The 27 Best Lingerie And Underwear Brands To Know In 2024

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ELLE's edit of the best lingerie to invest in now, whether you're all about invisible thongs or 'granny' pants.

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Deliberating the best lingerie brands to buy from is a tricky one: for so many of us, underwear shopping is hard enough at the best of times. But whether you're strictly a 'granny pants' woman or a die-hard Agent Provocateur fan, you can't deny the importance of investing in good underpinnings.

They provide a solid foundation for any outfit – there's a reason VPLs are no longer a thing, and it's thanks to seamless thongs – but they can also reflect your mood. Luckily nowadays, there's a lingerie brand to suit your every need. Are you feeling fancy and looking to treat yourself to a luxurious and intricate set? We'd recommend heading straight to La Perla. Seeking something ultra-soft and practical to complement your WFH loungewear wardrobe? You can't do much better than Skims. Or, how about the perfect in-between, that offers comfort and style in equal measure? Intimissimi, Eberjey and Dora Larsen are the names to know.

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From size-inclusive staples and sustainability stars to the underwear so good you'll want to rock it as outerwear instead, we've found all the best lingerie brands for every price point.

Buying bras online isn't the easiest, as sizes differ between brands. However, if you're keen to avoid schlepping to the high street, fret not. Plenty of retailers offer an online bra-fitting consultation or you can suss things out for yourself using Nudea's genius tape (buy here for £5), which takes an accurate underband reading using a slider fastening and even measures each individual cup size separately.

If you know your size but you're unsure of what styles will suit, there are a few basic rules to arm yourself with. Triangle and non-wired styles are generally easier for A-C cups as they usually don't provide a huge amount of support (although brands such as Understatement are proving that soft cups can work for big busts, too). Padded styles will give a fuller shape, while unlined bras create a more natural-looking silhouette. Finally, there's a big difference between balconette and high-apex cups, so pay attention to your breast shape and zoom in on product detailing for a good indication of whether something will fit your brief.

Keep scrolling to see ELLE UK's pick of the 27 best lingerie brands to shop in 2024:

Best for: The ultimate everyday bra

Size range: XS–3XL; 28A–40G

Must-have: Barely There Plunge Bra

Co-founders and real-life couple Mel and Dan founded Lounge more than a decade ago with the aim of crafting everyday underwear that was both comfortable and chic. The brand hit the big-time, however, with the launch of its Plunge Bra. It's so comfortable that you'll genuinely forget you're wearing it, and it now comes as a bralette, too.

SHOP LOUNGE

Best for: Seductive styles

Size range: XS–XL; 30D–36E

Must-have: Athena Balcony Bra

Founded just over twenty years ago by Lucy Litwack, Coco de Mer was one of the first brands to celebrate female pleasure, reframing erotica in a wholly indulgent, luxurious light. Now, the brand is a go-to for sexual wellness products, toys, and lingerie that combines seductive details with beautiful fabrications. Expect liquid-satin slips with body-contouring cutaways, feather-fine lace bras and bodysuits that master the art of conceal-and-reveal.

SHOP COCO DE MER

Best for: Inclusive shapewear

Size range: XXS–4XL

Must-have: Unlined Plunge Thong Bodysuit

When Kim Kardashian launched SKIMS in September 2019, she brought shapewear into a whole new era. Her ultra-stretchy control collection boasts a plethora of cuts designed for backless, one-shoulder, slit-side and plunging clothing – and it's actually comfortable to wear. The brand has since grown to include everything from loungewear and PJs to jersey dresses and swimwear too, while the underwear is as inclusive as it comes thanks to extended sizing and nine different nude shades.

SHOP SKIMS

Best for: Affordable lingerie

Size range: 32B–40C; S–XL

Must-have: Modal Cashmere Ultralight Jumper

Founded in 1996, Italian lingerie brand Intimissimi is a pillar of the upper high street around the globe. The affordable underwear label is a go-to everything from shapewear solutions and everyday T-shirt bras, to luxe lace-trimmed and silk-satin lingerie. The brand also has an impressive list of celebrity collaborations under its belt: Irina Shayk, Gisele Bundchen, Sarah Jessica Parker and, most recently, Jennifer Lopez.

SHOP INTIMISSIMI

Best for: Sexy lingerie

Size range: UK 6–14; 30B–38D

Must-have: Mercy Corset

Agent Provocateur was founded in 1994 by Joseph Corré, the son of Vivienne Westwood. The clue is in the name when it comes to this brand: it's provocative, alluring and overtly sexy, embracing and owning sexuality while celebrating the female form. Talking of bodies, we're pleased to see that the brand has recently stepped up its game diversity-wise, too, with models of different shapes and sizes on the site. As for the designs, you can expect to find every lingerie style imaginable: think basques, bras, garter belts, chemises and thongs in everything from leopard print and lace to cut-out satin and crystal-embellished mesh.

SHOP AGENT PROVOCATEUR

Best for: Cotton undies

Size range: XXS–XXL

Must-have: Pointelle Mid-Rise Thong

You know those pointelle-knit thermals you used to wear as a kid? Well now they're officially cool again, thanks to Cou Cou Intimates. The lingerie brand launched in 2017 with a clear USP: cute cotton undies, made from 100% GOTS-certified organic fibres that are not only sustainable and compostable, but better for gynaecological health too. From the ditzy-print camisoles to the high-leg bodysuits and lace-trimmed slips, this is the kind of sultry-but-wearable 'lingerie' women can actually wear comfortably.

SHOP COU COU INTIMATES

Best: Female-founded lingerie brand

Size range: UK 6–20; 32A–40F

Must-have: Rosalie Short Chemise

British label Bluebella was founded in 2015 by Oxford graduate Emily Bendell. Sales have skyrocketed since, with Bendell working to secure female investors and winning over stockists such as ASOS, Selfridges and Victoria's Secret. The label recently collaborated with British golden girl Ashley Williams on a punky range of pyjamas and undies, and has since expanded its more classic main collection too. We're loving the crystal-encrusted bralettes and eyelash lace camisoles that are far too pretty to be hidden beneath clothes.

SHOP BLUEBELLA

Best for: Sustainable lingerie

Size range: XS–4XL

Must-have: The Original Knickers

Female-founded lingerie brand Stripe & Stare has been making waves ever since it first debuted its eco-friendly knickers back in 2017. Made from sustainable jersey fibres spun from wood pulp, each pair is fully biodegradable – just remember to remove the lace trims when composting. The brand claims it makes 'the world's comfiest knickers' that will never give you the dreaded wedgie; and while we were suspicious at first, we can vouch that these statements are indeed true. Plus, who doesn't love the throwback feels of girlish love-heart print and weekday multipacks?

SHOP STRIPE & STARE

Best: Comfy lingerie brand

Size range: XS–XL

Must-have: Mia Bralette

You probably know Eberjey for its cult modal pyjamas, but did you know the brand does beautiful lingerie, too? When its female founders launched the label in 1996, they set out to make intimates for women first and foremost, rather than designing through the lens of the male gaze. Naturally, then, Eberjey's underwear is all about putting comfort first, with hardware-free, soft-cup bras and comfy stretch-lace. These everyday pieces just so happen to be incredibly pretty too. Win, win.

SHOP EBERJEYv

Best for: Lace lingerie

Size range: 30A–40H

Must-have: Entice Balconette Bra

Designed in NYC and inspired by the sensuality of Paris, Skarlett Blue was founded by a team of women designers and has become coveted the world over for its sexy lace lingerie. Cut from luxurious lace in both structured and stretch finishes, the fabrics are made from pima cotton grown in the coastal valleys of Peru and punctuated with rose gold hardware. High-profile fans are many, including Kourtney Kardashian who styled the Minx Lace Balconette Bra under a tuxedo suit for the 2024 Emmys.

SHOP SKARLETT BLUE

Best for: Cool girl colours

Size range: 32A–38C; UK 6–18

Must-have: Hattie Clean Tulle Underwire Bra

Dora Larsen is the lingerie label every fashion editor wants to wear. Known for its cool colour-blocking and bold shade combinations, you'd be forgiven for thinking these designs were just a pretty 'face'. But we beg to differ: having tried the pieces, we can confirm that Dora Larsen lingerie is insanely comfortable as well as a joy to look at. Look no further for underwear that hits that perfect sweet spot between sexy, practical and fun.

SHOP DORA LARSEN

Best for: Basics

Size range: 30A–40GG; XS–XL

Must-have: The Boss Stretch Bra

Nudea is the new sustainable lingerie brand you need to bookmark now if you're looking for brilliant basics. The label is B-corp certified, carbon neutral on shipping, creates underwear made entirely from recycled materials and donates 1% of every sale to charity. If that hasn't convinced you to browse the brand's undies, the level of comfort should seal the deal: its 'Boss' bras are the next best thing to being naked.

SHOP NUDEA

Best: Celebrity lingerie brand

Size range: UK 6–28; 30A–42H

Must-have: Silk & Lace Wired Bra

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's underwear line for M&S is phenomenally successful in the UK. As she told Ashley Graham in 2019 on her podcast Pretty Big Deal, it's estimated that 'one in three women are wearing an M&S bra and one in those three is a Rosie bra.' Those are some serious numbers! The then-Victoria's Secret model, who pitched the idea to M&S back in 2012, tempered the department store's basics-focused designs with a healthy dose of allure. The result is comfortable but feminine and flirty, with sets made from luxurious silk and lace, and prices starting from as little as £10.

SHOP ROSIE FOR M&S

Best for: Inclusive, supportive sets

Size range: XS–XXL

Must-have: Mesh Balconette

For too long, the lingerie industry has forced us to choose between style and practicality, with few brands offering good-looking underwear that offers proper support and inclusive sizing. Cue Understatement: the female-founded, Swedish lingerie brand combining contemporary style with uncompromising comfort. Here, balconettes and bralettes come in a rainbow of bold lace hues, all without rib-digging underwiring or thick, ugly shoulder straps. Briefs are frilly and filigree, and even the swimwear is note-perfect, with cups large enough to give proper coverage and made from ECONYL® that gives remarkable stretch. Even better, everything on-site is modelled by a truly representative range of people, with Photoshop firmly on the banned list.

SHOP UNDERSTATEMENT

Best for: Investment lingerie

Size range: 32A–38B; XXS–XL

Must-have: Red Silk Slip

We probably don't need to tell you that La Perla is one of the most iconic underwear brands around. First launched in 1954, it's since featured in countless films and music videos, and has even been worn on the red carpet by Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid. Its Maison line is the most famous (the appliquéd lace on silk-satin being instantly recognisable), but the 'everyday' T-shirt and lace bras are just as beautiful to look at, while also being comfortable to wear.

SHOP LA PERLA

Best for: Subscription lingerie

Size range: UK 6–24; 30A–44G

Must-have: Signature Lace Bralette

The female-founded lingerie brand Lemonade Dolls launched just a few years ago in 2019, and immediately made inclusivity its USP. Underwear sets are available in sizes UK 6-24 and they even offer a specific 'fuller bust' subscription. Memberships are totally optional – you can still buy one-off sets – but they are economical. From as a little as £10 per month, you'll get a set sent straight to your door.

SHOP LEMONADE DOLLS

Best for: Shapewear

Size range: 32A–40DD; XS–3XL

Must-have: Everyday Shaping Shorts

Thanks in large part to Kim K's SKIMS launching and the recent trend for body-con and naked dressing, shapewear is making a comeback. So, naturally, we couldn't make an edit of underwear brands without including the OG: Spanx. You can expect to find nude coloured control pants – forever in our hearts thanks to Bridget Jones – but also more alluring lace iterations, alongside figure-smoothing shorts, basques, bodysuits and comfy bralettes.

SHOP SPANX

Best for: Logo lingerie

Size range: XS–XXXL

Must-have: Modern Logo Thong

When Calvin Klein Underwear burst onto the scene in 1992 (with that iconic Kate Moss and Mark Wahlberg campaign), its menswear-inspired designs were a breath of fresh air. The logo-jacquard band is still going strong today, along with the comfy jersey fabrications and boyish cuts. If you're looking for something fuss-free to wear day-to-day, or have a profound aversion to anything underwired, this brand is your best bet.

SHOP CALVIN KLEIN

Best: Historic lingerie brand

Size range: 28DD–38G; XS–XL

Must-have: Glossies Sheer Moulded Bra

Gossard was founded in 1901, making it one of the most storied lingerie brands around. The now-British brand moved across the pond during the Prohibition in 1930s America, making history and empowering women in the subsequent decades – from pivoting to help with war efforts in the 1940s, to inventing the sensual Gossard Glossies (the brand’s signature sparkling stretch-mesh fabric) line in the 1970s, and creating lingerie for the Ritz in the 1980s. Today, you can rely on the brand for sexy-but-sturdy undies that’ll serve you day to night.

SHOP GOSSARD

Best for: Seamless lingerie

Size range: XS–XL

Must-have: Butter Stretch Modal Briefs

One of the first champions of seamless non-VPL underwear, Commando has gone from strength to strength since it launched 19 years ago. Its USP is invisible, neutral pants and bralettes, and basics like thong and turtleneck bodysuits. You might not know it, but the intimates brand has a huge celebrity following, too. Thought Rihanna was naked underneath that sparkling Adam Selman gown at the 2014 CFDA awards? Think again: she was wearing a nude Commando thong. Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gigi Hadid, Karlie Kloss, Kendall Jenner, Zoë Kravitz and Priyanka Chopra are also fans.

SHOP COMMANDO

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