10 Best Women’s Modal Underwear

Why Is Modal Underwear so Popular?

For the lady who likes a little luxury in her life, modal undies are a necessary stop on the shopping trip. Used in products worn close to the skin, modal makes ideal underwear.

Its super soft and silky feel draws you in to experience the rest of its features:

  • Top level durability (it resists pilling)
  • superior breathability
  • remarkable shrinkage resistance
  • 50% greater absorbency than cotton

It also holds dye extremely well, so colors remain vibrant over time. All in all, this underwear will outlast the rest of your panty drawer, hold its shape through countless washes, and ensure your comfort with every wear.

Here are our picks for the best modal underwear for women.

Top 10 Best Modal Underwear for Women

Wacoal Women's Subtle Beauty Hi Cut Brief Panty

Pro: Super soft 94% modal fabric.
Con: Must be hand-washed.

So lightweight and silky, you’ll forget you’re wearing them: Wacoal undies come in numerous designs, colors, and sizes, always high quality and noticeably cozier than most. Today’s selection of hi cut beauties come in 6 colors and 5 sizes with the perfect amount of cheek coverage to hold them in place and keep you sitting pretty.

The only issue you might have with these is the need to hand wash them. Good news: it only takes a few minutes and your undies will last virtually forever if you consistently wash them this way every time. In a pinch, you could try washing in a mesh bag like this on your gentlest cycle for delicates, but don’t do it every time.

Calvin Klein Women’s Modal Bikini Panty

Pro: Subtly labeled with delicate waistband logo.
Con: Treat them gently; they might rip.

Beautifully delicate features require a very gentle touch: These graceful bikinis are whisper soft and barely there. In a classic hipster cut are, for your selection, 7 soft hues and 5 sizes, each in an exquisite 93% modal blend. Comes with a full gusset and backside for complete coverage.

The downside? You’ll need to handle these with superior care. They are likely the prettiest undies you’ll own -- and they’ll demand to be treated as such. (You know what that means, right? Yup, hand wash ‘em, please.)

COMFORTABLE CLUB Women's Microfiber Modal Thong Panties Underwear

Pro: Tagless with itch-free stitching.
Con: May fit a little small; order a size larger than usual.

Fits both men and women:  Let your cheeks peek out from delectable comfort when you wear these aptly named Comfortable Club modal thong panties. These thongs won’t ride up in the back (or elsewhere) beyond the proper point like others will, and you can count on their comfort being spot-on -- as long as you order the correct size. No rolling up. Note: A few men also reviewed these as perfectly comfy for them as well as women.

The downside: The fit runs a bit on the small side. Get a size larger to be sure they’ll work for you; some even went two sizes larger than their usual.

On Gossamer Women's Silk Modal Hipster Panty

Pro: 90% modal, 10% silk.
Con: Only offered in 3 sizes.

Luxurious feel with uber soft stretch lace accents: This low rise hipster holds you gently in place while keeping your cheeks completely covered. Comes in black, blush, and white to wear under all the basics in your wardrobe. Combines luxe silk and soft touch modal for an unbelievable hand feel you’ll adore.

The only sad part is that you’ll need to fit into a bonafide small, medium, or large size to get into these babies. No can do? Give On Gossamer’s other items a browse here.

Commando Women’s Butter Hipster

Pro: It’s like buttah, baby -- for real!.
Con: A little pricey and a bit of rollup.

Available in 16 super soft colors: Get these lavish delights in your favorite color, your second favorite color, your boyfriend’s favorite color, and more. (There are only five sizes available, however.) Commando doesn’t skimp on the buttery fabric, either. You’ll get full coverage with no visible panty lines, and they’re even a little bit sexy to boot!

The downside: These are indeed on the expensive side -- but for most who’ve worn them, they’re well worth the price. Some also noticed a slight rollup on the legs in front.

Jockey Women’s Underwear Super Soft French Cut

Pro: Gives full rise and coverage with a pretty French cut.
Con: Some complained of fraying after a few washes, even though instructions say machine washable.

The epitome of comfort: You’ll find no annoying seams, problematic stitching, or pinching edges in these pretty pairs of perfection. Their cushy 92% modal blend offers all day coziness to even the most finicky of underwear connoisseurs. Customers can choose from a whopping 14 different color blends in assorted handy 3-packs, with 6 sizes. These come highly recommended by previous customers as well.

One problem noted with these is that they may get frayed and worn easily from machine washing. You might want to simply hand wash these or get a mesh bag to wash them in for best results.

Felina Women’s So Smooth Low Rise Bikini Panty Seamless Underwear

Pro: Superior breathability.
Con: Sizes run small; watch out for knockoffs.

Once you get some Felina undies, we’re pretty sure you’ll end up buying more! They’re of excellent quality with enhanced moisture wicking capabilities, and they stay a little on the ‘skimpy’ side while still providing full coverage. These are reasonably priced and come in a 5-pack with 6 pretty color/design variations. Very comfy, won’t ride up, and miraculously stay in place even during vigorous exercise. Great for girls who are curvier on the bottom.

Go up a size if you order these, as they’ve been said to run a bit small on occasion. Also: beware of lower quality knockoffs. You may want to review the return policy at time of order just in case you receive the wrong kind.

HANRO Women's Soft Touch Boyleg Short

Pro: Sumptuous, seamless, and snug.
Con: Expensive.

Multi-functional undie shorts: These are pure bliss if you don’t mind spending a little extra dough for a magical undie experience. Wear under skirts, over sassy leggings, or on their own as yoga or biking shorts. You may want to order a size larger than usual in these for a relaxed, casual fit that won’t pinch or create a muffin top effect.

A slight downside: These do cost a pretty penny for ordering a single pair of undies. Go ahead and splurge if you can, but consider washing by hand just to make sure you extend their life. No need to be wasteful when there are such simple steps we can take to make them last longer!

Eberjey Women’s Lady Godiva Briefs

Pro: Satiny with soft lace and full booty coverage.
Con: A bit less modal in the fabric blend (89%) than in some other varieties.

Keeping it fancy: When you want to feel fancy for an important meeting, first date, or particularly stressful interview, why not throw these on? They’ll stay in place with full back coverage and no riding up to give that extra boost of confidence you need. Choose from 6 gorgeous, soothing colors. Since they’re a bit on the delicate side, do make sure you hand wash these for best results.

The only real downside is that they might not be as addictively soft as some of the other modal blends we’ve mentioned -- but 89% is still pretty good! Lady Godiva would approve.

Genuwin Women's Micro Modal Low Rise Hipster Brief Stretch Bikini Panty

Pro: High end softness with an attractive cut.
Con: They shrink a little after first washing.

Invisible under clothing: Superior elasticity and moisture wicking place these easily in the top ten of anyone’s modal undie list.  92% micro modal with a snappy low rise design make them eye-poppingly chic to behold. And as long as you choose the right color combo, you’ll be the only one who knows you’re wearing underwear. Packaging claims these “feel like a second skin”, and we couldn’t agree more. Select from 5 color variations and 4 sizes.

The downside is they’re rumored to shrink a little bit upon first washing. Do yourself a favor and order one size up from your usual size in case this happens to you -- or to be on the extra safe side, hand wash them in cold water, and keep them out of the dryer entirely and just stick with air drying.

What is Modal Underwear?

Made from the fibers of the beech tree, modal is a super soft fabric, often combined with cotton, spandex, or rayon for added strength. Originally made in Japan in 1951, today’s modal (the trade name for "high wet modulus" rayon), is considered a luxury textile due to its feel and cost, and most of it is made by an Austrian company named Lenzig.

Frequently used in products like bed sheets, pajamas, and bathrobes, it’s no surprise that the most common current use for modal is in underwear.

But before you rush off to buy the first pair you see online, here are our picks for the best modal underwear for women, and what to look for when you’re shopping for your modal panties.

Modal Underwear Buying Guide for Women

Some have concerns about the processing of modal for underwear, while others give high praises to some of the methods used.

Some claim the material is safely processed using environmentally-friendly methods, while others fear the chemicals involved are potentially hazardous.

Still more have found top modal manufacturers’ technologies to be exceedingly positive, carbon neutral, and requiring less water and land to grow than even cotton. Others accuse modal manufacturers of using child labor or unfairly treated workers to create the plush fabric. So how can you sort through it all to choose the right modal underwear?

Eco-friendly, Fair Trade

In order to properly choose your modal product, whenever possible, look for brands with a fair trade logo on their packaging, like from the Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP).

If there isn’t such a logo, read over the package for other indications of eco-conscious or social justice commitments. TomboyX, for another example, makes gender-neutral underwear using only living wage factories, and eco-friendly processes.

Top Choice for Eco-Friendly, Fair Trade: Tomboyx Bikini Cut Underwear, Micromodal Stretchy And, All Day Comfort
  • FIT-TESTED ON HUNDREDS OF BODIES: Our gender-neutral bikini underwear is designed to make you feel...
  • COMFORT = CONFIDENCE: Luxury meets eco-friendly. Bikini coverage stays put all day, while silky...
  • ANY ACTIVITY BIKINI UNDERWEAR: Created for any occasion, our bikini underwear come in fun patterns and...

Stain Resistance Modal Underwear

Another element unique to modal is its dye retention prowess. While it absorbs dye easily and retains its brilliance through many washes, it just as easily takes on unwanted stains and holds them dear.

For women, this often means those ugly period stains you can’t get out, adding to a growing a set of sad period panties kept in the darkest corner of your undie drawer, only to be retrieved on your Lady Days. The solution? Modal Menstrual Underwear Period Leak Proof Panties:

Top Choice for Stain Resistant Modal Underwear for Women: Modal Menstrual Underwear Period Leak Proof Panties
  • Material: 95% Modal, 5% Spandex ;Leakproof lining(Do not have absorbent function):100% Cotton. Soft...
  • Size XS fits 60-80lbs,Size S fits 80-100bs,Size M fits 100-125lbs. Size L fits 125-145lbs. Size XL...
  • Full coverage leak proof area from the front to the back,our panties help to give complete protection...

Best Moisture Wicking Modal Underwear

Our third and final issue with modal is the tendency to weaken when wet. Although it’s chock full of beloved qualities as an underwear fabric, falling apart in the washing machine is never a favorite.

Use a mesh washing bag if you have one, keep your cycle on the delicate setting, and stick with cold water. Hang with clothes pins or clips to dry in the bathroom rather than tossing in the dryer.

Check out our guide on how to wash delicate underwear for more tips.

Best Choice for Durable When Wet Modal Underwear: Wirarpa Women's Bamboo Modal Briefs
  • Stretchy Waistband(About 0.6 inch elastic inside): The soft fabric-covered waistband sits comfortably on...

Undywear.com may receive a small percentage of the purchase price for items bought through our links from Amazon.com and other sites.

About the author

Kelsey Summers

Kelsey is the lead editor of Undywear.com. She's a fashionista who's written for Glamour, GQ and others. She enjoys breaking the stigma and taboo around underwear and writing about all things fashion.