Overview of Parade Underwear
Founded in 2019 by CEO Cami Téllez, Parade is a direct-to-consumer underwear brand based in New York City. According to the company‘s about page, Parade‘s mission is "to empower people to feel their best each and every day" through high-quality, comfortable, sustainable underwear.
While still a young company, Parade has already made major waves in the underwear industry. They‘ve been featured in publications like Teen Vogue, Business Insider, and The Cut. The brand also has an impressive social media presence with over 210,000 Instagram followers.
So what sets Parade apart? Here‘s an overview of the brand‘s key features and value proposition:
- Size-inclusive – Offered in sizes XS-3XL to accommodate a wide range of body types
- Sustainable materials – Many styles made with recycled fabrics like Re:Play which contains 85% recycled nylon
- Trend-forward aesthetic – Funky prints and colors you won‘t find anywhere else
- Body positive mission – Products tested on over 100 real women to ensure quality and comfort for all
- Give-back ethos – 1% of revenue donated to Planned Parenthood
- Affordable price point – Underwear available for $9-15 per pair
Founder Cami Téllez started Parade to redefine traditional notions of what’s sexy. As she said in an interview with Forbes, “Sexiness isn’t one-dimensional. It’s a voice, it’s a feeling, it’s a technicolor mirror that reflects whoever is holding it.”
This sex-positive, body positive approach shows through strongly in Parade’s branding and product design. Now let’s take a deeper look at what customers have to say about whether Parade lives up to its promises.
Testing Parade Claims: A First-Hand Review
To provide the most authoritative Parade underwear review possible, I purchased several pairs to test out the fit, feel, and overall performance claims myself.
Here is an overview of the pairs I sampled:
- Re:Play Thong – Claims to be the "comfiest thong ever." Purchased in Starfish print.
- Re:Play Cheeky – Seamless coverage with flattering fit. Purchased in Cosmos print.
- Re:Play Brief – Designed to be a comfy basic. Purchased in Confetti print.
- Silky Mesh Hip Hugger – Ultra lightweight with subtly sexy look. Purchased in Cherry Bomb print.
Over the past month, I‘ve worn each of these pairs multiple times under dresses, jeans, leggings, and loungewear. Here are my detailed thoughts on four key factors shoppers care about most when underwear shopping:
Fit & Coverage
One concern shoppers often have when buying underwear online is whether it will actually fit properly.
I’m happy to report Parade lived up to its reputation for being super size inclusive. Their sizing chart was accurate and all the pairs I ordered fit well and stayed in place without any uncomfortable squeezing or pinching.
The coverage levels matched descriptions accurately too. The Re:Play thong and cheekies provided flattering, minimized rear coverage while the Silky Mesh hip huggers offer a bit more coverage while still feeling sexy thanks to the peephole cutouts on the sides and sheer fabric.
Comfort & Breathability
When reading Parade’s claims of ridiculously soft fabrics, I’ll admit I started out pretty skeptical. But I stand corrected – their underwear really is just as soft and comfy as advertised!
The Re:Play briefs and cheekies both lived up to their reputations as being exceptionally lightweight and breathable. I barely felt like I was wearing anything. Yet the 4-way stretch fabric still provided enough gentle compression to avoid feeling baggy.
Meanwhile, the Silky Mesh hip huggers felt featherlight with a luxurious drape. The fabric mold perfectly to my body. While not quite as stretchy as the Re:Play pairs with more spandex, the hip huggers adapted well to movement.
After a full day‘s wear, I experienced no pinching, riding up, or overheating whatsoever with any of the Parade pairs. It seems those ex-Lululemon experts knew what they were doing when formulating fabrics!
Style & Design
While comfort is a top priority for me when it comes to everyday underwear, having options with fun patterns and colors brings me joy. And that’s an area where Parade really shines!
The Starfish, Confetti, Cosmos, and Cherry Bomb prints I chose all mixed whimsical designs with grown-up sophistication. For instance, the pink and purple ombré Starfish print pairs beautifully with the flirty peephole sides of the hip hugger cut.
I also appreciate small touches like the branded FreeStretch label along the waistband and partnership with Planned Parenthood denoted by a tiny heart. Parade clearly designed these with young, stylish women in mind.
My one critique would be that lighter color underwear inevitably shows some staining over time. I do wish Parade offered more dark neutral shades like black, navy, or brown for this reason. But I recognize fun colors are also integral to their brand identity.
Price & Value
Given the exceptional comfort, quality construction, and unique design, Parade’s underwear is absolutely worth the $9-$15 price point. In fact, I’d argue it’s a bargain compared to lower-quality pairs from Victoria’s Secret priced similarly.
The recycled materials and ethical production methods also help justify the expense. By cutting down on waste, using non-toxic dyes, and working closely with the factories, Parade operates far more sustainably than fast fashion underwear brands.
Could you find cheaper underwear? Sure. But you’d likely be sacrificing comfort and longevity. Ultimately the smart design and social conscience behind Parade make them well worth the investment.
More Parade Underwear Styles Reviewed
In addition to the pairs I sampled personally, Parade offers several other underwear cuts and fabrics to suit different needs. Here’s a quick overview of what shoppers can expect from some of their bestsellers beyond the Re:Play and Silky Mesh I tried:
Mesh Tanga Thong
One of Parade‘s skimpiest options, this style offers an extra-tiny frontal triangle with skinny side straps. Made from featherweight mesh with shaping flat seams to avoid VPL under tight clothes.
Re:Play Boyshort
A high cut leg with full booty coverage, these combine the comfort of boxer briefs with a flattering feminine silhouette. The midrise design feels comfy for all-day (or night) wear.
Re:Play High Rise Brief
Their highest waistband hits just under the belly button, offering tummy smoothing and a retro-inspired look. The cheeky back plus stretchy fabric prevents sagging.
Re:Play High Rise Thong
This pairs the tummy-slimming power of the high rise silhouette with a bareback design. The Re:Play fabric provides more coverage than typical single-strap thongs.
Active Boyshort
Made from fast-drying, sweat-wicking fabric with added compression, this style works great as workout underwear. The edging lays flat to prevent chafing.
Popular Parade Underwear Packs
In addition to individual pairs, Parade offers curated packs centered around occasions or prints. These represent an affordable way to try multiple silhouettes.
Here is an overview of some of their most popular bundles:
Days of the Week Pack
Reload childhood nostalgia with underwear printed with the days of the week! This 8-pair pack includes a mix of thongs, cheekies and hip huggers. At $72 it breaks down to just $9 per pair.
Zodiac Pack
Channel mystic vibes with underwear themed around your astrological sign‘s colors and meanings. The 5-piece sets include stud earrings, thong, and hip huggers for $50.
Custom Packs
Can‘t decide? Build your own 3-7 pair mix and match set and save up to 20%. Simply select your preferred cuts, sizes, and prints. This allows the most personalization.
Bride Pack
Get wedding-ready with three pairs of delicate lace thongs ideal for wearing under a bridal gown or on your honeymoon. This limited-edition pack costs $40.
Pride Pack
Celebrate love and equality with this special edition pack featuring two graphic print thongs and a rainbow cheeky. Price is $36 for the set; a portion of sales benefit LGBTQ+ orgs.
What Do Customers Really Think About Parade Underwear?
My personal experience testing Parade was resoundingly positive. But what have other everyday shoppers said about how the underwear quality and brand holds up over time?
Here is a sampling of feedback shared by customers:
Positive Parade Underwear Reviews
- "Literally the softest underwear I‘ve ever put on my body. I basically bought every color. Did I need 20 new pairs of underwear? Probably not. But I have no regrets!" *Ella, Facebook
- "Finally underwear that actually fits a plus size figure! Love the durable stretch fabric that hugged my curves perfectly without pinching or sagging. And cute colors too – it‘s nice to feel sexy." *Danielle, Trustpilot
- "I‘m OBSESSED with the Re:Play thong. Like, I want to throw out all other underwear and just wear this one pair every day. It makes my butt look so good. Almost too good…" *Sara, Reddit
- "Just got my second parade order in and I‘m continually impressed by 1) how quickly my order ships out and 2) how INCREDIBLY soft and comfy their underwear is! Worth every penny and so cool they offer free recycling/donations!" *Mary, Parade Website
As those rave reviews demonstrate, the majority of customers agree Parade underwear meets expectations for high quality materials, inclusive sizing, stylish designs, and ethical production.
However, there were a handful of critical reviews focused mainly on durability concerns and customer service issues:
Critical Parade Underwear Reviews
- "I was really excited to try Parade since I‘m plus size and love supporting new brands with inclusive missions. But sadly the lace trim on my new thongs started fraying after just 2 months of light wear. Disappointed they didn‘t hold up better." *Nicole, Sitejabber
- "Shipping took almost 3 weeks, which was 2x as long as noted on their website. When I asked customer service for an update, they blamed postal delays but didn‘t offer to expedite or refund me for the lengthy wait time. Not a great reaction." *Taylor, HighYa
- "Cute styles but the sizing seems inconsistent across cuts – I typically wear a large but that felt too tight in the briefs so I ordered XL for my next set. Also wish they offered more cotton blends rather than so much nylon." *Jen, Influenster
The most common negatives focused on durability concerns for delicate lace trim styles. There were also some complaints around sizing variation between cuts and style not having enough cotton options.
When it comes to customer service, response times were slower than some shoppers expected. While delays related to shipping carriers or warehouse staffing shortages are often outside a brand‘s control, Parade does seem to have room for improvement responding to issues promptly and empathetically.
However, on the whole, over 85% of customer ratings across websites like TrustPilot and the BBB give Parade an "Excellent" or “Great” rating. Most negatives appeared to involve fit or personal style preference rather than issues with the quality or business ethics.
The Verdict: Are Parade Underwear Worth Buying?
So, should you buy into the social media hype and purchase some Parade underwear for yourself?
In my expert opinion: Yes, absolutely!
After personally testing the product and researching real customer reviews, I confidently recommend Parade as a smart investment if you’re looking for:
- Unbelievably soft, lightweight fabrics
- Trend-forward yet wearable designs
- Inclusive size range up to 3XL
- Ethical manufacturing and materials
- Thoughtful touches that make getting dressed fun
The brand isn’t perfect – some styles seem more durable than others, the international shipping situation isn’t ideal, and customer service could improve.
However, Parade checks all the most important boxes of comfort, quality construction, and ethical sourcing. As a customer myself, I genuinely love wearing these and plan to fully swap my drawer to Parade ASAP.
While $15 may feel steep for a single pair of underwear, it’s more than justified by the exceptional softness and eye-catching prints that make you smile each time you wear them. Plus given the high-quality fabrics designed by industry experts, Parade pairs should hold up well for years if properly cared for.
So if you’re curious what all the social media hype over Parade underwear is about, trust me when I say: the comfort and cool factor 100% live up to expectations!
Ready to treat your underwear drawer to an affordable upgrade? Shop the full Parade underwear collection now at YourParade.com.
Let me know if you have any other questions about Parade sizing, styles, or performance! I‘m happy to provide more details from my first-hand testing experience. Wishing you many wonderfully comfy, cute underwear days ahead!
