The Short Answer
A hipster has a scooped leg opening that curves up at the hip, like a traditional panty. A boyshort has a straight, horizontal leg opening that extends down to mid-cheek or upper thigh — it looks like very short shorts rather than underwear.
Construction Side by Side
| Feature | Hipster | Boyshort |
|---|---|---|
| Leg opening | Scooped (curves up) | Straight (horizontal cut) |
| Thigh coverage | None | Extends onto upper thigh |
| Rear coverage | Full | Full (and then some) |
| Rise | Low | Low to mid |
| Look | Recognizable as a panty | Looks like micro shorts |
| Anti-chafe | No | Yes — covers inner thighs |
How to Tell Them Apart
The leg opening shape is unmistakable. A hipster has the traditional curved panty leg opening — up at the hip, down at the crotch. A boyshort has a straight horizontal hem across the upper thigh, like someone took a pair of shorts and made them extremely short.
When to Wear Each
Hipster: Low-rise daily underwear. Works under any pants. Clean silhouette.
Boyshort: Under skirts and dresses where thigh chafing is a concern. Also popular as sleepwear or loungewear — the "shorts you sleep in" look. Not great under fitted pants because the leg opening can bunch and create visible lines across the thigh.