In this blog, we spend a lot of time cooing over delicious creations for the female form, thigh high boots, corsets, thongs, french knickers, hoisery, killer heels and skimpy baby dolls. However when it comes to male underwear there is a whistle of wind as we watch the tumbleweed roll on past. Why are mens pants sooo, pants?
Scanning through the underwear department of any male clothes shop and the briefs tend to heavily value function over form. Robin is a straight male with a taste for adventure and would love his underwear (when he's not borrowing Fanny's) to match his attitude to life. Alas the only choice seems to be which garish brand logo do you want strapped to the top of your black, white or 'exciting colour' breifs. That is of course unless you count the 'novelty giraffe head' Ann Summers school of male 'sexy time' underwear choices.
This safari has lead Robin to have to venture further afield in his search for something that doesn't make him feel more David Brent than Casanova. The search has lead him venturing into everything from bespoke tailors to gay leather shops.
It turns out a trip to Old Compton Street (central London's gay high street) was as close as he could come to sylish brief nirvana. Gay men seem to have a much bolder and creative approach to their undercarriage decoration than us straight dullards, however even more so than ever here Brand recognition is king. I guess when everyone is producing the same shaped garments (Y front design is y front design) the only thing to make your pants stand out from the crowd is a big logo to let everyone know how much you paid for these bad boys. How depressing.
Don't get us wrong, this isn't a rant calling for further explorations along the lines of Guyliner or Peter Stringfellow thongs (well perhaps it is a little), we're not calling for men to be dressed up in lacy little numbers, just a little more inventiveness and a little less churning out the same old staples.
Here follows a list of some of the shining stars of Gentlemans privates dressers we've found so far:
American Apparel - Ok so their briefs are pretty darn basic, a standard Y-Front, but the range of colours, oh the range of colours is second to none. Plus very importantly they are all sweatshop free ethically produced.
XTG Spanish Brand XTG (eXTreme Game) knock out a range of stylish very well fitted and high quality pants, stripes, patterns and all manner of crazy pictures adorn their designs.
John Galliano - Ok so he is mental, and some of the pants (such as the golden beauties above) elicit the response "your not coming anywhere near me in those fuckers" from Fanny, however top marks for effort.
Aussie Bum - If your going to Sitges beach in Barcelona, you had better make sure you're rocking this seasons Aussie Bum swimmers. A cavaleir design ethic championed by gay men and lusted over by the likes of Robin.
Mundo Unico - Another Spanish brand who are not afraid to push the boundaries. Robin owns a rather natty pair of their swimmers and will soon be invesing in more of their refreshing take on mens underwear.
