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While the Grammys red carpet made a compelling case for underwear as optional, most of us still consider what’s underneath our outfits as non-negotiable. And honestly? That might be the real power move.
Because here’s the thing: your underwear can make or break your entire day. Not in a ‘matching set energy’ kind of way, but in the sense of not having to adjust your bra straps throughout a presentation and instead feeling unstoppable from 9am ’til midnight. In 2026, confidence comes from feeling comfortable in your own skin (and from what you wear closest to it).
Enter the ‘invisible wardrobe’ — not the commando kind, but the high-performing basics that quietly do the heavy lifting so your outfit can do the talking. Think of it as the foundation of modern dressing: intentional, feel-good pieces that work as hard as you do, without anyone knowing they’re there. A capsule underwear wardrobe if you will.
This shift towards basics that actually perform is exactly why Bonds has launched Bases Flex. — a collection that’s rewriting the rules on what underwear should do. And they’ve brought in the big guns to prove it: Aussie models Elle Macpherson, Shanina Shaik, and Jennifer Atilémile are all backing the idea that real confidence is built from the inside out.
Bases Flex comes complete with its own manifesto including quotes such as: “Flex shows up with attitude and nothing to prove”. The products themselves are a departure from the visible logo, statement underwear trend we’ve seen dominate feeds for years. Instead, this is about quiet power and pieces so comfortable and supportive, they become undetectable. Put simply, as the manifesto claims: ‘it’s a mood’.
Model attitude
For Elle Macpherson — who literally defined 90s supermodel glamour — this represents a full-circle moment. “My inner flex is doing what feels right for me. That cheeky, give-it-a-go Aussie attitude has been part of my career and life journey from the start, so flexing in my knickers for this Bonds campaign really resonated with me and felt like something to truly celebrate.”
The Bases Flex range embodies this philosophy with engineered comfort technology. Think buttery-soft fabric with a second-skin feel, four-way stretch that moves with you, and innovative pull-apart elastic seams that adapt throughout the day. The collection spans both tonal and vibrant colourways — bold ‘Pomodoro’ red for that power meeting energy, a soft ‘Pretty Thing’ pink hue for everyday and a sleek ‘Nu Black’ one-piece bodysuit. Select pieces feature a delicate lace trim for a refined, feminine finish that disappears seamlessly under everything you wear.
Whether you’re powering through back-to-back meetings, running for the tram in heels, or finally making it to that reformer class, your underwear shouldn’t be the thing you’re thinking about.
This comfort-first approach is part of a broader fashion evolution. Gen Z and millennials are increasingly prioritising how clothes feel over how they look on a hanger. We’re done with the pinch, the dig, the constant readjustment. The new luxury? Pieces that perform.
Shanina Shaik and Jennifer Atilémile are championing this shift too. Proving that even those whose job it is to look good understand that feeling good comes first. And when you think about it, that tracks. Have you ever felt powerful while your underwire was staging a revolt?
The invisible wardrobe isn’t about what people see (or don’t see), it’s about how you feel. And in 2026, that’s the ultimate fashion flex.
The post The New Fashion Flex: Why The Most Confident Women Start With What’s Underneath appeared first on ELLE.
