That’s Not My Age introduces big pants!
I can’t actually believe that I’m publishing a photo of me in my knickers, but there we are. Initially, I did consider hiring a model/ body double – until I checked the latest day rates. And anyway, after the recent discussion on body image, I thought, if Emma Thompson can get her kit off, then so can I. Plus, I have every confidence in my photographer friend Claire Pepper who has worked with numerous lingerie and swimwear brands and knows how to make women look good.
Anyhow, enough about me, let’s talk about BIG PANTS.
Over lunch with designer Charlotte Day, I was bemoaning the fact that it’s impossible to find a decent pair of big knickers these days. The last three-pack I bought from M&S swiftly ended up in the bin. The fabric quality was flimsy – this week, The Guardian ran an article on the subject of ‘ Skimpflation’ or getting less for your money/paying the same price for an item that has worsened in quality – and the gusset was too narrow. Not quite a cheese wire thong but with a width of under five centimetres (and yes, I did measure it) let’s just say they were not very comfortable. There was a lot of undignified pant-hitching going on. ‘You should meet my friend Harry Duley,’ Charlotte replied, when I’d finished ranting, ‘she designs the best pants around.’
And, Harry Duley really is the queen of big knickers. She runs a small, independent clothing label from her home studio in Dorset, has worked with Folk Clothing and is famous for her quality, high-rise pants. It’s a bit of a cliché but in order to dress well, you really do have to get the foundations right. Comfort and fit are the most important things. So, I am delighted to be collaborating on the latest addition to the That’s Not My Age Edit. Having tried and tested numerous pairs of pants, I can confirm that these are gamechanging undercrackers. For the TNMA x Harry Duley collaboration we’ve created a new mid-rise design for summer – but be warned, we are going big for autumn!
TNMA x Harry Duley pants
The mid-rise pants sit just below the belly button, are shaped to fit and have a low leg with a signature crossover finish. The fabric used is 46% organic cotton, 46% bamboo viscose, 8% Elastane. The high stretch content helps to keep the shape and the knickers are lovely and soft and durable. The fabric is sourced from a UK supplier who monitors supply chains, standards and certifications. Knitted and dyed in Turkey, it is GOTS certified. More info on Harry’s transparency page HERE.
The prices are as follows:
One single pair of premium mid-rise pants = £22
Three pack of premium mid-rise pants (either black, grey marl and pink; or three pairs of black pants) = £56
These pants are designed and handmade in the UK. Please allow three-to-four weeks for dispatch. They are made to order to eliminate excess stock and use less fabric. Harry is offering 10% discount on your first order; this is on single pairs (not the three-pack). Only one use per customer. Discount code: TNMA10
No more hitching and hoicking, order your new knickers HERE.
UPDATE: the TNMA x Harry Duley pants are now back in stock!
STYLE NOTES: I’m wearing my Harry Duley pants with the TNMA x Dandy Star VINTAGE sweatshirt. Check out the full TNMA Edit HERE.
Discussion (74 Comments)
Hello Sheila, Nettie, Elizabeth, Thanks for your comments – I will talk to Harry the designer about nude but because this relates to skin tone we would have to include a range of diverse colours. Additionally, I know Harry prefers to work in monochrome and is only just introducing a few brighter colours to the collection.
Linda says:
This is my topic at the moment! Like you I have found that either my below has got wider or the gussets have become narrower. The elastic at the legs is shoddy so that after a few washes they end up being a**** creepers .(term coined by a friend).
However, please add some lace to them! As they are at the moment they remind me of my school uniform knickers.. And also nude colours would be lovely!Amanda Wragg says:
Thank goodness! This is a very timely post – I’ve been hunting for big, high-rise pants for too long. These look perfect. Am I about to spaff £25 on a pair of knickers? I think I am 🙂
Annie says:
In desperation I brought earlier this year a pack of 5 black organic cotton knickers from Tesco for about £4 and they have been brilliant, they haven’t even faded.
Definitely worth trying for the price.Helen says:
I like the look of these and,yes,am too old for skimpy knickers that have you constantly fidgeting with your nether regions.However, because I have a large bum and plenty of flesh thereabouts VPL is a bugbear of mine. M and S used to do a Brazilian style…no thongs at all but highish waisted, shaped with lace at the back and a bit of tummy control at the front.Of course, they don’t make them any more…grr! I have exhausted EBay supplies of said item…but will have a dilemma of what to replace them with, soon….so thanks for a timely post.
Maureen says:
I used to get those. They were fab but not available now. I’ve given up with M&S for most things. Sizing and quality all over the place and an obsession with tiers
Yes, my friend and I both went onto Ebay and hoovered up surplus stock. M and S have not bothered to replace these with anything similar…disappointing
MaureenC says:
The replacement of the midi knickers I had bought for years from M&S was the final straw for me. I had a quick look yesterday as my surviving ones are becoming decidedly old. The choice was poor ‘brazilians’ which is apparently a thing now, shorts and very, very ugly big pants all in poor quality fabric.
I may try a pair of the mid rise TNMA pants but that’s as far as I’ll go. If you are an Apple shape like me big pants (which always seem to be designed for big hips, small waist women) are really uncomfortable.
On reflection this problem has bothered me more than every other clothing issue since bloody M&S stopped doing my favourites four years ago!Boadicea says:
As a gen-u-ine Old Lady I’ve worn Sloggi full-size knicks with control panel – the nude colour – for years and have no complaints. They actually look good as they fit well; are strong yet comfortable and they’re long-lasting, I just throw them in the washing machine, no special treatment.
Karen Sadler says:
Brilliant post. I’m a devotee of ‘big knickers’ which are rarer than Hen’s Teeth/the Golden Snitch on the High St. So thank you for another v. helpful post. I’ve nipped to HD website & ordered a pair – bottle green = fab colour. Reminiscent of the Gym knickers much loathed back in the early 70’s LOL Funny how times change eh! p.s. I wish my thighs/lower torso looked as trim as yours!
Martine Large says:
This is timely as my knicker drawer is shocking; I have pants that are old enough to vote. But they are still in better condition than the replacements I bought last year from M&S.
Helen Searancke says:
These look very similar to the wonderful Thunderpants from New Zealand.
https://www.thunderpants.co.nz/
I have worn them for years. Organic cotton, no riding up, no VPL. And very cool print design with a sense of humour. Highly recommend Thunderpants!Hi Helen- did you know you can buy UK made Thunderpants in the UK now?
http://www.thunderpants.co.uk
They are part of our Thunder family 🙂
SandraMarshall says:
I love them, and I don’t want lace. But I sorted my pant drawer this week and threw away 25 pairs of too small too big, nylon or Nasty knickers, and that still left 30 pairs, so no more pants for me until I am down to 14 pairs. Honestly Alison, you have nothin* to worry about in the showing your pants department. You look great!
Jill Brewer says:
I confess that my favourite big pants were from Primark years ago. Seamless and absolutely synthetic (but not electrifying!) they give a bit of hold too. They have never gone loose, wash perfectly and look as good now as they did when I bought them – some at least 10 years ago! I stopped wearing them for a few years in favour of M&S ones. They soon become baggy, ride up and fall down. Ghastly. I’m so glad I kept the others, now fashionably vintage!
Elizabeth says:
I will buy them in nude, but not these colours.
Also, what about VPL. Do these solve that problem?Hi Elizabeth, Thank you for commenting. There’s no VPL and I’ve replied about the nude situation above.
Jill Hunter says:
Like Annie above, I have bought packs of big knickers in pure cotton from a supermarket – Asda – for some years. They have been washed multiple times and still going strong. Comfortable but not glamorous and I certainly don’t look as good as you, Alison, in yours.
Kim Horsburgh says:
Oh I love big knickers. I stayed with a friend one weekend and much to my shame accidentally left a pair on the floor under the bed. She found them and assumed they were her older sister’s who had stayed some weeks before….she washed them and sent them to her big sister in the post. Her sister being very practical …..wore them…loved them and then bought and posted some back to her. We are now the Big Knicker Club. Just bought a pair of your recommendation, they look like the ultimate big knicker buy. V. Excited
Gerri says:
Hi,
Over here in the U. S. there is a great company called ‘Knickey’ who I have been buying from.Their knicks are wonderful.They are a sustainable and responsible company and they ship internationally.
I will be moving back home to the U.K soon and will continue to buy from them.
Worth a look for anyone interested.TJ says:
Thanks for this Gerri. I’m new to the US from the UK and have been avoiding the needed underwear restock as I couldn’t work out where to start looking (Target had me running scared). Will definitely check out Knickey.
These are a bit (no, very) expensive for me and I prefer underwear without the apparently compusory Lycra/elastane which I understand is supposed to make everything fit better and be more long-lasting . I don’t find this and am concerned that it is not biodegradable/sustainable either ! However my current favourite knickers are from Cotton Comfort . I suppose they count as big knickers because they do cover everything and are warm or cool as nec. being pure cotton . They even have a channel for the waist elastic so that you can renew it ! You can find them at;
eczemaclothing.com/collections/womens-underwearSJ says:
These look great. These ones from White Doe also come highly recommended: https://whitedoe.co/products/ready-to-ship-bamboo-pants
Although they’re called mid-rise, I’d definitely describe them as high-rise!These look amazing! I just threw out some M&S knickers that were driving me insane, and ordered some new ones from https://www.thebigbloomerscompany.co.uk/, which are sooo comfy. Might have to get one or two of Harry’s as well. 🙂
Melanie says:
Really interesting to read all the comments. I buy my pants from a wonderful British company called uniBU- couldn’t recommend them too highly.
Liz says:
These look comfy for sure. Are they for lounging or under clothes? I like a high waisted full brief with no vpl under summer dresses. Very hard to find ones that are truly vpl free. Cheers from Vancouver, Canada.
Christine D says:
What an amazing post Alyson. Who’d have thought you’d get such a huge response to Big Pants! Personally, I hate big pants. And those certainly do remind me of my old school knickers back in the 50’s. At £25 they are rather expensive too. But as one of your other readers said, you look jolly good in them so If you find them comfy, then go for them. For several years .before the pandemic I used to buy pretty white cotton M&S bikini pants, half a dozen pairs at a time, every few weeks so I’ve acquired quite a collection. They were & still are, comfy, fit & wash well & are still white. At £6 a pair they’ve served me well. & at the last count I still have about 35 pairs in excellent condition & at least 8 pairs unworn so I’m OK for the time being. Sadly these are no longer available & M&S quality has deteriorated drastically in the last few years so. I’m now on the lookout for some replacements. I think you had something similar on a page last week but can’t find it. They were in pale colours & I believe they were designed in England but made in Turkey?? Could you please remind me of their website. Thanks.
Kate says:
Will this company ship to US? These bloomers look lovely. I’ve been a fan of Natori Bliss full brief cotton panties – they do have a bit of lace but the comfortable kind. That said, I’d love to try these for just plain and simple, lounging , sleeping.
Hi Kate, Yes – and postage options are listed at checkout. There’s a size conversion chart at the footer of the website.
I ordered myself the set and 3 tanks (vests) and am looking forward to wearing these.
So funny that this community got so excited about knickers! Thanks Alyson for bringing this to us.
Ellie says:
I’m sending a vote for Tesco high waist knickers-they work,and they wash! And they come in nude (if you can find them) otherwise dye white pure cotton in a bath of tea,and vary the shade yourself-really,we all know how hard it is to get tea stains out,so lets use it to advantage! A vote also for Tesco cotton jersey soft bras-ideal for ‘comfy’ days.
Elizabeth says:
I love beautiful undies and these don’t appeal, I’m sure they’re comfy but I prefer something cut higher on the leg I think these would ride up on me, I d like to try but, as others have remarked, they are expensive for what you get. I have some ancient M&S pants, and am sad they don’t make them in the quality fabrics any longer. Other than that I have some from Gossard which are plain black, white and nude, doubtless they aren’t available either. I’m astonished at how many pairs of knicks some people own – if I had 25 pairs I’d feel confused!
Jayne Johnson says:
First, you look great in your knickers. I make my own as I cannot find decent pants to fit my rather large square bottom. These pants look so good I’ll have to try them. I’ll then have more time to sew more exciting items.
Many thanks for your replies.
Sloggi now calls their nude pants ‘beige’, but I take your point.Julie Bowland says:
If I looked as good as you in pants Alyson, I’d be photographed every day!
I’ve been a fan of big pants, even as a slim teenager, I just love comfort. I’ve been wearing the same M&S jacquard pants for years, the last batch, now in a pack of three, lasted one wash then came away from waistband, devastated by their slide towards poor qualityWendy says:
What a timely post as I’ve been having pants angst recently, buying pairs only to find after a few hours wear they are so uncomfortable I never want to wear them again. Lots of helpful comments, thank you !
Susan Cairns says:
M&S high legs have been my go to for most of my adult life but the quality has really declined with lots of loose threads making new pants seem like they’re falling apart. I’m sure these pants are lovely but they are way out of my price range.
Kate W says:
These look great, however I have recently invested in a second order from Australian brand Boody so won’t be needing any more for now. For those looking for ‘nude’ colours they have a range of skin coloured big pants and are supremely comfortable. They wash supremely well and are made from sustainable Bamboo.
Mrs Tonia says:
What about the underwear brand Skims launched by Kim
Kardashian to great acclaim
I read. Lots of skin tones. Cuts and wide diverse size range. Worth checking out perhaps.
SharonT says:
I think the problem is not skimpflation… more that items don’t cost enough?
These look great and I’d be happy to pay the price, but aren’t comparable to M&S really as there are no pants in M&S that cost £22 a pair – if there were they too would be great quality.
I’ll be checking these out – but would love a 3 pair in bkackSusan D says:
Great article and comments. Unfortunately too expensive for me. As I’ve got older and have a tummy and large thighs I now need a high waist but also high legs so that the leg doesn’t cut across my thighs leaving a visible ridge when Wearing trousers. So far the best I’ve found have been from M & S – full briefs with vpl, but not all, but they no longer carry the ones I like. Sadly like everyone else I have also found that the quality just isn’t there any longer. And furthermore, I do not feel that they ever listen to any feedback you give to them. Perhaps this is why they have had/are having such difficult times. As a life long customer I now struggle to find anything in their stores.
Susan DVC Green says:
Sold out! I did sign up on the waiting list. They look great. I’m OK with the colours as is.
Due to popular demand! I’ve added a note at the bottom of the feature explaining that if you sign up to the waiting list we will be in touch shortly. More pants will be produced ASAP!!
A good new topic for TNMA readers Alyson. And bold move to be photographed in any knickers including these superior ones.
I read with interest many comments about M & S pants and the decline in shaping fabric etc. I’m still buying the same mid high leg ones in a pack of three. Mostly cotton with a touch of Lycra. They fit me well so I keep replacing with the same. They last long enough, wash well and are never put in a dryer. This type is inexpensive though the prices creep upwards.
The same cannot be said for their bras with which I’ve had little success.
Good that you have this new design initiative but out of my price range.
I don’t buy white or black but various colour ways which I coordinate with what I’m wearing that day.Ruth says:
I second the thumbs up for Boody – it’s an Australian brand which sells at chemist shops; the undies don’t lose their colour or shape and they’re made from bamboo. They’re a small cut so the average older woman needs a large. They also make good camisoles (which are nice and LONG) , T’shirts and leggings and they’re a great price. All your underwear solved in one swoop.
Anne says:
Lol ! I’ve been complaining about the lack off elastic in the waist off marks knickers , and I work at marks !!
Thanks for the link!Deddy says:
Who would of thought big pants would of made for so much conversation!!!Love itx Will try new website’s thanks Alyson
Debs C says:
I’m a 42c and would recommend this company and their underwear, especially their very comfortable bras, that have an interesting design at the back that avoids the back fat! https://www.thebigbloomerscompany.co.uk/ The real issue here is finding quality and fit and I’ve always purchased the best value for my money, but have found that price is no guarantee of quality and am currently wearing the big knickers from Primark (come in black, white and nude, but purchased a few years ago and pairs banked for future use), with my big bloomers bra and long ago abandoned underwear that made me uncomfortable. I’d also recommend the Tu stretch pullover bras, which come in black, white and nude and last very well (definitely no fabric conditioner to be used as it kills stretch!). These knickers look good and I will keep an eye on what next, as it definitely seems there is a demand for good basics in our wardrobes and may .
Lucie says:
Huge fan of this blog but not these knickers!! Prefer something more feminine that still provides coverage and comfort. Long term Wacoal fan here. Vive la difference!
Wacoal stretch lace bras my favourite ones. First bought in a New York department story. Same style now available to order from
John Lewis website to click and collect in England. Most comfortable for my now 36 D size. And I used to wear 34C pre babies and menopause. The soft sort are comfy for WFH and home wear but unflattering with clothes or under knitwear. Not enough lift or definition I find. You can’t win. I’ve tried wire free. That isn’t any good.
There’s a balance between comfort and shape.
Interesting how this topic of under garments has solicited this degree of feedback.
Katherine says:
I enjoyed reading this article and the comments… it has confirmed my belief that the knicker situation at M&S isn’t a good one.
I’ve just done a gusset measure on the pants I bought at M&S the other day… it measured 3cm (excluding lace)! These were high waisted pants not skimpy thong type things. Now I’m not a big girl (size 12) and I just about fit my undercarriage in. Who designs the knickers for M&S – do they actually get real women to try them on before committing to manufacture? It would appear not.
Those old school pants are becoming more and more appealing to me… thanks for the article.
Virginia Lister says:
Thank you, Alyson. At 74, I’m all for big pants. They’re comfier and, as many a GP would advise, healthier! But, as with jeans and trousers its ‘all about the arse’ avoiding the dreaded VPL is tricky – although after a certain age (25?) there is something rather unsavoury about a thong. Anyway, I agree M&S are no longer reliable but I’d also like to suggest a lightweight alternative by Chantelle or Fantasie, available in black, white, nude or beige, cotton gusset 7.5 cms, around £15 from John Lewis and elsewhere. Meanwhile, I shall put in an order for my TNMA x Harry Duley big knickers now. They look good news for autumn.
Hazel Abbott says:
I prefer big knickers and have been disappointed by the decline in quality of M&S’s offer. Now I am trying a brand called Boody which uses a bamboo fabric for their pants and they are really comfortable.
Celia says:
The Harry Duley TNMA pants are fab – so comfy. Would like a few more colours – grey is a bit too school knickerish for me. The sold out blue on the website is a nice colour!
Barbara says:
Thank you Alyson!
I’ve mostly worn Fantasie Smoothease (one size fits all – I don’t think they would really stretch much beyond a size 14). However, I’m not sure of their eco credentials and they eventually lose stretch. They do a range of nudes in different skin tones.
I’ve recently discovered Nudea in my search for comfy, no VPL knickers that mind the environment and are British-made. Pants are mostly low or mid and some are lacy. Very comfortable!Marianne says:
Absolutely love this blog and all the responses. Goldmine of advice.
Please could you do one on comfortable and well-fitting bras?Anne-Marie says:
Ordered a pair last month and Harry rushed them through so I had them in time to go on holiday! Great service and very comfortable. Will definitely order more.
karenP says:
Absolutely love these pants ! Ordered one of your collaboration mid rise and a pair of the even bigger ones, I like the high rise ones better. Really well made and excellent eco packaging. Will definitely be buying more and maybe a top or two as well.
Mary James says:
Having been a sewer for many many years, I recently had a go at making a pair of ‘big’ pants for myself. I’m an apple shape but also have a long torso. Long from crotch to waist. So had to tweak the pattern a little, but the second pair I made Bliss to wear. Although I am slightly horrified by the size of them when they’re on the drier .
NettieK 
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Fabulous!
Like you I have discovered my go to M&S knickers are no longer the same fabric or quality.
I do have one suggestion/request- – -will you do them in nude? Always my first choice colour wise for their versatility.