The best shorts for under dresses are soft, breathable and long enough in the leg to stop your thighs rubbing, with a band that stays where you put it. For most women that means a leg of around 6 inches, which sits mid-thigh, in a colour close to your skin under anything pale.
Our pick is the pair we make: Flissie's 6 inch bamboo boxer shorts. They are made to be your knickers, not a layer over them, so there is one soft layer between you and the dress, and the leg reaches past the point where thighs touch. Below, we put them side by side with six other shorts for under dresses UK shoppers can buy right now, with every competitor detail checked on the brand's own site.
Our pick for under dresses
Flissie Bamboo Boxer Shorts, 6 inch
Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 336 reviews
- 95% bamboo viscose: soft, breathable and moisture-wicking
- A 6 inch leg that reaches past where thighs touch
- No side seams, and a wide waistband that doesn't dig
- UK 8 to 30, the same price in every size
£20 a pair, or £13 a pair in a 7 pack. Free UK delivery on every order and a 60-day comfort guarantee.
Shop the boxer shortsJump to: Quick answer · Comparison table · Why ours stay put · Nude shorts · Hot days · FAQs
Shorts for under dresses: the quick answer
- Our pick for everyday dresses: Flissie bamboo boxer shorts. One soft layer, a 6 inch leg that stops thighs rubbing, UK 8 to 30, rated 4.7 out of 5 from 336 reviews.
- Hot days: choose a breathable fabric over a tights-style synthetic. Ours are 95% bamboo viscose; four of the other six are mostly nylon or polyester.
- White and pale dresses: nude shorts close to your skin tone. Ours come in Taupe White and Chocolate Brown, in every size.
- Plus size: ours go to UK 30 at one price in every size, with the leg cut for each size. Snag and Yours go further, to UK 36.
- Lowest price: Yours Clothing at £8, then Snag at £9.99.
- Very short dresses: thigh bands, or Jockey's Short Length Skimmies.
- Sheer or bodycon dresses: Sloggi ZERO Feel, with bonded edges.
What are shorts that go under dresses called?
Shorts that go under dresses are usually called slip shorts, under dress shorts or undershorts. You will also see them sold as anti-chafe shorts, chub rub shorts and modesty shorts, and in the US as bike shorts. Whatever the label, shorts to go under dresses come in two types, and the difference decides how they feel on a warm day.
- Slip shorts are made as a layer. They are thin and stretchy, mostly nylon or polyester, and many women wear them over their knickers.
- Women's boxer shorts are made as the knickers. Soft, opaque and with a gusset, with a leg long enough to do the slip short's job. That is what we make.
So when you are deciding what to wear under a dress on a warm day, and you would rather wear one layer than two, choose the second kind. That is one waistband instead of two, and nothing extra to hitch up or overheat in.
Under dress shorts compared: 7 UK options
The shorts to wear under dresses, side by side. Specifications come from each brand's own UK product page, checked on 22 September 2026, at the RRP for one pair (M&S sells in twos). Where a brand doesn't publish something, the table says so.
| Shorts | Fabric | Leg length | Sizes | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flissie bamboo boxer shorts (ours) | 95% bamboo viscose, 5% elastane | 6 inch, or 9 inch in black and pine green | UK 8 to 30 | £20, or £13 a pair in a 7 pack | Thigh rub, warm days, everyday dresses |
| Boody Seamfree Undershorts | 79% viscose from bamboo, 15% nylon, 6% elastane | 6 inch | UK 6 to 22 | £22 | Bamboo in a UK 6 |
| M&S Body Invisibles Anti-Chafe Shorts | 81% polyamide, 18% elastane, 1% cotton | Not published | UK 8 to 22 | £20 for two | Buying in store |
| Snag Stay Cool Chub Rub Shorts | 94% polyamide, 5% elastane, 1% cotton | Not published | UK 4 to 36 | £9.99 | Widest size range |
| Sloggi ZERO Feel 2.0 Cyclist Shorts | Recycled polyamide microfibre with elastane | Not published | XS to XXL | £19 | Sheer or bodycon dresses |
| Jockey Skimmies Short Length | 85% polyester, 12% elastane, 3% cotton | Not published (a shorter cut) | S to 2XL | £14 | Shorter skirts |
| Yours Clothing Nude Anti Chafing Shorts | 90 denier stretch fabric | Not published | UK 16 to 36 | £8 | Lowest price |
What the table tells you:
- Only two of the seven publish a leg length: Flissie (6 or 9 inches) and Boody (6 inches). Leg length decides whether shorts reach the place thighs rub, so it is the first thing to check.
- Only two are bamboo viscose, and ours is 95% of the fabric against Boody's 79%. The other five are mostly nylon, polyester or a tights-weight stretch fabric.
- Flissie is the only bamboo option past UK 22. Every size up to UK 30 costs the same.
Why Flissie boxer shorts work under dresses
We are Phillippa and Matthew. We run Flissie ourselves from Derbyshire, and since 2021 we have focused on one thing: a women's boxer short that stays put. Wearing them under dresses is one of the most common reasons people buy them, and every detail that matters under a dress is one you can check.
- A leg that reaches the rub zone. Most women's boxer briefs stop 2 to 4 inches down the thigh, short of where thighs touch. Our 6 inch leg sits mid-thigh and goes past it, so there is soft fabric between your thighs instead of skin on skin. The 9 inch sits just above the knee, in black and pine green, if you like a longer leg.
- A leg band that doesn't roll into a rope. A band that rolls up becomes the thing that rubs. Getting that tension right took us longer than anything else we did.
- A leg cut for every size. The leg opening and waistband are graded separately, so a UK 26 gets a leg made for a UK 26 thigh, not a UK 12 leg scaled up. That is why the leg still sits flat at the larger end.
- Nothing for a dress to catch on. No side seams, one flat seam at the front, and no tag.
- A waistband that doesn't dig. Wide, flat and mid-high, rather than a narrow band of elastic.
- Fabric you forget about. 95% Tanboocel bamboo viscose and 5% elastane: soft from the first wear, breathable, moisture-wicking, and dyed to OEKO-TEX Standard 100.
“I really love my new Flissie boxers. They're super comfy, great for wearing under skirts and dresses. Size 18uk, bought a size L.” Meg, verified buyer
“Soft and comfortable, especially like that they are smooth so dresses and skirts don't catch on them as you walk.” Anne, verified buyer
They are rated 4.7 out of 5 from 336 reviews, and when we went through 351 verified reviews, 77% mentioned comfort and 41% mentioned how soft they are.
£20 for one pair, or £13 a pair in a 7 pack, which is a pair for every day of a heatwave week. Free UK delivery on every order, a 60-day comfort guarantee, and a free size swap on your first order.
Good to know: under a true mini dress a 6 inch leg can peek out, so thigh bands are the better call there. And they last longest on a cool wash, air dried.
The other six shorts for under dresses
M&S Body Invisibles Anti-Chafe Shorts
If you have searched for M&S anti chafe shorts, this is the pair. They cost £20 for two, you can buy them in store, and they had 247 reviews averaging 4.4 out of 5 when we checked. The fabric is a fine 81% polyamide, 18% elastane and 1% cotton, with what M&S calls a seamless, anti-static finish.
Worth knowing: they sit in the M&S shapewear section, sizes stop at UK 22, and there is no published leg length. One M&S reviewer found them too sheer to wear without knickers underneath, which makes them two layers rather than one.
Snag Stay Cool Chub Rub Shorts
Snag chub rub shorts cover the widest size range here: UK 4 to 36, sized by a letter worked out from your dress size and height, in more than 30 colours. They are knitted in Italy from the same fabric as Snag's tights (94% polyamide, 5% elastane, 1% cotton), with a cotton gusset, at £9.99 a pair, and had 6,880 reviews when we checked. Snag says its cooling yarn keeps you over 1°C cooler where the fabric touches your skin. We haven't tested that, so it stays Snag's claim.
Worth knowing: they feel closer to tights than to knickers, Snag recommends a wash bag and no tumble dryer, and there is no published leg length.
Boody Seamfree Undershorts
The closest to ours. Of the Boody shorts, the 6 inch Seamfree Undershort is the one built for dresses: 79% viscose from bamboo, 15% nylon and 6% elastane, knitted as a tube so there are no side seams. XS to 4XL, which is UK 6 to 22 on Boody's chart, in black and a shade called Shell, at £22 with a 30-day guarantee on your first order. They had 2,567 reviews averaging 4.5 when we checked.
Worth knowing: sizes stop at UK 22, and Boody's own review summary notes that some wearers find they roll slightly. Next to ours, Flissie goes to UK 30, costs £2 less for a single pair, is 95% rather than 79% bamboo viscose, and gives you 60 days to decide rather than 30.
Sloggi ZERO Feel 2.0 Cyclist Shorts
If you have been searching for Sloggi shorts, this is the pair for a pale, clingy or bodycon dress. Sloggi uses what it calls dot bonding instead of seams, with no labels, in a recycled polyamide microfibre with elastane, so there are no edges to show through. £19 on Sloggi's UK site, in XS to XXL.
Worth knowing: it is a thin synthetic, there is no published leg length, and sizes run XS to XXL rather than UK numbers, so check Sloggi's guide before you order.
Jockey Skimmies Short Length
Jockey Skimmies are what Jockey calls the original slipshort, and the Short Length version is cut for shorter skirts and dresses. Seamfree sides, a knit-in cotton-blend gusset, and 85% polyester, 12% elastane and 3% cotton, at £14 in S to 2XL. It is happy in a warm wash and the tumble dryer.
Worth knowing: sizes stop at 2XL, Jockey files it under shapewear, and there is no published leg length.
Yours Clothing Nude Anti Chafing Shorts
The cheapest here at £8, from a plus size specialist, in UK 16 to 36 sold in grouped sizes (16 to 20, 22 to 26, 28 to 32 and 34 to 36). High waisted, in a 90 denier stretch fabric, in nude and black.
Worth knowing: grouped sizes are less precise than a single size, and 90 denier is a tights weight, so they run warmer than a thin slip short. There is no published leg length.
Not shorts at all: thigh bands
For a dress too short for any shorts, thigh bands are the other route. Bandelettes, the best-known brand, make lace or microfibre bands with silicone grips that sit around the top of each thigh, sized by thigh measurement. Nothing shows under a mini, though they do nothing for modesty or lines. Their sizing rule works for any short: bands that roll up are too small, and bands that slide down are too big.
Nude shorts: the colour that disappears under a light dress
The least visible colour under a pale or thin dress is the one closest to your skin, not white. White shows through white; a shade near your skin tone doesn't.
Our nude shorts come in two shades, both in the 6 inch leg and every size from UK 8 to 30: Taupe White for lighter skin and Chocolate Brown for deeper skin.
Shop Taupe White Shop Chocolate Brown
Pick your size on the next page.
“The fit is perfect and it is very comfy. I went for a nude colour to hide under linen pants and it does exactly that. Would purchase again.” Verified buyer, UK
Among the others, Snag's core range includes Hot Chocolate, Caramel Latte and Builders Tea, Boody has Shell, Jockey has a shade called Light, and Yours sells nude and black.
Under black or dark dresses, black is the safer choice: if a hem does show, it disappears against the dress.
Will shorts under a dress make you hotter?
A thin, breathable layer usually feels cooler than bare thighs sticking together; a thick or synthetic one can trap heat. The fabric is the difference.
Most slip shorts are nylon or polyester, and some are knitted like tights: Snag's use the same fabric as its tights, and Yours are 90 denier. Ours are 95% bamboo viscose, which is breathable and moisture-wicking, and moves moisture rather than holding it against your skin. They are also one layer, where a slip short worn over knickers is two.
“Perfect anti-chafe shorts! Really soft, light weight boxer shorts, they come to a good length to prevent chafe and are a lot cooler than my sports shorts.” Verified buyer, UK
“Really comfortable, felt cool and not sweaty during the recent hot weather. Will be buying more.” Patricia, verified buyer
One thing we won't tell you is that bamboo viscose is antibacterial. You will see it claimed across bamboo underwear, but that property belongs to raw bamboo and doesn't survive the process that turns bamboo into viscose, ours included. Soft, breathable and moisture-wicking is what we can stand behind.
Why shorts roll up under dresses, and what stops it
Under dress shorts roll for one of three reasons. The leg is too tight for the thigh, so the band climbs to the narrowest point. The leg is too loose, so it slides and bunches. Or the band is too narrow to grip, so every step nudges it up a little.
That makes fit more important than any feature. Between sizes, size up: a leg that is too tight will roll every time. And choose a brand that grades the leg opening for each size, so the thigh fits at UK 26 as well as at UK 12. Ours do, and our size guide gives the hip measurement for every size.
“It feels like these boxers were made to fit my body! So comfy, the waistband doesn't dig in, soft and fitting fabric that doesn't roll up.” Kerry, UK
“I have now bought this style pants from 4 suppliers and these are by far the best. Extraordinarily comfortable, they don't ride up and fit so well...love them.” Verified buyer, UK
Shorts for under skirts: the same rules, one difference
Shorts for under skirts follow everything above. The one difference is the waistband: a skirt sits its own waistband on top of your shorts, so a wide, soft band that lies flat shows less than a narrow elastic one. Under a fitted pencil skirt, pick the flattest edges you can find. Under a full or A-line skirt, any under skirt shorts that stay put will do.
“Waistband is just the right tightness, you don't even feel they're there.” Verified buyer, UK
Shorts for under dresses: your questions answered
What are the best shorts to wear under a dress?
The best shorts to wear under a dress are soft, breathable and long enough in the leg to reach where your thighs touch, around 6 inches for most women, with a band that doesn't roll. Our pick is Flissie's 6 inch bamboo boxer shorts. For a mini dress choose thigh bands, and for a sheer or bodycon dress choose bonded edges.
What are some good ladies shorts for under dresses?
Seven worth knowing in the UK: Flissie bamboo boxer shorts (6 or 9 inch, UK 8 to 30), Boody Seamfree Undershorts (bamboo, UK 6 to 22), M&S Body Invisibles (£20 for two), Snag Stay Cool (UK 4 to 36), Sloggi ZERO Feel (bonded edges), Jockey Skimmies Short Length (a shorter cut) and Yours Clothing's nude shorts (£8, UK 16 to 36).
Are you supposed to wear shorts under dresses?
No, it's a choice, not a rule. Women who wear them usually do it for one of three reasons: to stop their thighs rubbing, for modesty on a windy day or when sitting on the floor with the kids, or to smooth lines under a fitted dress.
Do you wear knickers under slip shorts?
It depends on the short. Snag, Boody and Jockey build in a gusset, so theirs can be worn on their own, while one M&S reviewer found the Body Invisibles too sheer to wear without knickers. Women's boxer shorts are the knickers, so there is nothing to wear under them.
What colour shorts should I wear under a white dress?
Nude shorts close to your own skin tone, not white. White shows through white; a skin tone doesn't. Ours come in Taupe White and Chocolate Brown, in every size from UK 8 to 30.
Can you wear cycling shorts under a dress?
Yes, and plenty of women do. Gym cycling shorts are usually thicker and warmer than shorts made for under dresses, and often longer than a short dress. One of our customers found ours “a lot cooler than my sports shorts”.
Which shorts for under dresses don't roll up?
The ones that fit your thigh. Rolling almost always means the leg is too tight or the band too narrow, so size up if you're between sizes and choose a brand that grades the leg opening for each size. Ours are cut that way, or in one reviewer's words, “soft and fitting fabric that doesn't roll up”.
What are the best plus size shorts for under dresses?
Flissie goes to UK 30 at the same price in every size, with the leg cut for each size rather than scaled up. Snag and Yours go further, to UK 36, and Yours is the cheapest at £8. There is more on fit in our plus size underwear collection.
Wear the dress. Skip the thigh burn.
Try Flissie bamboo boxer shorts under your own dresses for 60 days. If they're not right, we'll refund you or swap the size.
- A 6 inch leg in 95% bamboo viscose that stops thighs rubbing
- UK 8 to 30, the same price in every size
- £20 a pair, or £13 a pair in a 7 pack
- Free UK delivery on every order
Written by Phillippa Owen, co-founder of Flissie. Phillippa and Matthew run Flissie themselves from Derbyshire. Since 2021 they have sent more than 8,000 pairs to around 2,000 women, and they read every review.
How we compared
We make Flissie, so we have kept this to things you can check. Every other brand's details come from its own UK product page, checked on 22 September 2026, at the RRP for one pair. We have no commercial relationship with any of these brands. Prices and ranges change, so check before you buy.
Sources: M&S 2 Pack Body Invisibles Anti-Chafe Shorts; Snag Stay Cool Chub Rub Shorts; Boody Seamfree Undershorts, 6 inch; Sloggi ZERO Feel 2.0 Cyclist Shorts; Jockey Skimmies Short Length Slipshort; Yours Clothing Nude Anti Chafing High Waisted Shorts; Bandelettes thigh bands and sizing guide. All from each brand's UK website.
