Sexiest panties?
Executive summary
Sexiest panties are not a single silhouette but a shifting mix of fabric, cut, context and confidence: satin and silk for sheen, lace and sheer mesh for reveal, thongs and strappy styles for minimal coverage, and matching sets for visual impact, driven by brands from Victoria’s Secret to Agent Provocateur and Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty [1] [2] [3]. Trend reporting for 2025–26 shows a broader, industry-level redefinition of “sexy” toward comfort, versatility and visible lingerie-as-fashion, meaning what reads as sexiest depends as much on wearer intent and occasion as on the piece itself [4] [5] [6].
1. What “sexy” looks like in 2026: fabrics and finishes
Lustrous materials—satin and silk—remain shorthand for sensuality because of their sheen and drape, while heirloom lace and sheer mesh supply the erotic peek-and-tease that many people equate with sexiness, with trend editors and brands continuing to foreground these textiles in seasonal collections [1] [7] [6]. Tech fabrics and modal blends are also being marketed as sexy now, promising a buttery, body-hugging feel that marries sensuality with everyday comfort, a narrative pushed by intimates brands and trend stories in the 2025–26 cycle [5] [7].
2. The silhouettes that read as “sexiest” right now
Minimalist thongs, visible luxe underwear and strappy, cupless or crotchless novelty pieces occupy the obvious “ultra-sexy” lane—retailers from Frederick’s and Yandy promote bondage-inspired, cupless and crotchless ranges as their hottest looks [8] [9]. At the same time, trend reports highlight that visible thongs, slips worn as outerwear, and bralettes that blur the line between underwear and clothing are equally central to contemporary sex appeal, shifting some of the emphasis from purely erotic deprivation to stylish exposure [4] [10].
3. Brands and the sexiness economy
Mainstream labels like Victoria’s Secret still trade heavily on silk, satin and the Very Sexy aesthetic, while luxury houses (Agent Provocateur, Fleur du Mal) and celebrity-led lines (Savage X Fenty) sell sexiness through design, inclusivity and presentation—Savage X Fenty in particular is noted for unapologetic, size-inclusive, bold underwear that reads sexy across bodies [1] [2] [3]. Editorial roundups from Vogue, Glamour and Elle map a crowded market where both minimalist startups (Cuup, Skims) and overtly erotic retailers coexist, offering different interpretations of what “sexiest” can mean [11] [2] [12].
4. Comfort, confidence and the new sexy
Multiple trend pieces argue that “sexy” is increasingly defined by confidence and comfort rather than pain or spectacle; seamless, non-wired shapes, soft modal blends, and 3D-knit underwear that sculpts without discomfort are branded as the 2026 redefinition of sexiness, positioning everyday wearability as a seductive quality [13] [5] [7]. Wedding and lifestyle coverage echoes this—buyers are prioritizing versatile pieces and matching sets that transition from private to public moments, making comfort a selling point for sex appeal [6] [4].
5. Color, context and cultural cues
Bold jewel tones, neon mesh and deliberate colour-clashing are flagged as hot in 2026, because striking hues can make underwear visible and attention-grabbing—another route to sexiness distinct from sheer erotica [7] [4]. Cultural cues—from runway styling that treats lingerie as outerwear to calendars and editorial spreads that aestheticize intimate apparel—also shape what audiences perceive as sexy at any moment [14] [4].
6. How to read the noise: competing agendas
Retailers and trend pieces push narratives that serve sales—luxury brands sell aspiration, mass retailers sell accessibility, and erotic labels sell spectacle—so the industry’s claims about what’s “sexiest” are as much marketing as cultural fact [2] [8] [9]. Editorials and designers emphasize inclusivity and comfort partly in response to consumer demand and reputational risk, meaning the current “new sexy” narrative has both cultural and commercial motives [11] [5].