Underwear Thesis: Auden from Target Review

Welcome back to Underwear Thesis! I’m so excited to make some updates to this series and share some fresh undie reviews with you. The biggest change is that Underwear Thesis will now be a twice annual event in September and March. This week there will be 5 different brand reviews, one per day! I’m going to do my best to make sure each event has a mix of small and large brands, as well.

So to kick things off this time, I’m sharing my thoughts on truly one of the most requested brands of this entire project: Auden from Target! I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve been asked to review Auden. So I’m really glad to finally have this review published — you’ll have to let me know what you think of this Auden underwear review!

My Totally Unfiltered Review of Auden Underwear from Target

If you’re new to my Underwear Thesis, I encourage you to read these posts before proceeding:

Please keep in mind that these are my personal opinions of the product. If you love Auden, that’s great! I applaud you! But if you’re on the fence about whether to buy them or not, this is what I think you need to know in order to be an informed consumer.

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Styles Tried and Price

• Cotton Bikini Underwear in 4 different prints – $5

I didn’t try any other styles or fabric because I simply don’t like those. I’m not a fan of lace on my everyday undies. And there’s something about that slick, bonded fabric that brands use for seamless style panties that creeps me out. It’s just too… plasticky feeling. That style tends to ride up on me — or even worse, the edges roll! I avoid it at all costs. All I want is a good pair of cotton bikini cut underwear!

Fabric Quality + Details

Grade: C

Honestly, this underwear isn’t exactly breaking any ground, if you know what I mean. The fabric is 95% cotton and 5% polyester and a light-ish weight cotton jersey. The elastic band at the waist is pretty standard and not too stiff thankfully. I’ve had my pairs for about a year and the elastic has definitely gotten misshapen.

They have used the same elastic on the leg openings which I have found can be chafing. And the gusset is made of the same material and open at the front. The underwear is tagless, which is nice.

Manufacturing Quality

Grade: B

I have to say, given that these panties are a year old and get consistent wears, they’ve held up really well! I haven’t had any loose threads, tearing, holes or anything. They definitely don’t look brand new, but I’m surprised that something from the fast fashion world has held up like this. I gave the Auden bikinis a B though because some of the stitching on the gusset is quite loose and sloppy.

Ethical Practices and Sustainability

Grade: F

I mean… these are $5 underwear made by a big box retailer who hasn’t even attempted to greenwash the brand. The pairs I have were made in Vietnam and I feel like it’s a pretty safe bet that the workers aren’t paid an ethical living wage.

Inclusivity

Grade: D

I haven’t seen much marketing for this underwear brand, so there isn’t much to base this portion of the review on. That being said, the photography on the website could definitely use some improvements as all of the moderns are seemingly a size small. There are a few POC models, at least.

As for the size range, Auden bikinis spans from XS to XL. But then they also have a second product listing for plus size which goes from X up to 4X. I want to know why they are two product listings? Why not list it all the same so that it’s easier for everyone to shop for this underwear style? What’s most interesting to me is that the landing page for the brand specifically mentions that they offer “more sizes for more bodies.” It also has a more diverse array of models in terms of skin color and size… but when you click into an actual product page, that all seems to go away. I think there’s some work to be done.

Washability

Grade: C

I am honestly still so shocked that these have washed and dried as well as they have over the past year! The fabric itself is in good condition and the shape of the underwear itself is still pretty uniform. No sagging, stretching, or shrinking.

Like I mentioned before, the elastic at the waistband is a bit wonky, most likely from being put in the dryer. It looks pretty sad, so I had to judge accordingly!

Fit & Comfort

Grade: A-

The bikinis from Auden are pretty comfortable! I haven’t noticed very much riding up, wedgies, or drooping. I got a size Medium and they feel true to size, maybe slightly smaller than expected. The only reason I give them an A- is because sometimes I experience chafing from the elastic at the leg openings.

Overall thoughts

Grade: C

I am honestly so conflicted. The Auden bikinis fit well enough, wash and dry well enough, and I have definitely gotten my $5 out of each pair. But on a personal level, supporting a brand that is more inclusive and sustainable is a big priority. So many people have told me they love this brand, especially the seamless laser cut style (personally I hate that fabric so much). And I get it. I really do. But I can’t see myself actually buying more pairs from Auden at Target again.

Plus, there is so much better out there that IS ethically and sustainable made, like the underwear from Pact. So if those elements are also a priority to you, I highly recommend waiting for a sale and getting those instead. At the end of the day, my conscience isn’t ok with $5 underwear. But if you’re looking for extremely affordable underwear that lasts, then maybe they are for you.

Ready for even more Underwear Thesis reviews?? Catch up on my previous reviews:

What do you think of this Auden underwear review?? Leave a comment and let me know! And stay tuned for the rest of my reviews this week!

Photography by Jojotastic.