Robyn is the CEO & Founder of HER. Find her on Twitter.
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Jan 16, 2024
From androgynous or masc styles to hyper-femme lace corsets, lesbians lowkey own lingerie.
We are queer, so of course it’s all on a spectrum with as many options as possible. Lots of lesbians looooove sexy underwear, and lots of lesbians loooove wearing nothing at all — if it makes you feel sexy, we’ll call it lingerie too.
One of the most famous lesbian sociology researchers, Shannnon Beveridge posited this question in a TikTok last year, “for research purposes,” and the comments were all over the map: boxers and a binder, calvin klein sets, lacy corsets, granny panties, nothing at all.
So really, anything you want can be your lesbian lingerie. And you are one beautiful, sexy, queer person, so you will rock it.
We love a lesbian look, and lingerie is another layer. Under that white tank and carhartt pants, you know there’s something sexy.
Just kidding! There’s no “gay uniform,” but any type of clothing or fashion you use to express yourself and embrace your sexuality is a beautiful element of your queerness. Lingerie can certainly be a part of that!
There are tons of styles that come to mind for lesbians of all genders, and honestly, we’ve started some trends y’all.
Source: X
This has been a trend for lesbians well before it was mainstream — see above, Kristen Stewart in 2018.
You know exactly what I’m talking about, and it’s sexy as hell. Think Calvin Klein, Hans, Fila, or really any other brand with that wide band at the top, often in some contrasting color. Bonus points if it’s visible for extra sexiness.
This is definitely a trend that has made it all the way to the runway at shows like Balenciaga and Miu Miu, still mainly in mens fashion. But lesbians have definitely been a fan of this kind of underwear as long as I’ve been having gay sex.
Source: Woxer
Boxer shorts are a popular option for lots of queer-owned underwear bands. They’re soft, sexy, and versatile. There are lots of great styles for queer people of all genders. You can find boxers with looser styles, packers, lace, and every color you could possibly want. They’re also an option as just cool, comfortable shorts.
Source: Pinterest
There’s really nothing more lesbian than no bra. I count this as lingerie because it’s what makes me feel sexy. When I want to look my gayest and sluttiest, I absolutely want my nipples poking out from under my shirt. And I can confirm that my lesbian mom was doing the same thing in the 80s.
Source: Pinterest
No lingerie is gay, but as much lingerie as possible is also gay. If you were lucky enough to go to a Chappel Roan concert this fall, you know that the gays and theys still own lingerie as clothes. Straight people are dabbling, sure. But the lesbians and queer folks are still dominating the play.
We’re talking leather, harnesses, sexy nightgowns, corsets, garters, things that lace up all out in the wild. Picking up something at the grocery store. Walking your dog. Going out with friends. God, lesbians are so sexy.
So you want to go lingerie shopping! And you don’t want to feel like shit about it.
My first memory of lingerie shopping was going to Victoria Secret at the mall in middle school, feeling painfully gay. I remember being terrified that my friends would notice me looking at the mannequin breasts, lightheaded from nauseating perfume, and confused by the purpose of underwear with holes.
I’ve found empowerment in a lot of things that used to make me feel embarrassed to be gay. Lingerie shopping was one of the sticker ones. I’m also an able-bodied, cis lesbian, and I’m fully squirming at the thought of re-entering a Victoria Secret.
Luckily, there are a lot more options now, and vocalizing what we want and need in lingerie can only yield more progress. We want boxers that aren’t a reminder of appendages we don’t have. We want styles that are queerer and kinkier. We want more sizes and fits. We want ethically produced underwear and bras.
It’s the internet age, so we really should be doing a little research about where we’re shopping. Where we spend our money matters, and the growth of lingerie for queer people is a great example of how we as consumers drive demand.
Clearly I was never going back to Victoria Secret, but in 2023, they’ve made it extremely clear that they are not a brand for diversity. There are plenty of lingerie brands who have pushed for the opposite, and the market is only growing.
We get into some queer-owned brands below, and all of them are focused on sustainability and ethical labor practices. But no matter where you shop, do your research about their reputation with a simple google search: “(Company name) scandal.”
Some companies do accept returns, which can be a great option if you’re online shopping, and if they don’t that’s important to know as well. It’s a generally good thing to know before pressing pay, but especially for intimates.
Whether you’re shopping in person or online, we love to try on lingerie with friends or partners. Trying things on alone in the bathroom or a changing room at Macy’s can be stressful, but strutting around for your loved ones makes it an event.
Everytime my roommate or I order clothes, including lingerie, we do a little fashion show to decide our favorites, but more importantly, to gas each other up. Because you do look hot in that set! If I’m really feeling it, why not FaceTime my girlfriend at work?
Source: Origami Customs, press kit
For decades, queer people have been creating more inclusive lingerie for LGBTQIA+ identifying customers, and the results speak for themselves. These are all high-quality, ethical brands founded by queer people.
Of course, we have to start with TomBoy X. Founded by a queer couple in 2012, this brand was one of the first to market to queer people, “underwear that anybody could feel comfortable in, regardless of where they fell on the size or gender spectrum.” Underwear ranges from $13 to $25.
“If you’re looking for a more masculine style underwear but want a sleeker aesthetic than traditional men’s underwear, Tomboy X has finally answered your (and my) prayers.”
Jen Gushue, a queer journalist at Business Insider
Woxer is definitely a favorite brand among WLW. CEO and founder Alexandra Fuente created her first pair of underwear by sewing the flap shut of a pair of men’s boxers. As a queer woman, she had noticed that lots of woman-identifying attendees were wearing men’s underwear, giving her the idea for Woxer. Underwear ranges from $20 to $28 and comes in multipacks.
Origami Customs is an all-queer, all-trans company based in Montreal with swimwear, lingerie, and undergarment lines. They do tucking, packing, strapping, and everything else queer undies can do.
“I celebrate the uniqueness of each person’s experience through the outfits I make them,”
Rae Hill, the founder
Each item is individually patterned, and the custom sizing is free. Prices for underwear range from $33 to $58.
Founded in 1993, Babeland was one of the first queer-owned, women-friendly sex shops in Seattle. 30 years later, they have four brick-and-mortar stores and an online boutique for sex toys, vibrators, and, you guessed it, lingerie. They sell mostly traditional femme styles in a wide variety of styles, ranging from $10 to $39.
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Lingerie is whatever makes you feel confident, comfortable, and sexy. There are endless options, and the list is only getting longer. And whatever you choose, hopefully it won’t be on for long.
Robyn is the CEO & Founder of HER. Find her on Twitter.
