Women's Cotton Mid Waist Underwear - No Muffin Top Full Coverage Briefs Panties for Women (Multipack) | Comfortable Everyday Wear for Work, Gym & Sleep

This review is for the UMMISS Womens Underwear, Mid Waist No Muffin Top Full Coverage Cotton Brief Ladies Panties Lingerie Undergarments for Women Multipack . (3 black, 2 grey pack)SIZING/FIT: (****TAKE CARE IN THIS AREA!****) I am always hesitant to buy new clothing items without trying on first. The "Free Returns" made me feel comfortable about buying online and giving these a try. I thoroughly read other user reviews and took the advice to buy smaller than the seller's sizing chart because they run a little large. I am 180 lbs at 5' 8". My hip measures at 45 in and my waist at 42 in -- which WOULD HAVE put me at an XXL according to the chart, but that seemed WAY, WAY too big for my previous purchases of L in underwear and pants. I wonder if the seller's size chart presumes I have a bigger belly than I do? (My midrift is a kind of a "rolling landscape" in that area.) I ended up buying LARGE in this garment and I MIGHT go up to XL. Last panties I bought were size L/7 of Ambrielle which was perfect and size M of It-Se-Bit-Se (which is feeling too snug these days) of the same hi top style. When I first put these underwear on, I was concerned that they *might* be too small or whether it was me adjusting to a slightly different form. It was kinda on the edge. But as I wore them, I feel they are fine for me -- so it was just sensitive me adjusting to something new.COMPRESSION: I have a moderate belly. I wouldn't say these are "control top" or compress very much, but they do conceal and smooth my obvious curves. When I've purchased control top underwear, they had a very tight, uncomfortable feel to them and sometimes I'd bulge out. That doesn't happen here because the fit just isn't that tight. It is stretchy however, and very giving.COMFORT: I was looking for COMFORT over style here, and these more than pass. With other underwear of this style, I can feel the waistband, but I don't feel that with these at all. They are so comfortable, they feel invisible; I don't notice them.APPEARANCE: I wear fairly thin leggings and also some snug/stretchy clothing from J Jill and don't see any obvious lines under these kinds of clothing. You might have a problem if you like low riding jeans or pants though. When I wear them, they can cover my belly button -- unlike the photos. It's hard to feel sexy in full-top, brief panties, but these actually do a *positive* number on my self-esteem. I actually *like* the way I look in them. They don't look like "granny panties" at all.FABRIC APPEARANCE & TEXTURE: I really like the feel of the fabric. The fabric is SOFT (like baby soft) but NOT smooth/silky/shiny kind of soft. It's definitely the matte we are accustomed to seeing in cotton and has the cottony feel, which is true to the product description.DURABILITY: I have put them through 6 washes so far and they seem to be holding up well also. They are remaining soft through the washes too. The color is well maintained -- no fading at all. I use 7th Generation Fragrance Free Laundry Detergent as the sole laundering product on them.COMPARISON WITH OTHER BRANDS: I've been wearing 2 types of hi-top Abrielle brand (silky cotton blend RN#18980 and regular cotton RN #93677) for over a year and preferred their regular cotton ones, but those were taken off the market. I've been left with the silky kind, which I'm not happy with because the silky Ambrielle cotton ones I have are riding up and stretching out after a year of wear, and they don't feel good anymore. I considered Hanes again because of the price per pair and previous satisfaction, but customers were complaining about those getting holes and not holding up. Plus Hanes charges an arm and a leg for S/H. Jockey seemed too "seamy," didn't come in the colors I wanted and the price was too high per pair, so I was on the market for something new. The fabric on this UMMISS brand is definitely thicker than all the other brands I've worn. And more comfortable.SMELL/SCENT/ODOR: A big concern of mine is when garments come with a chemical smell. Especially with IMPORTED products since those tend to be saturated in formaldehyde and fragrance to survive the boat trip over and prevent wrinkles and molding. I have severe Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). These UMMISS panties DO NOT have a chemical smell. There is a very mild odor if you put them *right* to your nose, but this did not trigger any symptoms for me straight out of the package. The mild odor disappeared after one NORMAL wash. No decontamination process necessary. I give them a pass on chemical safety.I am a very discriminating consumer and when I get to write a 5-star review, it's a real pleasure. I'm cherry-picking these panties out of my underwear drawer, so I think it's time to purchasing another pack since they work so well for me. Maybe I'll try the XL this time even though the L is fine.I plan to circle back around after a year and update this listing to let you know how they hold up over time. For now, I'm EXTREMELY pleased.