MetaChat - Male underwear question for the girls

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

30 April 2007

Male underwear question for the girls Dear Mechettes, what do you think of boy briefs?→[More:] I use exclusively briefs, of the tight and speedo-shaped kind. Needless to say, I use these since I was a kid. My roommate told me that these are little boy underwear, and that his gf used to mock him about them until he switched to boxers. I really dislike loose underwear (I only use boxers to sleep, and even so, OVER my briefs).

So... are boy briefs cute-boyish, or ridiculously-boyish? Should I consider switching to boxers, or at least those tight boxer thingies? Will girls start pointing and laugh until they cry if I ever drop my pants in front of them? Even if it's not in public?

The mental image of me in underwear comes free with the question. No returns accepted.

post by: qvantamon at: 15:52 | 39 comments

I've never understood the hate for briefs- they don't offend me. If you like 'em, you wear 'em!

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 30 April | 15:56

As long as underwear is clean, solid colored (no stains or polka-dots)(I will permit a tasteful plaid for boxers), and has no holes other than the ones intended by the manufacturer, you're good.

posted by Fuzzbean 30 April | 15:57

If there is a woman for whom your underwear choice is a dealbreaker, you don't want her.

posted by amro 30 April | 16:03

Objectively, I don't care one way or the other, as long as they are clean. But I will admit that I would probably raise my eyebrows if I came across a man who wore them, just because it seems to be so uncommon. But after a second of "...huh" I'd get over it.

posted by gaspode 30 April | 16:04

I switched back to briefs a few years ago after nearly 20 years of boxers. I generally find them more comfortable. I definitely go for the full cut ones, not little "bikini" briefs though.

Warning: once your gut gets past a certain point they do start to look ridiculous in a way that boxers don't. I don't know if this has been an incentive to keep somewhat in shape or not.

posted by Lentrohamsanin 30 April | 16:09

Underwear?

posted by edgeways 30 April | 16:14

Mechettes?

posted by box 30 April | 16:31

hmm. while i confess a preference for boxers, it's not so much the underwear as the guy who's in them. as in: the guys i've known who wear boxers have tended to be dudes i was way into. this is *not* the fault of the underwear, i think it's just a weird coincidence. my x wore tighty whities a lot, and was a slob both externally and sartorially so, it's likely i'm projecting.

that said the first set of boxer briefs (the things that look similar to bike shorts) i ever (ahem) 'discovered' on a live model were the property of The. Absolute. Hottest. asian indian guy i've ever seen, let alone gotten nekkid with.

if you want my opinion, i'd say stick to what's comfortable. i've certainly heard that some guys really don't care to have snakey swinging in the breezes. since i don't personally own a schlong, it ain't my business to tell anyone else how to hang it.

i'd certainly vote for darker, solid(ish) colours on any cut of guy's skivvies. and yea, if you're at all chubby, then you might want to consider the fact that briefs and boxer briefs do kinda showcase the rolls and not necessarily in a good way. boxer briefs particularly are prone to displaying what i affectionately term 'male muffin top'.

posted by lonefrontranger 30 April | 16:35

It's all about black boxer briefs.

posted by Specklet 30 April | 16:54

Boxer briefs, although my dude complains that they sometimes ride up. It's difficult to find a pair with sufficient leg elastic.

posted by muddgirl 30 April | 17:16

This discussion made me finally pony up some dough and try out well-made boxer briefs. $60 for four pairs of Calvin Kliens later, and I'll never go back. That shit is painful on the wallet, but OMG COMFORT. Plus they make me look teh sexay.

posted by mike9322 30 April | 17:28

It's very simple:

Bikini briefs: ridiculous (sorry).

Boxers: cute.

Boxer-briefs: TEH HOTT.

posted by scody 30 April | 18:17

BTW, I was friends with a guy who used to wear BOTH briefs AND boxers. I didn't ask why, but it seemed a little weird to me - like, briefs for the support and boxers as some sort of man-slip?

posted by muddgirl 30 April | 18:29

muddgirl, that's very very strange.

posted by Specklet 30 April | 18:54

I use exclusively briefs, of the tight and speedo-shaped kind. Needless to say, I use these since I was a kid.

Pssst.... they have larger sizes; you don't have to wear the same briefs you wore as a kid. Also, ummmm.... lose the Spiderman briefs!

posted by Doohickie 30 April | 19:05

New York Times: But What if You Get Hit by a Taxi?

"Novelty underwear, for decades the butt of jokes and the joke of butts, has, in the last two to three years, turned into a serious business, capturing a significant share of the $1.1 billion men’s knit-underwear (that is, excluding boxers) market. In all their goofy glory, briefs in bright colors, zany prints, new materials and daring cuts are undermining the classic white brief’s long-held status as king of the hill. In 2006, white’s share of the market dipped below 50 percent for the first time in decades, if not ever."

posted by ericb 30 April | 19:06

To put it this way, I once worked with a guy who wore y-fronts only, declaring that it "kept the stuff in place" and I had seen his tall body in nothing but said boy-briefs when he unabashidly changed into something else one day. After that, whenever he'd get really cranky and impossible at work, I'd just picture him in teal-blue boy-briefs and laugh inside as I nodded in agreement with whatever rant he was on. Could. not. take. him. seriously. again.

posted by dabitch 30 April | 19:08

Oh, and scody has the scale exactly right.

posted by dabitch 30 April | 19:11

What scody said.

posted by matildaben 30 April | 19:18

Doohickie:
That's a big step... I think I'll start small, by just taking them out to wash them... Might be a bit hard to get rid of that skidmark from 1989, but I guess it's worth a try.

Seriously, from the way this thread is heading, I'm going to stop by some store today to get some black Calvin Klein boxer-briefs... please update your mental images accordingly.

posted by qvantamon 30 April | 19:46

My roommate told me that these are little boy underwear, and that his gf used to mock him about them until he switched to boxers.

Your roommate needs to meet a woman who's not a cast-iron bitch.

Should I consider switching to boxers, or at least those tight boxer thingies?

Trying something new is harmless. I tried boxer-briefs. To me, they were nasty and uncomfortable. Your mileage may vary, but you won't know unless you try.

Will girls start pointing and laugh until they cry if I ever drop my pants in front of them? Even if it's not in public?

Only if they are cast-iron bitches who any sane person would run away from. Really, if someone reacted strongly negatively to your choice of underwear, out of all things, that should scream RUN AWAY!! just as much as if she started cutting herself at the dinner table.

posted by ROU Xenophobe 30 April | 19:49

Tomorrow the men answer:

Panties, with the crotch panel or without?

posted by mischief 30 April | 19:55

I've never been with a guy who wore anything but boxers, so I'd probably be taken aback for a minute, but I'd never kick a guy I was already at that level with out of my bed based on his underwear choice. That being said, on the fashion front, boxer briefs would be most similar in terms of support without provoking memories of one's little brother or boys one used to babysit.

posted by Twiggy 30 April | 20:03

Briefs. Gave up on tighty-whities in college - they're boring and the flap is merely an invitation for shaft-trappage. I prefer solid colors, but some patterns are ok.

I do not care for boxers. They nearly always bunch up, and frankly I don't care for underwear that requires maintenance while I wear it. I own some silk boxers, but they are for show.

Haven't tried boxer briefs.

posted by plinth 30 April | 20:07

Another vote for boxer briefs. I find they way they fit men very sexy. Regular briefs now seem sort of juvenile, and I don't know why. Perhaps because my ex wore briefs exclusively, while my husband wears boxers, boxer briefs, or...nothing. ;^)

Just to toss in another question...have any of the men here ever tried sexy, tiny little thong thingies to impress a partner? What did you think, and what was their reaction?

posted by redvixen 30 April | 20:10

I'm a boxer guy, from way back. Recently, I bought what I thought were some tighty whities (for exercise purposes); they turned out to be boxer briefs. I tried them. I can report that they were the most uncomfortable underwear experience I've had, outside of the times I was performing Shakespeare in period costume and had to wear a dance belt under my tights.

On preview: no, thong undies ain't happenin' here, given my dance belt disdain. Frankly, I don't know why women put up with them.

posted by bmarkey 30 April | 20:17

Just to toss in another question...have any of the men here ever tried sexy, tiny little thong thingies to impress a partner?

No. Never will, either. You got your death, you got your taxes and you got the fact that I will never wear one of those things.

posted by jason's_planet 30 April | 20:55

Yes, redvixen, I have. It went over well, but they were not really all that comfy. I did feel pretty, though.

Next time, if you don't really wanna know, don't ask!

Here's the way I see boxers: As a guy in his forties, I grew up seeing boxers as terribly old-fashioned things that only geezers wore. I have a few pairs, but frankly I feel as silly in them as most of the ladies seem to think men look in briefs.

posted by Doohickie 30 April | 21:59

Thanks you all for oming. I wear boxers. good night

posted by jonmc 30 April | 22:02

I wear cotton blend boxer briefs mostly but I have some silk blend boxers that are so very comfy. I also have a bizarre love for my Simpson's "Flaming Moes" and "Doh! Nuts!" boxers.

posted by arse_hat 30 April | 22:26

For your gender twist of the day:

Years ago I dated a girl who wore mens tighty whities. I thought she looked ridiculous but I never told her, nor did I kick her out of bed.

Shortly after we stopped dating I started wearing boxer briefs. I've been wearing mens boxer briefs exclusively until last week. On a whim, while shopping at Target, I picked up some Hanes briefs in some fun colors. Maybe I bought them too big, but my god they look silly and aren't so comfy. Maybe it's just karmic justice.

Needless to say, these will be on the Z team.

posted by FlamingBore 30 April | 22:52

I'm a fan of boxers, myself. Plaid in particular.
And I'd say the vast majority of guys I've dated have worn plaid boxers. No, I didn't know in advance. It's just an odd coincidence.

But yeah, I can't imagine any semi-decent human being laughing at someone for underwear choices once that point is reached. It's just a lousy thing to do. And let's face it, most women are more self-conscious once the clothes come off than guys are, so odds are, she's more anxious about you looking unkindly on body flaws than internally mocking your drawers.

posted by kellydamnit 30 April | 22:58

Years ago I dated a girl who wore mens tighty whities.

Don't knock it. Good lord, when I was somewhere betwixt 11 and driving age that video on MTV totally rocked whatever I wore then.

I've tried the boxer-briefs, but I think for tall guys they don't work, especially if you're on the skinny side of things. I'm 6'3" and 18X, but most of my weight is on the top 1/3 of my body (brains and shoulders, according to the SO). Fine by me, but being somewhat tall and slender and walking as much as I do, traditional briefs chafe my inner thighs and boxer briefs ride up. I'd wear them for certain occasions if she cared, but she doesn't seem to. For both of us, it's whatever feels right.

posted by ufez 30 April | 23:24

The god's truth is that it's one of those things that's just unfair to the uggos— the hotter you are, the hotter briefs are on you. Just like a really hot girl can get away with the high waisted '80s underwear.

posted by klangklangston 30 April | 23:30

boxerbriefs? Those things make me look like I should be posing for a trophy. no thanks.

posted by jonmc 01 May | 08:01

I prefer boxers, but that may be because my first boyfriend lo these many years ago wore fishnet briefs.

posted by JanetLand 01 May | 10:07

my first boyfriend lo these many years ago wore fishnet briefs.

The horror...the horror!

posted by scody 01 May | 16:25

The laughter... the laughter!

posted by ethylene 01 May | 16:31

> The laughter... the laughter!

You'd probably laugh at my underoos too, so I won't mention them.

posted by jfuller 01 May | 18:33

← David Sedaris. || I still don't get The Decemberists. Never have gotten them. →

HOME || REGISTER || LOGIN