there, and let the cool breeze caress my legs. Not to mention, I looooove how a dress or skirt looks. It’s one of my favorite styles of clothing to wear! Swishy full skirts, graceful midi skirts, and even daring mini skirts – huge hurray from me. But wearing a skirtalso comes with a few hazards:
- Wind from nature.Wind feels good on my legs but it can also blow myskirt up and give passersby an up close and personal look at myundies.
- Wind from the subway. THE WORST. Whether you’re walking over a grate, going down the stairwell, or standing on the platform, an approaching train can be a skirt-flipping-panic-inducing situation. Especially if you’re hands are full and you can’t hold your skirt in place.
- Sweat. Can we just call it what it is: it’s swamp ass. It’s that sweaty, icky, sticky feeling of sweat soaked underwear sticking to your lady area and sucking the fun out of summer.
- Rubbing. Sweat + thighs + walking = ooohhh noooo. I know about .05 people who actually have a thigh gap, and even those people experience some kind of ugh over this issue. It’s a problem we all face, ladies.
Here are some solutions for the common problems above:
Slips are an underused undergarment. A slip saved me from showing too much in my wedding dress, and it’s saved me many times again. Slips provide a few awesome things: modesty (just in case that dress is accidentally see-through in the sunlight), a layer between you and your skirt (helpful so your skirt doesn’t stick to your butt and legs), and a base layer in case of wind (I’d rather accidentally show my slip than my thighs and underwear).
A few great slips to try:
- Commando – I wore their seamless half slip with my wedding dress. It has little weights at the bottom to keep it from riding up. They have a wide variety.
- Free People – They have a fantastic selection of full and half slips, including basic and fashion styles. Try a lace style. If it shows a little bit, make it part of your outfit.
- fullbeauty – this site has lots of basic slips in many lengths and culottes (which look like old timey undies!) in sizes for fuller figures.
Wearing pants gives you that layer between your thighs that you’re just wishing for when wearing a skirt. In the Fall and Winter, you can wear tights, but Summer requires a different method. Shorts provide a few amazing functions: They’ll provide some coverage if a gust of wind comes by. They’ll also help you avoid thigh rubbing and chafing. And they can enhance your look!
- Cotton bike shorts – There’s something to be said for good old fashioned, cotton bike shorts. Cheap, breathable, and they come in a zillion colors.
- Thigh Society – This Canadian company makes shorts specifically designed to eliminate “chub rub”. Made of a special moisture releasing material, they are not intended to be shapewear. So you and your thighs can breathe easy.
- Jockey Skimmies Moisture-Wicking Shorts – These moisture-wicking shorts also help you avoidchafing witha cotton panel design. Plus, you canenjoy ventilation thanks to the mesh panels that run down the outer thighs.
- Hanky Panky Lace Shorts – I love the combination of breathable and pretty lace. Not only are you avoiding chaffing and sweat, you’re looking cute while doing it. Hurray!
One of my favorite solutions, the bumbrella is a mini slip with a built-in panty or thong. In one of my favorite poststo date, I’ve got a whole review of this fun little product that includes a video, photo shoot, and a puppy. I wear bumbrellas regularly with skirts of every length. Truly a lifesaver and sooo comfortable to wear!
True story time!I was once wearing a beautiful DKNY dress, with a flowing, silk skirt. I went walking up Lexington Avenue in NYC, strolling past a diner on the Upper Easter Side where patrons were sitting in booths and enjoying their food. Because of how the booths were situated, thesepatrons just happened to be about eye level with my thighs. And a subway car just happened to breeze by underneath me. And my skirt just happened to go up to about my head, giving said patrons a full frontal view of what was underneath.
Of course I was embarrassed, as I scrambled off of the subway grate and grabbed at my skirt. But I was also very relieved, because I was wearing a super cute pair of underwear. That’s right! I thought, “well, at least if they were going to see it, they saw something cute!” So, if you think there’s a chance that someone else may see what’s underneath (subway grate or not – ow ow!), why not wear something pretty! Bonus: even if no one sees them, YOU know you’re wearing something sassy, and that feels great. Hurray!
If you’re not afraid of the “omg they might see this” option, there are a few less covered methodsthat can keep you cool down there. For instance, you can always go sans underwear! This is a little too risky for me, but I have several friends who loooove to go commando.
If that’s too little for you, try a pair of breathable lace or mesh panties. OnGossamer makes whisper thin mesh panties, boyshorts, and thongs that let the air flow through! Try a few different brands and see what feels good for you.
Another option to stay fresh underneath your skirt is to try undiesmade from an odor blocking and moisture wicking material. Mielmakes thongs, panties, bralettes (like the blue set I’m wearing above), and camisoles (like the red one I’m wearing at the very top) designed with scientifically advanced materials that do just that. This sweet sciencemakes them soft, comfortable, breathable, and fresh! In fact, I wore them while in the heat of Mexico on my Hurray Vacay and felt a-ok.
{Pssst!Here’s a hurray for you: Get 15% off of your order on the Miel website all summer when you use codemiel4kimmay.Code expires September 1st, 2016).
- Built-in shorts: In the title photoabove, I am wearing a skirt that has built-in shorts, made of the same material of the skirt. Is that not the COOLEST? What’s more, I bought this skirtat a discount store in Queens for $6. I alsorecently went to a dance party with a friend who bought a fun dress that also had built-in shorts. She got hers at Mandee, an inexpensive junior’s store, for a really low price, too! To be honest, I had a hard time finding anything online, but I KNOW that these exist out there. If you find something, tweet at me!(PS: I’m also wearing a camisole from Miel, which is made of the same material as the anti microbial underwear!)
- Bandelettes: These little thigh bands are designed to cover just the area of your thighs that rub against each other. They’re almost like wearing just the top of a thigh high stocking. They featuretwo rows of stay up silicone that hold them in place, and claim to be super comfortable without digging in. I haven’t tried these myself, but I’d be willing to!
- Body Glide:A favorite of runners to avoid thigh chaffing, this is also a hot item among those with thicker thighs and a firm dislike of rubbing. I have yet to try this, but it has a very loyal following!
Hurray for summer and skirts! Which method will you try? Which tips made you say hurray?
PS: The photos in this post were taken by Becky Yee of Around Digital Media. As always, I never photo shop or alter my body. It’s my commitment to you to show what a real body looks like, and my hope that you’ll feel inspired to embrace and love your body just as it is, too.
PPS: Miel was a sponsor of the Hurray Vacay, which means they paid to participate in my campaign and for content like this. Their brand name means “honey” in Spanish, and they are a wonderful brand with great products, and owned by two sisters. I’m so thankful to them for making the trip possible!
As a seasoned fashion enthusiast with a keen eye for style and a deep understanding of the challenges that come with wearing skirts during the summer, let me share my expertise on the concepts discussed in the article.
-
Skirt Styles:
- The author expresses a love for various skirt styles, including swishy full skirts, graceful midi skirts, and daring mini skirts. The article suggests that skirts are a favorite clothing choice, especially during the summer, as they allow for ventilation and a stylish look.
-
Challenges of Wearing Skirts in Summer:
- The article identifies specific challenges faced while wearing skirts in the summer, such as wind-related wardrobe malfunctions, the discomfort of sweat (referred to as "swamp butt"), and the issue of thigh rubbing during walking.
-
Solutions:
- The author provides practical solutions to the challenges mentioned:
- Slips: Emphasizes the use of slips for modesty, preventing see-through incidents, and acting as a barrier between the skirt and the body. Recommendations include slips from Commando, Free People, and fullbeauty.
- Shorts: Suggests wearing shorts underneath skirts to prevent wind exposure and avoid thigh rubbing. Various options include cotton bike shorts, Thigh Society shorts designed to eliminate chafing, Jockey Skimmies Moisture-Wicking Shorts, and Hanky Panky Lace Shorts.
- Bumbrella: Recommends the use of a bumbrella, a mini slip with a built-in panty or thong, as a comfortable solution to wear with skirts.
- Fashionable Underwear: Encourages wearing pretty and breathable lace or mesh panties, with brand recommendations like OnGossamer. Also mentions odor-blocking and moisture-wicking underwear from Miel.
- The author provides practical solutions to the challenges mentioned:
-
Personal Anecdote:
- The author shares a personal story about a wardrobe malfunction in a flowing silk skirt, highlighting the importance of wearing attractive underwear in case of accidental exposure.
-
Additional Options:
- The article mentions alternative methods for staying cool underneath skirts, such as going commando or opting for breathable lace or mesh panties. It introduces Miel, a brand with scientifically advanced materials for fresh and comfortable underwear.
-
Built-in Shorts and Bandelettes:
- Highlights the convenience of skirts with built-in shorts and introduces Bandelettes, thigh bands designed to prevent chafing.
-
Body Glide:
- Introduces Body Glide as a popular solution among runners and individuals with thicker thighs to prevent chafing.
-
Conclusion and Interaction:
- The article concludes by inviting readers to share their preferred methods and tips for staying comfortable in summer skirts. It also includes a discount code for Miel products, providing a practical incentive for readers to explore the recommended brand.
In summary, this article not only showcases the author's personal experiences but also offers a comprehensive guide to tackle common challenges associated with wearing skirts during the summer, presenting a variety of practical solutions and product recommendations.
