We’re back, baby! If you’ve stuck with me since the early days of Underwear Thesis AKA the summer when we were moving to our cabin and I desperately needed to avoid packing so instead I started my chaotic journey to find the best pair of underwear and it accidentally became one of the defining series of my entire online presence… well, I appreciate your patience. IMMENSELY. And if you’re new, then welcome to the party, I hope you’re ok with sarcasm and prepared to think way more critically about the underwear you consider buying.

I’ve wanted to pick this series back up so many times over the years since my last review on my blog, but as my content skewed more and more into home renovations on our cabin, it never felt right. And, embarrassingly enough, it wasn’t until just recently that it dawned on me that Underwear Thesis should and could be it’s own thing—and that ‘thing’ should live on Substack.

And what better way to kick things off than by revisiting some of my old reviews and sharing new insights??

We are SO back.

Fresh Thoughts on My Previous Underwear Thesis Reviews

Here’s the thing about reviews: brands introduce and change products all the time—which means writing reviews like Underwear Thesis is a constant evolution. And because I want you to be the most informed consumer possible, I always do my best to update the reviews. To get us started on this new iteration of Underwear Thesis, we should first discuss which brands and pairs actually carried me through the past few years—because there are some surprises!

Allbirds

The brand doesn’t even sell underwear anymore—and probably for good reason. They were horrible and immediately went to be recycled once I hit ‘publish’ on the review.

Arq

I feel like Arq became the darling of Underwear Thesis—I loved them, maybe even evangelized them. But then in 2020, they took a hiatus. I kept wearing my pairs, but slowly started reaching for them less. The super-high waist stopped feeling as comfortable to me, the fabric a bit too heavy, the seams too thick. I still have them and still wear them sometimes… but maybe only once or twice a month now. They stopped feeling like an everyday wear kind of pair.

So color me surprised when I received word this week that the brand is BACK with a drop! I missed the chance to order, but will keep an eye out for the next one.

Auden from Target

Umm embarrassingly enough, these became my go-to underwear over the past few years. Given that they are definitely not ethically made, I feel a degree of embarrassment if we’re being totally honest. And on a most likely related note that’s also at the risk of TMI, I also never bought fresh pairs after the review and instead have been wearing the same disintegrating pairs over and over again.

Cuup

These went into the Underwear Thesis graveyard/archive as soon as I hit publish.

EBY

I don’t even REMEMBER these.

Everlane

Never wore them beyond for the review, but in the last year or so I have fallen DEEP IN LOVE with this bralette.

Felina from Costco

Just like the Audens, I wore these constantly. They started disintegrating sometime in 2024, so I purged them and did not replace because I want undies with better ethics.

Knickey (now known as Subset)

I wore the high waisted styles a few more times, but ended up gravitating towards bikini and hipster styles from other brands. They did wash well though! Now that the branding has changed, I’m considering revisiting and ordering more—but maybe I should prioritize reviewing new styles and brands instead? There’s so much I can’t wait to share with you!

Organic Basics

Immediately banished from my underwear drawer, never to be seen again 🙅‍♀️

Pact

These rounded out my daily wears until the elastic started separating on literally every pair! They washed well and were a solid, basic pair for a couple of years.

Parade

Irony of ironies, I still have the thong and it’s basically the only thong I like. I’ve heard from so many people about loving Parade, so I am definitely planning to revisit the brand.

Patagonia

I still wear the hipsters and love them for outdoor activities and traveling! The wicking is great and they’ve washed really well for years—with minimal pilling.

ThirdLove

I swore by these for SO LONG. Any time someone would ask me my top pair to buy, it was ALWAYS ThirdLove… but then the elastic started to really irritate my skin around the leg openings. I’m not sure why the change, but it felt sudden so I stopped wearing them and haven’t looked back since.

Thunderpants

And lastly, I LOVE THESE! I still wear them on a weekly basis. They’ve held up incredibly well also. No pilling, pulling or getting misshapen. Thunderpants are definitely my most comfortable pair of underwear for cozy days—which means they have replaced what I loved most about Arq underwear. To me, the hipster is a more wearable style than a super-high waist when I’m wanting to lounge in yoga pants or sweatpants. Plus, they stay put. No wedgies!

If you made it this far, go get a snack or treat! And stay tuned for next week because my first NEW review for paid subscribers drops next Thursday.

XO, Joanna