Consumer Reports Studies Women’s Underwear

It was bound to happen: The Consumer Reports National Research Center, that legendary institution best known for its unbiased ratings of cars and appliances, has turned its analytical attention to…women’s underwear.

The January issue of its ShopSmart magazine will feature an eight-page spread on the topic, offering advice on everything from how to get rid of panty lines to which Spanx products are winners and losers. There’s even a timeline called “Highlights in the History of Lingerie.” Not an organization to deny women such vital information before the holidays, you can download a PDF of the entire package of articles here.

“What you wear under your clothes is just as important – maybe even more -as what you wear on the outside,” said ShopSmart Editor-in-Chief Lisa Lee Freeman. “So we recruited real women for underwear makeovers. Readers will also find the results of our first-ever body shapewear test, best lingerie websites, great fit tips, and more.”

But if you don’t have time to pore through the details, here are a few fast facts…

• 21 percent of women choose their underwear based on their mood.
• Half of women have complaints about the way their underwear fit – with wedgies (30 percent) topping the list.
• Most popular underwear colors: white (29 percent), black (21 percent), and beige (1 percent). Red and pink? Only 2 and 9 percent, respectively.
• 56 percent fold their underwear, while 27 percent just toss it in the drawer.

But the most stunning stats were these: “10 percent own 35 pairs or more, while 10 percent admit going commando in public.”