Underwear Thesis: Auden Review
Cheap & cheerful—but are they any good?
Welcome back to Underwear Thesis! Today, 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!
Quick note: this is based on my original blog post written in 2021. Updates have been made & I am sharing the review here to create the ultimate Underwear Thesis forum for you!
My Totally Unfiltered Review of Auden Underwear
Styles Tried and Price
Cotton Bikini Underwear in 4 different prints and solid colors – $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 and Comfort
Grade: A-
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!
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.
What do you think of my Auden from Target review??? And if you’re a Auden fan (or not…), leave a comment and let me know your opinion. I’d love to hear!