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Slip shorts — the smooth, close-fitting shorts worn under a dress or a skirt to stop thighs chafing and to keep a hem from clinging — have one universal complaint. They ride up. Within an hour they have worked their way to the top of the thigh, bunched, and stopped doing either job.
The cause is almost always the same, and it is counter-intuitive: the shorts are too big. These garments stay in place by gripping the skin, so they have to be in contact with it along the full length of the leg. Sized up for comfort — which is exactly what people do when a size chart puts them near a boundary — there is no grip anywhere, the fabric has slack, and the movement of walking walks them upward. A correctly sized pair is snug without being tight and does not move at all. If yours ride up, go down a size before buying a different brand.
The second factor is the hem. A plain stitched hem adds a band of thicker fabric that has slightly different stretch from the leg above it, which creates a ridge that both shows under a close dress and gives the fabric something to roll around. A silicone gripper strip on the inside of the hem solves the movement directly by gripping the skin. A bonded or laser-cut hem solves the visible ridge by having no seam at all. The best have both.
Third, the length. A short that ends above the point where your thighs actually touch does nothing about chafing, because the contact is below it. Measure where the contact is and buy a length that comfortably passes it — mid-thigh is usually the minimum and longer is more reliable.
A note on fabric: for warm weather or exercise, a moisture-wicking synthetic is considerably more comfortable than cotton, which holds sweat against the skin and stays damp — and damp skin chafes more, not less.
Ten picks below.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slip Shorts with a Silicone Gripper Hem | $18-$45 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Seamless Bonded-Hem Slip Shorts | $20-$50 | Amazon |
| 3 | Long-Length Slip Shorts (Above the Knee) | $18-$45 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Moisture-Wicking Athletic Slip Shorts | $20-$50 | Amazon |
| 5 | Cotton or Modal Slip Shorts | $15-$40 | Amazon |
| 6 | Shaping Slip Shorts | $25-$60 | Amazon · eBay |
| 7 | Lace-Trim Slip Shorts | $18-$45 | Amazon · eBay |
| 8 | Anti-Chafe Balm or Stick | $10-$25 | Amazon · eBay |
| 9 | Thigh Bands | $12-$30 | Amazon · eBay |
| 10 | Mesh Laundry Bag | $8-$20 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Slip Shorts with a Silicone Gripper Hem
The design feature that directly addresses the problem. A thin strip of silicone printed on the inside of the hem grips the skin, so the leg stays where it is put instead of migrating upward as you walk. It is the same technology used on hold-up stockings and on cycling shorts and it works for the same reason. Combined with correct sizing it essentially eliminates the complaint. Silicone loses tack as it collects body lotion and washing residue, so wash them inside out and skip the fabric softener.
- Silicone gripper strip inside the hem
- Smooth stretch fabric
- Mid-thigh or longer lengths
- Flat or bonded seams
- Directly stops the leg riding up
- Proven technology from hosiery and cycling wear
- Works with correct sizing rather than compensating for bad sizing
- Silicone loses grip as it collects lotion and softener residue
- The strip can be slightly visible under very thin fabric
Seamless Bonded-Hem Slip Shorts
The version that solves the visibility problem. A bonded or laser-cut hem has no stitching at all — the fabric edge is sealed rather than turned and sewn — so there is no ridge to show through a close-fitting dress and nothing for the fabric to roll around. Combined with a seamless knit body, the whole garment can be genuinely invisible under thin fabric, which is the other half of what people want from these. Look for ‘laser cut’ or ‘bonded’ rather than simply ‘seamless’, which is used loosely.
- Laser-cut or bonded hem with no stitching
- Seamless knit body
- No visible line under close fabric
- Smooth flat waistband
- Genuinely invisible under thin or close-fitting fabric
- No hem ridge for the leg to roll around
- Comfortable with no seams against the skin
- ‘Seamless’ is used loosely — look for bonded or laser cut
- Bonded edges can eventually separate with heavy washing
Long-Length Slip Shorts (Above the Knee)
The answer if chafing is the reason you are here rather than modesty. A longer leg extends well past the point where the thighs contact, which is where the rubbing happens — a short-cut pair that ends above that point does nothing at all about it, however good the fabric is. Longer legs also have more contact area and therefore more inherent grip, so they ride up less. Worn under midi and maxi dresses the extra length is invisible, and for a shorter dress you need to check.
- Leg ending just above the knee
- More contact area, so more grip
- Covers the contact point fully
- Works under midi and maxi lengths
- Actually covers where the chafing happens
- Longer legs ride up less than short ones
- Invisible under longer dresses
- Too long to hide under a short dress
- Warmer in summer than a shorter cut
Moisture-Wicking Athletic Slip Shorts
The right fabric for warm weather and for anything active, and the reasoning matters. Cotton holds sweat against the skin and stays damp, and damp skin chafes more than dry skin, not less — so the natural fabric that feels kinder is working against you in exactly the conditions you bought the shorts for. A wicking synthetic moves moisture away and dries fast. Look for flat or bonded seams, because an athletic short with a raised inseam seam creates its own rubbing.
- Moisture-wicking synthetic fabric
- Fast drying
- Flat or bonded seams
- Often with a wider comfort waistband
- Dry skin chafes far less than damp skin
- Dries quickly after activity
- Wide waistbands are comfortable over a long day
- Synthetics retain odour more than cotton
- Raised inseams on cheap athletic shorts cause their own rubbing
Cotton or Modal Slip Shorts
The comfort option for cooler weather and everyday wear, where the moisture argument matters less. Cotton and modal are softer against the skin, breathe well and are kinder to sensitive skin than synthetics. Modal in particular is smooth and drapes better than cotton under a dress. The trade-off is the one described above — in heat or during activity they stay damp, which makes chafing worse rather than better. Good for a cool day, wrong for a summer wedding.
- Cotton or modal knit
- Soft and breathable
- Better for sensitive skin
- Modal drapes more smoothly than cotton
- Softer and more breathable in cool weather
- Kinder to sensitive skin than synthetics
- Modal is very smooth under clothing
- Stays damp in heat, which increases chafing
- Loses shape faster than a synthetic blend
Shaping Slip Shorts
The version that also smooths, using a firmer compressive knit. It does two jobs at once, which is convenient, and the caution is about compression level: shorts tight enough to reshape are also tight enough to be uncomfortable over a long day, and tight compression that ends abruptly at the hem creates a visible line — which is exactly the thing the smoothing was supposed to prevent. Choose light to medium compression with a bonded hem rather than the firmest option available.
- Firmer compressive knit
- Smooths as well as preventing chafing
- Light, medium and firm compression levels
- Higher waist on many
- One garment does two jobs
- Higher waists smooth the whole midsection
- Firmer fabric grips well and rides up less
- Firm compression is uncomfortable over a long day
- A tight hem that ends abruptly creates its own line
Lace-Trim Slip Shorts
The version that accepts being seen. If the dress is short enough that a glimpse is possible, a lace hem reads as intentional rather than as underwear caught out — which is a reasonable solution to a real anxiety. Practically, lace is also less prone to the rolling that a plain stitched hem suffers, because it has no thick band. Check the lace is soft rather than scratchy against the inner thigh; stiff decorative lace in exactly that position is its own source of irritation.
- Lace trim at the hem
- Reads as intentional if glimpsed
- No thick hem band to roll
- Several lace widths
- Looks deliberate rather than accidental
- Lace hems roll less than plain stitched ones
- More attractive if worn as sleepwear too
- Stiff lace irritates the inner thigh
- Lace shows through very thin fabric
Anti-Chafe Balm or Stick
The alternative, and worth having regardless. A silicone or balm-based anti-chafe stick applied directly to the skin creates a slippery layer so the surfaces slide rather than rub — which addresses the mechanism directly and works in situations where shorts do not, such as under trousers or in water. It wears off over hours and needs reapplying, and it can mark light fabrics. For most people the honest answer is shorts for a long day and balm as a backup.
- Silicone or balm-based stick
- Applied directly to the skin
- Invisible and works under anything
- Pocket sized for reapplication
- Works where shorts cannot, including under trousers
- Invisible with no garment involved
- Small enough to carry for reapplication
- Wears off over a few hours
- Can mark light-coloured fabric
Thigh Bands
The minimal version: a pair of elasticated lace or fabric bands worn around the thighs at the point of contact, with nothing between them. They are lighter and cooler than shorts, they are entirely hidden under any length, and they address exactly the area that rubs. The trade-off is that they rely entirely on their own grip — a band that is too loose rolls immediately, and one that is too tight leaves a mark and restricts circulation. Sizing is genuinely important here.
- Elasticated bands worn at the contact point
- Lace or plain fabric
- Silicone gripper on better versions
- Much cooler than shorts
- Cooler and lighter than shorts in heat
- Completely hidden under any length
- Targets exactly the area that rubs
- Too loose and they roll, too tight and they mark
- No coverage benefit at all, only anti-chafe
Mesh Laundry Bag
Small, and it protects the thing that makes these garments work. Silicone grippers, bonded hems and fine elastic all degrade in a washing machine — grippers collect residue and lose tack, bonded edges work loose, and fine knits snag on zips and hooks. A mesh bag keeps them separate and protected. Wash inside out on cool, and never with fabric softener, which coats silicone and elastane and destroys both the grip and the stretch. These two habits roughly double how long a pair lasts.
- Fine mesh with a zip closure
- Separates delicates from zips and hooks
- Several sizes
- Reusable indefinitely
- Protects grippers, bonded hems and fine knits
- Costs almost nothing
- Useful for all delicate laundry
- Only works if you actually use it every time
- Cheap zips fail and the bag opens in the drum
Buying tips
- If they ride up, go down a size. These garments stay put by gripping the skin along the length of the leg, so a pair sized up for comfort has slack everywhere and walks upward as you move. It is the opposite of what feels intuitive when a size chart puts you near a boundary, and it is the fix in most cases.
- Look for a silicone gripper inside the hem. It is the same technology as hold-up stockings and cycling shorts, and it works for the same reason — the strip grips skin rather than relying on the fabric’s tension. Combined with correct sizing it essentially eliminates the riding-up complaint that defines this category.
- Buy a length that passes the contact point. If the leg ends above where your thighs actually touch, the shorts are doing nothing about chafing, because the rubbing is below the hem. Measure where the contact is and buy accordingly. Longer legs also have more grip and ride up less, which is a second reason to err long.
- Prefer wicking synthetics in heat, not cotton. Cotton holds sweat against the skin and stays damp, and damp skin chafes more than dry skin — so the softer natural fabric works against you in precisely the conditions you bought the shorts for. Keep cotton and modal for cool weather, where they are genuinely more comfortable.
- A bonded hem removes the visible line. A plain stitched hem creates a band of thicker fabric that shows through close-fitting dresses and gives the leg something to roll around. Laser-cut and bonded hems have no stitching at all. Look for those words specifically — ‘seamless’ is used loosely and often means only the body.
- Never use fabric softener on them. It coats silicone grippers so they lose tack, and it coats elastane so it stops recovering — which takes a pair that stayed put and turns it into one that does not, permanently. Wash inside out on cool in a mesh bag, and hang to dry rather than tumbling.
- Check the waistband, not just the leg. A waistband that digs in rolls over on itself and becomes a visible band under a fitted dress, which is the other way these garments announce themselves. A wide, flat, soft waistband distributes the pressure and lies flat. It matters as much as the hem and is easier to check in a fitting room.
- Keep an anti-chafe balm as a backup. It works in situations shorts cannot — under trousers, in water, or when what you are wearing simply will not take a layer underneath. It wears off over a few hours and it is small enough to carry, and having both means the answer is never nothing.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.