These Are the Absolute Best Shorts to Wear Under Summer Dresses, I Promise You

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Like Juliet and Romeo, Hero and Leander or Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass, so too are my thighs drawn to one another in a destructive desire to chafe. I’m a pretty sweaty person all year round, but it’s especially frustrating in summer when the humidity skyrockets. I’ve tried applying balms like Megababe , but don’t love needing to reapply throughout the day. And bike shorts are too thick and restrictive to feel truly comfortable on the hottest July days. But I’ve finally found a solution I adore— Spanx Fit-to-You Superlight Smoothing Mid-Thigh Shorts —and I’m telling you now, they are by far the absolute best shorts to wear under dresses to prevent chafing.

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Abby Hepworth for PureWow

In my hunt to find the best shorts to layer under my skirts and dresses I tried numerous brands, and even some other styles from Spanx. I wore them all through the unbearable humidity and heat of a typical NYC summer , judging them based on their breathability, comfort, fit, value and even color options. I paid particular attention to whether or not these shorts tended to ride up throughout the day (what good is an undergarment if you have to keep adjusting it?). I even wore them under dresses of multiple lengths and fabrics to ensure the 6-inch inseam neither peeked out nor rode up. At the end of the day, all roads lead to the Spanx Fit-to-You Smoothing shorts.

They offer no compression, are incredibly lightweight and super breathable, such that I often forget I even have them on. That was really the thing that sold me on these shorts—the fact that they allowed me to go about my day without ever having to think about my thighs. They currently come in four colors, three shades of nude and black. And because the material is semi sheer and has no prominent seams, these shorts can’t be seen underneath light colors or tight silhouettes. They also come with a built-in cotton gusset so those who wanted to could wear the Fit-to-You Smoothing shorts in place of underwear, though I typically wear mine with panties so that I can get more than one use out of them before washing.

Speaking of washing, these shorts are both machine washable and dryer safe, making them incredibly easy to care for—another reason they topped out over most other shorts I tested. I usually put mine in a mesh laundry bag to ensure it doesn’t get snagged on any zippers. I’ve also on occasion hand washed them while on vacation, and was pleasantly surprised by how quickly they air dry.

Abby Hepworth for PureWow

I’ll admit, I am immediately skeptical of any item that comes in a single size (or in this case, two sizes), and the Spanx Fit-to-You Smoothing shorts were no exception. The brand’s site notes that the “one size” option should comfortably fit sizes XS through XL, while the “one size plus” is best for sizes 1X through 3X. When I first pulled my shorts out of the packaging I actually laughed out loud thinking, there is no way these itty bitty shorts are going to fit over my thighs and ass. But, reader, I was very happily proved wrong. As I mentioned earlier, the super stretchy fabric easily flexes to fit my curves without pinching. And while the shorts no longer snap back into the tiny shape they had when they first arrived, they haven’t stretched out or sagged or bagged, even after nearly two years of wear.

The Spanx Fit-to-You Smoothing shorts are not entirely without cons, however. The material isn’t as slick as other Spanx styles, which means it can snag a bit when worn under tighter linen styles . In these instances, I sometimes reach for my second-place pick, the b.tempt’d Comfort Intended Shorty shorts ($18), which have a much smoother finish but tend to ride up after a lot of walking and aren’t quite as thin. But in my case, this is really only an occasional problem. For all my cotton, silk and polyester skirts, the Spanx shorts layer like an absolute dream, allowing me to get on with my day totally stress free. Well, at least chafe free. And there’s really no denying how big a win that truly is.

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