I once took 14 pairs of knickers on a five day holiday and still felt unprepared.
Stuffed at the back of a draw or scattered across the floor, knickers are an essential in millions of people’s wardrobes.
But how many pairs of pants should we actually own?
My personal collection of pants has never dipped below 30. What if I wake up and they’ve all been stolen? What if I spontaneously visit a water park mid-day and need to locate an emergency pair at a moment’s notice? You simply can never have too many.
Well now, recent guidance has answered the question once and for all. According to lingerie expert, Emma Woodrow, at Pour Moi, you should only be holding onto nine to ten pairs of underwear at any one time.
Shocking, I know.
She states: ‘As a general rule of thumb, only keep enough everyday underwear that you’ll comfortably use in one laundry cycle, plus a few buffers.’
Do it for your vagina
So why is it so important to keep a capsule underwear wardrobe? It turns out, regularly wearing old pants isn’t great for your health, down there.
Dr Sima Al Asad, cosmetic gynecologist, tells Metro that’s while there’s ‘no expiry date’ on knickers, you ought to keep things fresh.
‘Most pairs should be replaced every six to twelve months if they’re worn regularly. But how often they’re worn, how they’re washed, and their overall condition matter more than age alone.’
This will be shocking news to many Brits, given that research from Pour Moi found the average person is typically walking around in pants that are two years and seven months old.
Dr Sima adds: ‘Over time, underwear fibres break down, reducing breathability and the fabric’s ability to wick away moisture.
‘This means older or worn-out knickers can harbour bacteria and yeast, particularly if the elastic has loosened or the fabric has thinned.
‘For people with vulvas, this may increase the risk of irritation, recurrent thrush, bacterial vaginosis, itching or soreness.’
Dr Sima recommends regularly checking for thinning fabric, stretched elastic, lingering odour or stains that don’t wash out: ‘If underwear no longer feels comfortable or hygienic, it’s best to replace it.
‘Small, consistent habits like these can make a meaningful difference to intimate health.’
Dr Susanna Unsworth, women’s health expert, adds to this — noting ‘it’s difficult to put a fixed timeline on this. Comfort, hygiene, and the absence of irritation or infection are better indicators than a specific timescale.’
Follow the one in, one out rule
The underwear and nightwear market in the UK was estimated to be worth over £3 billion in 2023, with this figure expected to jump up to £5.2 million by 2028.
So, it’s fair to say we’re all knicker hoarders, with a mound of forgotten or discarded underwear growing in the corner of our bedrooms.
But with the New Year right around the corner, now might be a good time to embrace what therapists often call the ‘fresh start effect.’
Eloise Skinner, a psychotherapist who specialises in existential therapy, tells Metro: ‘The fresh start effect is a psychological mechanism whereby we feel that certain dates / times of year give us a “new” start, allowing us to undo previous behaviours, habits or routines, and begin again with new intentions and goals.’
‘In terms of our wardrobes, it might be a good time to refresh and organise, especially if we have new goals and ambitions that are related to dressing or feeling a certain way (for example, we might want to get clothes that match new aspects of our identity we’re trying to cultivate).’
But while refreshing our looks, and our underwear draws, might be a good idea, Emma reminds us that a clear out doesn’t mean we should immediately go on a massive shopping spree to ‘try and quickly fill the gaps.’
She adds: ‘Everyday underwear isn’t necessarily meant to be curated. No matter how much you love a certain style or colour of pants, no one needs to have dozens of pairs.’
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
