Aerie

Aerie was once widely beloved for comfortable, durable underwear and bras, and many community members still swear by older pairs that have lasted a decade or more. However, a strong and recurring theme throughout the comments is a notable quality decline — particularly post-pandemic — with newer underwear falling apart within months. Their athletic and loungewear lines, especially Offline leggings, receive more consistently positive marks.

Older Aerie products — especially cotton underwear and Offline leggings — have a genuine track record of lasting years, but the brand's recent underwear quality decline is too widely reported to ignore, making current purchases a gamble depending on product line.

Older Aerie underwear earned near-legendary loyalty for comfort, durability, and value, while their leggings and loungewear continue to receive strong praise for softness and longevity.

• Some cotton underwear pairs have lasted ten or more years
• Offline leggings praised for durability through years of heavy use
• Swimsuits noted for holding up well through many washes
• Affordable, especially during frequent sales and multi-pair deals
• Wide size range and inclusive sizing compared to competitors
• Loungewear and sweatpants lauded for high cotton content and softness

The dominant complaint is a significant quality decline in recent years, especially for underwear, with newer pairs falling apart quickly. The brand is also moving away from its core undergarment identity, and sizing inconsistencies frustrate some shoppers.

• Underwear quality has sharply declined post-pandemic, falling apart in months
• Fabrics have shifted to thinner polyester blends at higher prices
• Some stores phasing out underwear entirely, abandoning brand's core identity
• Lace styles degrade quickly and require very careful washing to survive
• Sizing runs large and inconsistently across different fabric lines

A longtime fan was shocked to learn that Aerie stores are actively phasing out underwear shipments — a stunning reversal for a brand built entirely around undergarments and bras.

Several users reported owning Aerie underwear from over a decade ago that still looks new, while pairs bought in the past year or two fell apart within months — sometimes literally unraveling.

One commenter who works in athletic retail named Offline by Aerie leggings their top pick, noting that after years of wear including hiking and climbing, the leggings showed no tearing, stretching, fading, or pilling.

A commenter described the quality shift as 'brutal,' noting that Aerie moved from durable cotton garments to thin polyester blends while raising prices — pushing many loyal customers to seek alternatives like Jockey, ThirdLove, or Woxer.