You might not give your underwear much thought; after all, most people’s underwear isn’t on the show for anyone else to see unless it’s a significant other.

Your panties have an essential role in your everyday comfort, the smoothness of your side and back views, and your health, even if no one else sees them.

When it comes to underwear, there are many options, but cotton is the most popular choice for everyday “unmentionables” for various reasons. There are other styles and colors to choose from as well.

We’ve put together this shopping guide to teach you all you need to know about finding the best underwear for your body type—be it cotton brief, cotton bikini, or cotton hipsters.

The first step in choosing the right underwear is to know that cotton is the best fabric.

Women’s undergarments come in a variety of styles, from barely-there thongs to cover-it-all-up cotton briefs, so it’s important to understand the benefits of each before purchasing one — or several — new pairs.

Cotton Briefs

Cotton briefs are full-coverage panties covering the entire rear end and come up to or just a touch below the natural waist. Traditional briefs have a straight cut across the top of the legs; however, other cotton briefs have a higher cut to show a little more hip.

Cotton briefs are ideal for lounging or wearing regularly. They can hide a “muffin top” and won’t draw attention to your stomach. They are not, however, appropriate for wearing with low-cut pants or skirts.

Cotton Bikinis

Cotton bikinis is a popular style that ends well below the waistline and is cut high above the thighs, giving a beautiful panty with moderate coverage. G-strings are bikini panties with a thin string-like waistband running down the sides.

Cotton bikinis looks great under any clothing, but remember that muffin top, panty lines, and the dreaded upward creep are all frequent problems with this form of underwear.

Cotton Hipsters

Something like a cross between a brief and a boy-cut panty, cotton hipsters encircle the hips a few inches below the belly button but have full coverage over the rear end. Depending on the style, some hipsters have fairly low-cut leg openings that hit at the top of the thigh, while others are cut a little higher to show off some hip.

Cotton hipsters wrap the hips a few inches below the belly button yet provide full coverage over the back end, similar to a hybrid between cotton briefs and a boy-cut panty.

Some cotton hipsters have lower-cut leg openings that hit the top of the thigh, while others have higher-cut leg openings to show off some hip.

While you look for the best underwear—cotton briefs, cotton bikinis, or cotton hipsters—ensure you go for what you’re comfortable in and can help you have a great night’s rest.