The difference between a thong, a G-string and a cheeky panty is how much fabric covers the back. A cheeky panty covers most of the seat and leaves the lower curve exposed. A thong covers the front and narrows to a strip of fabric between the cheeks. A G-string replaces that strip with a cord or string. Everything else about the three cuts, from the waistband to the fabric, can be identical.
The three cuts, side by side
Cheeky panties
A cheeky, sometimes called a Brazilian cut, has a back panel that covers roughly half to two-thirds of the seat. The leg opening is cut higher and narrower than a bikini brief. This allows the lower part of each cheek to show. It is the middle ground for women who do not want a full brief but do not want a thong either. Under clothes it shows a faint line at the edge of the panel; under sheer or tight fabric it is more visible than a thong but less visible than a brief.
Thongs
A thong covers the front and tapers to a strip. It is usually one to two inches wide at the top and runs between the cheeks and joins the waistband. The waistband is a full band around the hips. Because the strip is fabric, a thong feels like a garment rather than a string. The waistband holds it in place throughout the day. This is the cut most women mean by “no-show underwear.”
Women’s thongs in the FemmeBasics range are cut in our Colombian workshop from 78% nylon, 22% spandex lace. The Classic Lacy Thong has a wide waistband and a floral lace front in sizes S to XL; the Playful Panty adds adjustable side straps and a bow. Both, and the rest of the range, are in our Women’s Thongs & G-Strings collection.
G-strings
A G-string keeps the front panel and swaps the back strip and often the waistband for a cord, elastic or string. The name comes from the shape of the string, which forms a T or a Y at the back. It is the least fabric a panty can have while still counting as one, and it disappears under clothing entirely.
The trade-off is that a string has nothing to hold it in place except tension. So a G-string that is too big rides and one that is too small can dig. Femme X G-strings come in one size in a 94% polyester, 6% spandex stretch blend and are sold in packs. The 3-Pack Mirror and the 4-Pack Mesh. The FemmeBasics Kamila G-String Garter Set pairs a lace G-string with a bralette and garter belt. See the full G-Strings collection.
Thong vs G-string: which to choose
Choose a thong when you want a piece that stays put through a full day, a waistband you can feel, and a lace or mesh front that looks like lingerie when you undress. Choose a G-string when the goal is nothing visible under thin clothing, or for stage and swim, where the string back is the point.
Many women keep both. Thongs for daily wear under jeans, leggings and skirts. G-strings are often chosen for backless dresses, dancewear and the beach, where a G-string back matches a micro bikini bottom from our Micro Bikinis collection.
What “no-show” really means
No panty is invisible under everything. A thong hides the back line but the waistband can print through very thin fabric; a G-string hides both but the front panel edge can show if it is stiff. Lace fronts with a scalloped edge print less than a straight elastic edge because there is no hard line. The Classic Lacy Thong is designed on that principle: a wide, soft waistband and a scalloped lace front.
Other cuts worth knowing
Ruffle panties
A ruffle panty is a brief or bloomer with layered ruffles across the back. It is a costume, dance and photoshoot piece rather than daily underwear. The Femme X Ruffle Panty with Bow is a bloomer-style panty with cascading mesh ruffles, a satin bow at the back and a cotton gusset, in black, white, red and pink, One size and one size plus. Ruffle panties are hard to find outside costume shops. This is why this this style is searched for by name.
Crotchless panties
Crotchless panties can be described as any of the cuts above, but with the crotch panel left open. The Crotchless Lace Thong is a floral lace thong with scalloped edges and an open-crotch detail, in black, sizes S/M through 2XL. It belongs to the lingerie side of the drawer, not the daily side.
Open-back and strappy panties
A panty where the back panel is replaced with straps, chains or a cut-out. The Chainlinks Panty has a smooth front, a wide elastic waistband and gold chain accents across an open back. These are lingerie pieces that are designed to be seen. They sit alongside teddies and bodysuits rather than everyday thongs. All of the ruffle, crotchless and open-back styles are grouped in our Panties collection.
Fabric and fit
When determining fabric and fit, remember that the cut decides coverage; the fabric decides how it feels. Stretch lace with a high spandex content moves with the body and holds its shape after washing. This matters more on a thong or G-string than on a brief because there is less fabric to share the stretch. Mesh is lighter and cooler. Cotton blends breathe but stretch less, so cotton thongs need a closer size match.
FemmeBasics FML thongs and panties are sized S/M, L/XL and 2XL, or S through XL on the Classic Lacy Thong. When attempting to choose a size, do so by measuring your hips and by using our size guide. General rule, of you are between sizes on a thong, size down. A thong that is too big rides forward. If you are between sizes on a cheeky or brief, size up so the leg edge sits flat. One-size Femme X pieces rely on stretch and fit a wide middle range. Look on the product page for products that offer one size plus.
Care
Hand wash lace and mesh in cold water, or use a lingerie bag on a delicate cycle. Do not tumble dry. Heat breaks down spandex and the piece loses its recovery. Store thongs and G-strings flat or rolled, not stuffed, so the waistband elastic keeps its shape.
Quick answers
What is the difference between a G-string and a thong?
A thong has a fabric strip between the cheeks and a full waistband. A G-string replaces the strip, and usually the waistband, with a cord or string. Both cover the front.
Are cheeky panties the same as Brazilian panties?
They are close. Both leave the lower part of the cheeks exposed. “Brazilian” usually means a slightly narrower back panel than “cheeky”. Brands tend to use the two terms interchangeably.
What are ruffle panties for?
Ruffle panties are bloomer-style briefs with layered ruffles on the back. They are worn for burlesque, dance, costumes and photoshoots rather than as daily underwear.