It’s UNB’s 8th anniversary, so in honor of that I’m going to do a wrap up of my 8 favorite pairs of underwear in my collection. In normal fashion, we’ll count down to my favorite pair.

8. Doreanse Euro Thong (1392)

I finally bought myself this Doreanse thong this year and find it a great thong. For those that remember the Undergear French thong (A300), this is an excellent substitute. I think it is even better. It’s a super soft fabric and a great cut, which I like better than the French thong. It’s sort of a v-string, but with normal thong sides.

7. Prevail Sport String Thong Brief

I’m a big fan of the brand Prevail Sport, which you’ll see by this list. So this is my number seven pick from my underwear drawer. It’s basically a traditional cut thong, but a little less frontal coverage. Also these are a nice and snug fit, which is one thing I look for in a great pair of underwear. One thing different with Prevail Sport is they do most of their thong backs in a black lycra fabric.

6. Prevail Sport Rio Brief

Number six is another pair from Prevail Sport. The rio brief is again a snug fitting pair that has string sides to show off those legs. The back is a around ¾ back and has a contoured centered seamed front pouch the holds everything nicely.

5. Fagioni Clip Thong

The Fagionu clip thong is one I have had for a while and it is a very comfortable thong. One I’d recommend for beginners. They’re made out a satin like material and you really don’t know you are wearing a thong. Only negative is they aren’t the snuggest fit, but enough support. The fun part is these have clips on the side for your partner to have easy access or for you to doing a strip tease.

4. Dietz Joker Mini Slip

Dietz is a brand I’ve discovered somewhat recently. Of the four pairs I now own, the Joker mini slip is my favorite from them. It comes down to a nice snug fit that holds everything in place. I like the two tone front pouch and yellow just brighten things up.

3. Blueline T-Back Thong

Blueline is another brand I’ve discovered in the past few years and I’d say it isn’t a real mainstream brand. Now this is a skimpy thong, which pretty much molds to you. I consider it a v-string and not a t-back. It’s a very narrow v-shaped contour pouch, so may not be for the well endowed. I think it holds everything nicely and basically is showing everything you got off.

2. Blueline Microfiber String Bikini

This bikini is the first pair of underwear I ordered of the brand Blueline and got me into trying others. I wouldn’t really say there is something spectacular about it. I’m just a fan of a solid string bikini, since they are the first style that I tried when branching out from the dreaded whitey tighties. I love the fit of it and the microfiber fabric.

1. Prevail Sport’s String Brief

I’ve been wearing this bikini style from Prevail Sport for about 15 years now. It has been my go to bikini ever since I discovered them. The cut of the bikini reminds me of the swim briefs that you see bodybuilders wearing. The ¾ back, narrow sides, and just the right amount coverage of the pouch along with the snugness fit make these my top underwear pick. They’re holding the position strong!

As we celebrate our 8th year I thought I would share some things that I have learned over the years about underwear, the industry, and our readers. Some are no brainers and others really surprised me.

The Industry Is Small

I’m not talking as in sales or pairs sold every year. The men’s underwear market is $4 billion and growing. Rather, the people behind brands are a small staff. Other than Calvin Klein and 2(X)ist. Most brands have 4-6 people running it. They do amazing things on a small staff. It has been this way since 2008.

Guys Love Small Underwear

My personal preference is small undies. Bikinis have always been my go to style. Even in the days of boxer briefs and boxers. I would seek out smaller cuts. As I talk to many of you guys, you love bikinis, thongs and smaller! Across the board its one thing we have in common. In our reader survey it reaffirms this. It makes me happy that this area of men’s underwear is growing.

Straight/Bi/Gay Our origins story are the same

This is one of the WOW moments for me. The time we all started liking underwear is about the same. Usually early to mid teens. Some guys acted on it and other did not. Again across the board. Most really started to try out new pairs in college or after moving our of our parent’s house. After that it took off and there was no looking back.

Guys Love fashion Vs. those who don’t

We have a divide in our ranks. It’s not a bad one, but it makes me laugh. I have been on both sides of this divide. Guys who love underwear are either very fashion conscious or not at all. Those who are not, the underwear is the best thing they wear. Currently, I’m on the don’t side rather than do. I need to step it up.

There are some true underwear addicts out there! 

I thought I had a lot of undies around 400 pairs but I have talked to guys who have thousands of pairs. I say my hat is off if you have that much. Some of them have really great storage systems for them. On top of that a few of them have even created spreadsheets to keep track of their collections. I should do this because I always forget pairs I have and discover them in back of a drawer. But, if you’re one of the guys, know you have a lot more than a blogger! You are the guys we also love! You want to know the newest, lastest and greatest underwear on the market.

Sexy is different for each guy

We find many things sexy. Some it’s a thong or mesh. Other guys like classic white briefs. This goes along with what our partner/wife/husband likes as well. I remember a few years ago I tried to define date night underwear. This got me a lot of feedback that I was off base and never made that mistake again. I find date night undies to be skimpy, mesh and similar. You guys have a different definition!

Straight guys want to wear swim briefs

I always thought us gay guys were the ones to wear the swim briefs. I never thought that straight guys would want to be able to rock a swim brief on the beach or pool. But many of you do. The stories we have heard from many guys has them wearing them out of the country. They wear them in the Caribean, Europe or Mexico. Guys tell us how liberating it feels being able to wear them without judgment. They wish they could do the same in the State and not get labeled gay.

Underwear Guys are the Best Guys

If a guy loves  underwear and you bond over the fact. I think you have a friend for life. I’m not talking about sexual bonding but rather something you have in common. Over the years I have met gay/bi/straight guys all who have become friends. It’s all over underwear. Underwear is something really rarely talked about. When you can and really share your passion you open up more. This goes for all guys, not just gay. I think gay guys get put in the “underwear is sexual” all to often. We all need to talk undies because it is normal!

These are just a few things I have found out. There are tons more but when I put myself on the spot. My mind goes blank. But just know there are many of you guys out there and we need to develop a community around us regardless of sexual orientation. I hope we get at least 8 more years of UNB!

We featured some of the BodyAware Halloween Undies earlier this week. They are fun and festive for this holiday season. BodyAware produced videos of each of the pairs. We hope you enjoy and maybe you’ll get some fun undies for the Halloween season!

Trick-or-treat Thong

Trick-or-treat Brief

Pumpkin Patch Jock

Pumpkin Patch Brief

Find all these and more at BodyAware.

I was talking to a new potential UNB guy this weekend. He mentioned that he was reading one of the big sites. They interviewed women on what underwear they want to see their guys in, and it was boxers and boxer briefs. We both went “HUH?” Being gay has made this easier. It’s more socially acceptable that we can wear anything we want. Becuase after all underwear is gay (said with implied sarcasm).

I have talked with so many guys, gay/straight/bi, that love underwear. They all want the same thing. Something that is fashionable, fun and makes them feel great. It’s an extension of their personality as much as their clothes or hair style. Sometimes it’s even more of a state because of a conservative environment. Underwear is the one area they can express themselves.

The US Mainstream media reinforces the notation that underwear is about function, not form. Underwear is something that is to be made fun of let’s not even get into the whole “you’re gay” for liking underwear thing. We are striving to fight this labeling. We have readers who are gay, straight and bi.

When a major outlet talks about underwear they always show boxer briefs and trunks. Few rarely show briefs, jocks or thongs. It’s always conservative colors and styles. So, I do believe that the media reinforces the “you must wear this type of underwear.” If you don’t wear what everyone else is wearing there is something wrong with you. You need to fit in with the rest of society.

We disagree with this big time. Underwear is one area we can truly express ourselves in a personal way. We can wear exactly what makes us feel sexy and gives us confidence. That is the point most mainstream media leaves out. They look at underwear as a necessity, not a way to express exactly who you are!

Over the course of my 8 years doing this blog I have met so many guys. We all want the same thing. Underwear that fits great and makes us feel sexy. Look at the make up of our guys! Sorry for the rant. I just saw something that just pissed me off in the media and had to vent.

I was trying to think of something different than what I normally say about what underwear gives me,. My normal answers are it gives me confidence or makes me feel sexy. I came up with it giving me fashion. A definition of fashion would say something like a popular trend. Now that isn’t how I see it. We all have our own fashion sense. I’m far from being fashionable especially by that definition (jeans and t-shirt please). I suppose some people would say my underwear isn’t fashionable, since bikinis and thongs aren’t what people think guys wear. I don’t consider something that is the norm as fashionable either.

Moving on to why I think underwear gives me fashion. First off I care about what pair of underwear I wear. I’d say someone that is trying to be fashionable would care what pants and shirt they wear. I don’t mean I care about what brand the underwear is. I care that I have a selection of styles, colors, fabrics. I don’t want to wear the same style and color day after day. Wouldn’t that be boring and unfashionable?

I actually try to make sure the underwear looks good on me in the mirror! I don’t do that with my outer clothes, but jeans and a t-shirts don’t look much different. I bet someone trying to look fashionable checks themselves out in the mirror to make sure they’re looking good. Or maybe I’m just narcissistic there, but highly doubt that. Ok, I’m going to sneak in pretty much what I always say about underwear. Wouldn’t you say that how you dress can give you confidence and make you feel sexy? Hope you said yes, since my so called fashionable underwear does that for me.

In the end I don’t see fashion as wearing the popular trending thing or some big name brand that everyone knows. Fashion is the personal style that makes you you. What makes me me is my choice in underwear, so that is why I consider underwear giving me some fashion. Fashion is in the eye of the beholder.

Thongs are becoming more and more popular. We have seen a big upswing in interest from you guys. I saw Ty Alexander on Twitter and he posts a lot of pics of him in thongs. We got his permission to use his pic for our Thong Thursday Brief Distraction. We asked him why he likes thongs. He said ” I like the feeling of being sexy under my clothes it’s kind of a little hidden secret you have all day.  Also if you have a natural bubble butt it allows it to jiggle a little more I think.”

Follow Ty Alexander on Twitter!

2(X)IST has released an update to their popular Sliq line. The new collection is called the Sliq Micro collection. It also has something in it that may surprise and delight some of you. It has a thong! Yes, the original y back thong is in this collection. It was one of the first thongs I really fell in love with, and I”m glad it’s back in a new color.

The new collection has either two prints and a solid. The thong only comes in the solid color. I wish they could have done a print on it. The colors in this collection are Intersect Print – Lime Green, Intersect Print -Flame Scarlet  and Flame Scarlet. All colors are a lot of fun. I am loving the Flame Scarlet thong. They all really pop and will be fun to wear under jeans, suit or work clothes.

Made out of an 88% POLYESTER / 12% SPANDEX blend. Which will make it fit great. The added bonus of this fabric is it’s moisture wicking. Making it the perfect pair for working out or being active. More and more brands are paying attention to this and it’s a welcome change.

The three styles are the Sliq Micro Brief, Trunk, and Thong. As stated above the brief and trunk have all colors. The thong is just the Flame Scarlet. I like this because the main part of the underwear is a solid color and the print is on the right hip. It’s asymmetrical but a lot of fun.

The Y-Back thong is a classic. We added it to our Drawer of Fame this year. It’s one of the first thongs that was accepted by the masses. Even department stores sold the pair. This is a classic pair that I hope they never quit making. This is one thong I definitely want to pick up!

Find the three styles at the 2(X)IST website!

BRAND: 2(X)IST
PAIR: Sliq Micro Brief, Trunk and Thong
COLORS: Intersect Print – Lime Green, Intersect Print -Flame Scarlet  and Flame Scarlet
FABRIC: 88% POLYESTER / 12% SPANDEX
SIZES: Small – X-Large
COST: $30/$30/$26
LINK:

• 2(X)IST Sliq Micro Brief
• 2(X)IST Sliq Micro Trunk
• 2(X)IST Sliq Micro Thong

Almost 8 years ago when we launched UNB, we used to judge a pair by the Gym Factor. The Gym Factor is would you wear this pair to the gym and change in the locker room. Most guys at the time would wear more conservative pairs. They would be regular briefs, boxer briefs, and trunks. Also, they would be in traditional colors. Usually black, white or grey. Some would do navy or similar color.

That was 2008/2009, we are now in 2016. A few of our readers I talk with on a regular basis have me questioning this factor. More and more guys are telling us they are wearing thongs to the gym, over traditional underwear. The comfort and support is one thing they love. Some of these guys say they change at the gym and don’t care who sees them in a thong.

I know there isn’t a wave of guys in gyms walking around in thongs. It’s a slow migration to better underwear for the general public. As more guys realize that good underwear makes you feel amazing. This trend will change. Wearing something colorful and fun won’t be an issue. Other guys in the locker room won’t even give it a second look.

This is due to underwear is being worn by more straight guys. It’s no longer just gay guys who can wear great underwear. There is still a stigma of “underwear is gay.” This is SLOWLY, going away. I say slowly, but I have seen big changes in the industry since 2008. These will continue to change.

One other reason this is changing is technology in underwear. There is much better fabric and designs. Fabrics now are moisture wicking. Allowing you to work out more comfortably. Fabrics such as Modal are the perfect example. They keep you cool and perfect for working out. Next, brands are giving more supportive pouches and creating pairs just for working out. Comfort is key to the current men’s underwear market.

We are curious if you guys are wearing what you want to the gym or are you still using the “Gym Factor?” Wearing classic designs and colors to the gym?

Thanks to everyone who voted in the Real Guys Poll. We know this is just as important to you guys as it is to us at UNB. We love talking to you guys and sharing your opinions. I will say some of you didn’t hold back on your comments. We love that, no matter which side of the poll you voted on.

Why did we do this poll?

I am not an underwear model and most of the UNB guys aren’t either. Like our old slogan said we are real guys who love real underwear. The only one of us who could be an underwear model is Beau Briefs! He looks amazing in his pictures he posts on Twitter.

In the past, we have run more real guys in our shoots. Looking back in 2011-2012. We got some hits from readers and people in the industry about our models. But, I wanted more realistic looking guys. It’s my mission for ALL guys to wear what they feel the best wearing. Why should a bigger guy not wear a thong? Or a smaller guy not wear bikinis? Or boxers or whatever they want.

On our reader Survey, we ask this question and you guys want a mix of models, real guys and up and coming models. We firmly agree with this mix. We got it confirmed with this poll

Results

90% of you guys support having real guys in pictures. 7% want to see underwear models and 3% were undecided. This means you guys really want to see real guys. Many of you talked about increasing body image among guys. That we are not all built like models. Also, it would be great to see what underwear looks like on a real guy. To see the actual fit.

97% of you would Support UNB in showing real guys in underwear. Only 3% said they wouldn’t. One of the guys who is on the model size stated that if we started to show real guys he probably wouldn’t read the site any more. We aren’t talking about taking all the pictures and making them real guys. But, do want to show a more realitic image of men in underwear. So we would have a mix of real guys, amature models, and models.

The last question was would you participate in a crowdfunding campaign to show real guys. 62% said no. I was expecting a closer division between yes and no. The reason this is imporant to ask, photo shoots take money. We have to pay the photog, models and sometimes rent a location. We simply can’t take on the burdon alone of doing shoots. With out support from you guys, we won’t do as many shoots.

We’d love to hear more on this topic. From guys on both sides of the arugment.

I made contact with a photographer that has been reading UNB for years. His name is Shaun Simpson and he is based in Canada. He does incredible work and is a huge fan of underwear. I decided to do a little interview with him to showcase one of our reader’s insight into the men’s underwear industry. I hope you enjoy!

Salvatore: How did you discover your love of underwear?

Shaun: Always been a fan! The first time I strayed from the basic brands I wore as I kid, I never looked back. Comfort is key, but it’s always fun to know you have a bright pop of colour hiding under your austere business suit.

Salvatore: What are your favorite brands and why?

Shaun: Tough call! Big fan of JM.ca, super comfortable, long lasting, and Made in Canada! N2N, Andrew Christian, and Obviously are great for a bit of extra sexy bit of freedom. Cin2 and Calvin Klein always have a place in my drawers too; comfortable, fun, supportive, and classy.

Salvatore: What is your favorite style of underwear?

Shaun: Gotta go with the brief, but I think there is a time and place for every cut and style.

Salvatore: What is your least favorite Styles?

Shaun: Never really got into the jocks and thongs; I prefer a bit more coverage; when it comes to fabric comforts, I prefer quality and quantity.

Salvatore: Do you shop online or in stores for your underwear? Which Stores?

Shaun: Pretty much exclusively online – I tend to stick with either the manufacturer’s own website, or larger retailers like International Jock, Men’s Underwear Store, or Top Drawers.

Salvatore: How many pairs of Underwear do you own?

Shaun: Between my own, and what I have in my studio wardrobe for models–easily in the hundreds.

Salvatore: Who do you feel are the most creative underwear brands on the market?

Shaun: Love the designs of N2N, big fan of their singlets and onesies. AC has some fresh cuts and colours, but tend to be a bit edgy for my daily wearing. Rufskins always has a sexy new take on classic sportswear. Canada’s Gregg Homme has a great take on men’s lingerie.

Salvatore: Are you an influencer on your friends when it comes to underwear?

Shaun: I’d like to think so; every now and then I’ll clear out the studio’s wardrobe closet and give out the extras to friends. Plus, I’ll often get questions from folks asking where they can find styles they’ve seen on my models.

Salvatore: How do you use social media to follow/promote your love of underwear?

Shaun: I follow most of my favorite brands on Twitter, Tumblr, and IG. Most of my models are showing off their physiques in underwear/swimwear, so I try to tag the brands so folks know where to find them too.

Salvatore: How long have you been reading UNB? What is appealing to you about the site?

Shaun: I don’t recall the exact date, but it’s been at least 5+ years now; I always keep it bookmarked. I like the clean, uncomplicated design, easy to read, and to find the newest stories. Plus, the ads on the side help me find newest brands, styles, and sales.

Salvatore: What brands do you think deserve more coverage in the men’s underwear market?

Shaun: I’m a proud Canadian, so I’d have to say JM, Greg Homme, Stanfields, Saxx, and of course Pump!

Salvatore: What can you tell me about photographing the male body? Do you ever photograph guys in their underwear?

Shaun: Almost every fashion/fitness photographer I know of has a portfolio full of gorgeous women. I like to create my own niche by focusing on the male form. We have great curves too! I always love shooting silhouettes, showing off the lines of the body.

I tend to shoot a lot of underwear/swimwear looks. It’s the best way to show off the physique. A great pair of underwear can help shape the mood of the shot too–from classy fine art, funky pop, to edgy erotica.

Salvatore: How do you see photography enhancing the men’s underwear industry?

Shaun: With phones these days taking high quality photographs and video, almost every hot guy online is posting selfies, showing off their favourite brands. It seems like the men’s underwear market has really started to come out of the shadows. There is more focus on the styles, cuts, and colours. A well-composed photograph shows how a great pair of underwear can really accentuate and enhance anyone’s physique!

Thanks, Shaun for giving us insight into your underwear world.  We always enjoy meeting new professionals who are doing more than their part to help the industry thrive.  Shaun is one Canadian who is doing jus that.

That’s a wrap. By the way, all of the photos in this post were shot by Shaun. Check out his website at www.shaunsimpson.ca. If you are interested in doing a little interview with us, hit me up on Twitter with a DM–@manatomicallyme. I’d love to help you share your story.