The Unmentionables…

Underwear. A rather rarely discussed topic among the straight males of this world. Some prefer a fitted pair of trunks in a classic black or white, others veer towards baggy boxers in a ‘my-mother-bought-these’ blue and red check, while some prefer ‘bulge-enhancing’ Y-fronts/briefs…if you’ll excuse the vulgarity.

Most probably, you didn’t expect a brief history of well…briefs, when you came here today alas, here goes.

It all started-as you might have known-with the loincloth, when man first felt modesty. Loincloths were usually manufactured in a linen or wool with those made of silk generally reserved for the utterly wealthy.

Eventually, as we grew ever more sophisticated, men turned towards the much more dynamic codpiece. This nifty thing enabled men to urinate without having to strip off their bottoms completely.

Soon, our undergarments evolved further and we began to don union suits, commonly referred to as long-johns. Some of these actually possessed a drop flap at the rear to render visits to the loo that little bit easier. Also around this time the first jockstrap was invented to aid cyclists on their journeys…

In the 30’s briefs came on the scene…

As did boxers…

And finally in the 90s we got trunks…

And there you have it.

Images from Erbzine, Mans-Underwear, Macys, Spunkys, Wags