Cosmetics

Hello beautiful people. Today I’m bringing you a candid (and cheeky!) tale about two very different two panty shopping experiences: Bloomers and Underoutfit. Since my last set of surgeries, I’ve put on some weight and my body has changed shape. Nothing wrong with that, but my juicy, luscious booty now has a mind of its own and keeps trying to devour my underwear.

And listen, I love a good rebel moment, but going commando during a workout? Not for me.

So I went on a mission. I wanted to find comfy, boyshort panties that actually stay in place—and ended up testing Bloomers and Underoufit. Spoiler: I made a few mistakes I don’t want you to repeat.

Mistake #1: I Didn’t Read the Fine Print

In my excitement to try something new, I completely skipped checking the return and exchange policies for Bloomers and Underoutfit, a rookie move. Bloomers, in particular, has a policy that made me wish I’d been more careful. If you’re considering shopping with them, do yourself a favor: read the return rules first. Normally I’m meticulous about this stuff, but life has been chaos lately and I let it slide. Lesson learned.

Mistake #2: I Didn’t Consult the Lingerie Oracle

Why I didn’t check The Lingerie Addict’s site first to see her reviews on Bloomers and Underoutfit, I’ll never know. She’s basically lingerie royalty. If anyone could’ve steered me toward the right fit, it’s Cora. Next time, I’ll be consulting her wisdom before hitting “add to cart.”

Bloomers Panties Experience Review

I first discovered Bloomers, an intimates brand that prides itself on inclusivity, while searching for underwear that actually works with, not against, my body. What made me hit buy wasn’t just the pretty packaging or size range; it was this line from their site:

“The fact is that over the course of your life, your hormones go through different phases. These phases not only shape your reproductive health, but also your body shape and how you view your sexuality.”

That statement stopped me in my tracks. Finally, a brand that gets it. Our bodies shift through perimenopause, menopause, post-surgery, postpartum, and those changes deserve to be met with comfort, not compromise.

On top of that, I loved learning that Bloomers gives back by donating underwear to women in need through The Undies Project. That kind of mission-driven approach matters to me.

Bloomers Return Policy

As I mentioned earlier, I made the mistake of not reading the return policy before making my purchase. If you decide to shop with Bloomers, please learn from my experience. I personally find their return policy unfriendly to customers. The requirement to postmark your return within just seven days feels unreasonably short. Additionally, the 15% restocking fee applied when returning four or more items comes across as unnecessarily punitive.

The above photos are screenshots of Bloomers Refund and Exchange Policy on their website from May 2025.

The Order

I placed my order with  Bloomers on Sunday, May 4, and the brand shipped quickly. My package arrived by May 8, 2025, which I appreciated.

Included with my order was a “free” black belt bag. I didn’t think much of it, since when I want to wear a black belt bag, I always reach for my beloved Sourpuss Leda Festival Studded Gothic Hip Bag. It’s a built to last hipbag that I’ve had for nearly a decade and it continues to be my go-to.

I decided to test out a pair of the Bloomers Pantyloon Slip Shorts. Unfortunately, my sensitive skin did not agree with their lace. After only a few hours of wear, I developed a rash between my thighs from the irritation.

To be fair, I don’t believe this would happen to everyone. I know my skin is particularly reactive, so I chalk this up to a personal sensitivity. I don’t blame Bloomers for the rash. What I do take issue with is their return policy, which I don’t feel is particularly kind to customers.

The Return

On Saturday May 10, I contacted  Bloomers to ask about returning the unopened items. I heard back from the brand on Monday May 12, which is very reasonable for a small company.

In their response, they initially offered a free exchange for their feather lace style instead. I declined and clarified that I preferred a return. The representative let me know that returns must be postmarked within seven days of the return request, meaning I needed to ship my items by May 17. It felt bad that because I contacted them on a Saturday with the return request, it had to be postmarked by Friday, when I didn’t even hear from the company until Monday. Unless I misunderstood their customer service on this point, but it didn’t seem likely, especially considering the follow up emails.

One of the colors I ordered, Dragon Fruit, was said to be limited edition and final sale. I was told that under normal circumstances it would not be eligible for return, but they would make a special exception for me. I appreciated the gesture, though I was a bit confused since the color was still listed on their website without any mention of being limited edition or final sale. That may have simply been a website oversight. However, when I went back to look at the site again, there is nothing to indicate in the product listing that Dragon Fruit is a limited edition shade, it just says it’s cougar lace. How is a customer supposed to know that is limited edition when the website doesn’t state it?

Because I hadn’t yet notified them that I’d mailed the return, I received a follow-up email on May 15 reminding me that I needed to send it out in order to receive my refund.

Bloomers provides a prepaid return label, but it comes at a cost. They deduct $7 from your refund—so returns aren’t free. Bloomers did give an option of mailing the product back without using their label, so you can potentially pay less than the $7 to ship it back.

The Third Mistake

I packed up the box with the Bloomers panties, believing I had included all the items I purchased along with everything else they had sent me.

On May 16, I dropped the package off at the UPS store and emailed Bloomers to let them know it was on the way. I also shared that I was disappointed the products didn’t work out for me.

At that point, I assumed the return process was complete and that the next message I’d receive would be confirmation of my refund.

Free Bag Issue

On May 19, Bloomers emailed me to let me know I needed to return the “free” black belt bag. I was genuinely confused. I had believed I’d sent everything back, including the “free” laundry bags and that belt bag. Unfortunately, I hadn’t realized I missed it.

Their message explained that my refund was on hold until they received the belt bag. They provided another $7 shipping label so I could send it back. Alternatively, they said I could be charged $13 for the “free” item I never asked for, never wanted, and had no option to exclude from my order in the first place.

To be clear, Bloomers was refusing to process my refund for the panties unless I returned this belt bag—an item I didn’t order and had no control over receiving. It wasn’t possible to remove it from my cart, and I had simply forgotten to include it when returning everything else.

I’m sure I’m not the only person who might overlook something like this, especially when it’s an unsolicited gift. So, I printed the second $7 shipping label, boxed up the belt bag, and sent it back. I was definitely frustrated to be paying shipping twice in order to complete a return that felt far more complicated and frustrating than it needed to be.

Final Thoughts of Bloomers

Based on my experience, I cannot recommend shopping with Bloomers.

While their products are visually appealing and their messaging is inclusive, the reality fell short for me. The materials did not agree with my sensitive skin, which I can understand may not be the case for everyone. What’s harder to overlook is the rigid and customer-unfriendly return policy.

Charging for return shipping is one thing, but holding a refund hostage over a so-called “free” item I never asked for, and had no option to decline, left a bad taste. The back-and-forth, the extra shipping costs, and the lack of flexibility made the process frustrating from start to finish.

At the time of writing, I still have not received my refund from Bloomers.

If you’re considering placing an order, I urge you to read all the fine print and be prepared for a return process that puts the burden squarely on the customer.

Edit: As of May 27, 2025, I’ve been notified to expect my refund no later than May 30. In the time it’s taken for Bloomers to refund me, I’ve been able to try out and return the Underoutfit brand, as well as try out and declare Spanx brand the winner for me. While I always prefer to prioritize featuring indie and boutique brands, sometimes they don’t work.

Underoutfit Experience Review

Underoutfit was founded by the behind-the-scenes experts who helped shape designs for major brands like Victoria’s Secret, Spanx, Nike, Maidenform, Triumph, and Lululemon. The company presents itself with a clear mission:

“To design bras that feel as good as they look, made with the knowledge and precision that only decades of experience can bring. No shortcuts, no compromises, and no middlemen telling us what women should want.”

I genuinely respect Underoutfit’s fashion pedigree and their commitment to creating comfortable, functional products. Their boyshort design looked exactly like the kind of underwear I’ve been searching for, something that actually stays put and offers full coverage. That combination of thoughtful design and experience is what convinced me to give them a try.

Underoutfit Return Policy

The images below are of the Underoutfit return policy as of May 20, 2025 from their website.

There’s a night and day difference to my eyes in the very consumer friendly Underoutfit returns and refunds policy.

The Order

I placed my order for the Underoutfit Smoothing at Waist Boyshorts on May 13, and the shipping was impressively fast, as my package arrived just three days later on May 16.

That same day, I received a welcome email from Underoutfit. One detail that stood out to me is that they assign each customer a dedicated support contact. Mine was Donna, who was available to answer any product questions or offer help. That personal touch really made the experience feel more thoughtful and human.

I ordered both a size small and a size medium since I was between sizes. While the small technically fit, the medium was noticeably more comfortable. And the best part? This style actually stays in place. No more battling my booty trying to eat my underwear. They’re comfortable, flattering, and do exactly what I need them to do. Or so I thought.

The Problem

While I was initially impressed with the fit and comfort of Underoutfit, I quickly noticed something important was missing. The underwear did not appear to have a 100% cotton gusset. I emailed Donna to ask for clarification, and she confirmed that the fabric was 65% nylon and 35% spandex, with a consistent texture throughout.

My heart sank.

For me, a 100% cotton gusset is absolutely essential. It plays a critical role in maintaining good hygiene and helps reduce the risk of issues such as yeast infections. Regardless of how well a pair of underwear fits, I cannot overlook this detail.

I replied and explained that the lack of a cotton gusset made the product unsuitable for me. The team responded with understanding and directed me to their returns portal. I completed the return process without any complications.

Easiest Return Ever

Using the Underoutfit returns portal was incredibly simple. I just entered my order number and zip code, answered a few quick questions, and I was done.

To my surprise, I received my refund the very same day.

I also received an email from Underoutfit that said:

“We have received your return request. You don’t need to return your item(s) to get your exchange or refund. We encourage you to donate your lightly used product or give it to a person in need. We’ll issue your refund, gift card, or exchange once we have processed your return.”

I was genuinely shocked, in the best way.

After the ongoing frustration with Bloomers, the experience with Underoutfit was a breath of fresh air. Their customer service was thoughtful, respectful, and efficient. I did not expect to be told to keep or donate the items, and I certainly did not expect such a fast refund. Most importantly, I felt respected as a customer.

While I was surprised not to have to return the underwear, I was also relieved. They resolved the issue quickly and without making me jump through hoops.

And just to be clear, because my order was under $85, they did not refund the shipping charge of $3.99. I had no problems with this shipping charge not being refunded because: a. it was quite reasonable and b. the brand made the process customer friendly.

Final Thoughts on Underoutfit

Although I choose not to wear underwear without a 100% cotton gusset, I wholeheartedly recommend Underoutfit based on their outstanding customer service and hassle-free return process. My experience with the brand was smooth, respectful, and refreshingly customer-centered.

Because of that, I would absolutely consider purchasing other products from Underoutfit in the future. A company that treats its customers well is always worth keeping on your radar.

Bloomers and Underoutfit: A Customer Service Reality Check

After interacting with both Bloomers and Underoutfit via email, the contrast in customer experience could not have been more stark.

With Bloomers, the communication felt strained. While their tone was polite on the surface, there was an undercurrent of irritation whenever I brought up an issue. Their messages repeatedly emphasized that returns must be postmarked within seven days or no refund would be issued. That language, though likely intended to clarify policy, came across as rigid and vaguely threatening. It felt less like customer care and more like customer containment.

In sharp contrast, Underoutfit made me feel heard from the start. I was assigned a real person to help with questions, and every email I received felt warm, professional, and solution-focused. When I brought up my concerns about the gusset, they responded with empathy and provided a return option without fuss. I was surprised and impressed when they processed my refund the same day—without requiring the product to be returned. That kind of trust and customer-first attitude is rare, and it made a lasting positive impression.

Bloomers and Underoutfit truly gave me a night and day experience with their customer service. I vastly prefer one to the other based on my personal experiences.

Other Underwear Woes

For two years I had nothing but positive experiences with Feelingirl, but my luck ran out recently when I ordered more of their no underwire seamless everyday bras. My order from April 30 arrived May 5 and was missing one item. I let them know immediately. It’s now May 20 and I’m still missing the bra. How it takes them almost a month to correct a problem, I don’t know. Most of my orders of their products have been via Amazon, but I tried ordering directly from them and had this issue. I’ll stick to Amazon in the future or maybe find a different brand.

What’s Next: Spanx

The next pair of panties I decided to try in my search for the perfect fit is the SPANX SPANXshape ExtraOrdinary Boyshort. While the product listing on their website does not mention a 100% cotton gusset, I reached out to their customer service team prior to purchase for clarification, as well as spent time reading their returns policy. Spanx confirmed that this style does, in fact, have a 100% cotton gusset.

I also suggested to Spanx to add this information to their product pages and FAQ section, since I initially searched both areas before resorting to email. Their response was thoughtful and professional:

“Your suggestion on listing this information more clearly on both product pages and our FAQ is incredibly valuable, and I’ll make sure it gets passed along for review.“

Visually, the Spanx SPANXshape ExtraOrdinary Boyshort looks very similar to the Underoutfit design, but with the key difference of including the gusset I require. If the fit lives up to my expectations, these could be the answer to my ongoing panty struggle.

Fingers crossed that Spanx solves my issues that Bloomers and Underoutfit were unable to.

Edit: Spanx is a winner for my booty! I’m happy that Spanx is having a sale right now because I bought some boyshorts for $11.20 USD a pair with their sale code STOCKUP30.

Bloomers and Underoutfit: Final Verdict

Bloomers and Underoutfit are two of the most recent intimates brands that I’ve purchased from that I found on my own, rather than asking a friend for a recommendation.

If you are looking for full-coverage, stay-put underwear and do not need a 100% cotton gusset, Underoutfit is absolutely worth trying. Their boyshort design didn’t bunch or get swallowed by my booty—and the customer service was exceptional.

On the other hand, while Bloomers markets itself as body-positive and inclusive, my experience did not reflect that mission. Between the irritating lace, the confusing return policy, and the insistence on sending back even a free item, I walked away frustrated and disappointed.

Sometimes the biggest difference between brands is not just the product, but how they treat you when things go wrong. Underoutfit handled it with grace. Bloomers did not. Between the two, Bloomers and Underoutfit, which have you tried? Which do you prefer? Have you tried Spanx?

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