Men also need sexy underwear

“I took your advice, Kristen.”

“Oh yes? On what?”

“I finally bought some non-cotton, non-boring underwear and wore them for my date. It felt sexy, and it put me in a different mindset for the date. !”

I give this advice to all my friends of all genders. This particular conversation happened with a guy who had just worn new boxers that he liked his butt in. the day. Maybe they have a bit of flair, they feel and look new, and you feel comfortable and sexy in them.

When I discuss the notion of wearing sexy underwear as an attitude change, it’s quite common among women.

However, my male friends and customers… some of them looked at me like I had two heads when I asked them if they had any underwear they felt good in. they wear something larger than an XL.

Say it with me: One size does not fit all

Opportunities to walk into a KC storefront to see and touch men’s underwear are limited. Luckily, we have our own menswear enthusiast looking to change that: Steve Wilson, Jr.

Wilson had tried using the subscription model for pairs of men’s socks, ties and underwear through local menswear store, Innovative Menswear Co. However, he found it difficult to try. to find consistent sizing across cultures with high quality fabrics.

“A psychic is not a psychic everywhere,” says Wilson.

Wilson realized that different manufacturers, Italian and Indonesian brands, for example, have very different sizes. And men who wear sizes larger than XL are often left out. All of these factors, including the fact that the fabrics weren’t as pleasant to the touch as many of the photos would suggest.

You can get plus size underwear at Duluth Trading Co, but these have very little sex appeal and often don’t fit well. Baggy bottom = end of diaper. Ordering online, especially from Asian manufacturers, will often result in a 2XL fit like a Large.

In the age-old tradition of if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself, Wilson began looking for opportunities in the Kansas City community. When he was a digital media strategist at the Kansas City Starhe had crossed paths with Rightfully Sewn, whose goal is to make Kansas City a fashion hub again.

Could this target include men’s underwear? It turns out that, thanks to Wilson, it is indeed possible.

Wilson launches Bespoke Underneath in March and partners with Rightfully Sewn to offer locally produced and sustainably sourced men’s underwear. The first items to hit the market will be a boxer and a tank top. The goal is to use fabrics made from fibers grown and spun in the United States, such as bamboo and hemp, while employing locally to manufacture the final product.

When I ask Wilson what makes men’s underwear sexy, he clearly answers, “The fit.”

Sometimes feeling sexy doesn’t mean lace, leather, or funky patterns, but it definitely has to include a good fit, soft-touch fabrics, and stitching in all the right places.

Her plan is to start with sales in boutiques and online, eventually expanding the line to include more fits and adding personal care products such as cologne and body wash.

Don’t feel like hanging out in a (banana) hammock?

I went to a local store to experience a selection of Andrew Christian underwear in person. This brand is known for its masculine briefs in fun patterns and colors and seems to focus on one particular look: banana hammocks. There’s not much available if you don’t like it.

Last month, at brunch with my hubs and two other friends, a gay couple, I brought up this dilemma.

“No one in town can tell me where to go buy a pair of sexy underwear for my partner that isn’t a banana hammock!”

One of them, Jay, said he LOVED fancy underwear and had been hosting underwear parties during the pandemic. Of course, I leaned over and said, “Tell me more!”

Some men collect watches, ties or hats. Jay collects underwear. The parties were an idea he had to break the boredom of the pandemic. Thanks to online shopping and a ton of free time, he has expanded his collection considerably. He started inviting a small group of friends to do mini fashion shows for each other while people got their shots.

There are two rules for underwear shows: everyone is assertive, and everyone must be fully prepared to try on Jay’s entire underwear repertoire. He ensures that there is a variety of patterns, cuts, fits and fabrics. There’s lace, lovely soft and stretchy blends, leather, and sometimes as an accessory there are wings.

Often his friends end up buying pairs that they would never have tried without encouragement and opportunity. It’s hard to order something outside of your comfort zone online only to send it to the dump if you don’t like it or it doesn’t fit – try a friend’s (clean) pair first is a completely unconventional solution.

Jay also confirmed that our market is very limited for men’s underwear. While as a woman I have my choice of fast fashion and couture in Kansas City, the men have Hanes in the big box stores and Andrew Christian in the sex shops.

“[Sex shop underwear is] the kind of shit you put on for 20 seconds and it gets ripped off! says Jay. (As a lingerie owner, I’m pretty familiar with this trope.) Instead, he recommends brands like C-IN², Marco Marco, and 2EROS.

At any time, underwear

A few years ago, I chose lingerie. I worried out loud that it wouldn’t wear out much, that I was just buying it for a boudoir shoot, and the girl at the boutique said something like, “Honey, you don’t have to wear it for someone else. Wear it for you.

After wearing a set for the first time in a meeting room under my very professional business attire, I decided that I would wear them whenever I was so happy because I felt so good.

I challenge you, regardless of your gender, to buy new underwear that is nothing like what you have in the drawer right now. Sometimes you don’t know what will be sexy until you try it.

Don’t just wear them when you have a date or are on the prowl, wear them when you have an important call that day. Wear them on a day when you need a little extra swagger. Wear them whenever you want.

You can find Kristen to Twitter or her website. Check out his podcast let them come.