Best Underwear for Women Who Wear Compression Garments
A guide by curae — designed for sensitive and changing bodies)
Women who rely on compression leggings or medical-grade compression garments — whether for lipoedema, lymphatic conditions, recovery, or daily swelling — know one truth: what you wear underneath matters.
The wrong underwear digs, rolls, overheats, or creates pressure points. The right underwear can make compression feel bearable — even comforting.
At curae (formerly Cuurve), I’ve spent four years designing gentle underwear for women with sensitive and medical-need skin. And through real customer feedback, especially from women with lipoedema, I’ve learned exactly what works underneath compression — and what doesn’t.
This guide breaks it down simply.
Why Compression Users Need Special Underwear
Compression garments apply firm, structured pressure to support circulation and reduce swelling. But anything underneath them becomes amplified:
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A slightly tight waistband feels twice as tight.
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A thick seam can feel like a bruise.
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A synthetic fabric can trap heat under already warm compression.
One of my customers, Jessie — diagnosed with lipoedema — told me that wearing the wrong underwear under compression was “painful and unnecessary”, but she had to find something that didn’t dig into her compromised immune system. Her story shaped much of the brand direction for curae.
What Underwear Works Best Under Compression?
1. Look for Pressure-Free Waistbands
Rigid elastics dig straight into swelling.
Soft, flexible waistbands prevent digging, bruising, and indentation.
Jessie described the Cozy Charlotte Shorts as the only shorts she could wear under her compression because the waistband “didn’t add pressure on top of pressure.”
2. Choose Breathable, Skin-Kind Fabrics
Compression already traps heat.
Your underwear should relieve it — not add to it.
Look for:
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Micromodal
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Lyocell
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Soft regenerated nylon
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OEKO-TEX® certified fabrics (no harsh chemicals)
This aligns with curae’s design philosophy: functional beauty, therapeutic softness, and hypoallergenic fabrics designed for sensitive and changing bodies.
3. Avoid Thick Seams or Bulky Gussets
Anything bulky becomes uncomfortable under compression.
Flat seams = smoother, safer, more comfortable layering.
Your Cozy Charlotte design already solves this with gentle seams and adaptive fits.
4. Look for Anti-Chafe Coverage
If your thighs swell or rub, a short-style underwear gives:
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Anti-chafe protection
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A smooth base layer that your compression slides over
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Additional comfort for night wear
Many women with lipoedema prefer this shape because it feels secure without constriction.
5. Go for Non-Restrictive, Adaptive Fits
Bodies with swelling, fluid retention, or hormonal shifts need underwear that moves with them, not against them.
Adaptive comfort =
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Four-way stretch
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No compressive panels
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Flexibility during flare-ups
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No rolling or digging
This “adaptive comfort” is core to Curae’s Carewear System.
What Our Customer With Lipoedema Said
Jessie has to wear compression leggings every day. Here is what she shared when she bought Cozy Charlotte:
“Compression is painful and the last thing I need is more pressure.
Your shorts were so silky and soft — they don’t ride up and feel like an elevated version of what I usually wear.
The waistband doesn’t dig, and the stitching is beautifully made.”
She now wears them as:
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A base layer under compression
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Nightwear
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Everyday comfort shorts
Real stories like this are the backbone of curae’s mission to create Therapeutic Carewear™.
What Style of Underwear Is Best Under Compression?
Best Overall:
Soft, breathable shorts with gentle seams and non-restrictive waistbands
Fits like Cozy Charlotte — which Jessie described as “perfect… like a dream.”
Why shorts work:
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Smoother under compression
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No rubbing at the leg line
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More supportive for sensitive skin
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Helps prevent compression leggings from catching
Choosing the Right Size Under Compression
Compression can make underwear feel tighter than usual.
Jessie (size 18/20 with lipoedema swelling) found Cozy Charlotte ran a little big — fitting like a 20/22 — meaning you may be able to size down depending on your body.
Always pick:
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A size that feels easy
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Low-pressure fits
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Something you can sleep in comfortably
Why I Started Designing Underwear for Women Wearing Compression
From my own experience designing Cuurve (now curae), I learned that tiny details — the gusset width, waistband softness, and seam placement — are the difference between irritation and ease.
My first ever non-friend customer was a woman with lipoedema.
Her feedback changed everything.
It made me realise how underserved this community is, and how much care, softness, and dignity matter when you live in a body that needs gentleness every single day.
That insight led to curae becoming a brand built around wellness, sensitivity, and therapeutic comfort — a world where underwear becomes part of your daily recovery ritual.
Shop Gentle Underwear for Compression Wearers
If you need underwear that won’t dig under compression, explore:
👉 Cozy Charlotte Shorts — our adaptive, pressure-free base layer
Designed for women with sensitive skin, swelling, and low-energy days.
Customer-validated for lipoedema comfort.
(Insert product link)
A Final Thought
Compression garments are essential for many women — but comfort shouldn’t be negotiable.
If your underwear has ever made your compression feel worse, know this: it’s not your body.
It’s the garment.
Your skin deserves softness.
Your body deserves care.
And your underwear should feel like recovery — not restriction.
