It’s summer, the sun is out (yeah, even in Seattle), the waves are rolling, and the beach is calling. And calling. And calling. Pick up the phone already!

So, now you’ve decided to go to the beach or pool and it is time to pick out a swim suit. Maybe you have one or two, maybe you have 5. And with swim suits more so than with underwear the different between styles is huge. Loose and baggy seems too frat-house. Perhaps short shorts is a good way to go. Speedos are fun but where is our confidence level now…

I want to tell you, get the suit that you WANT that you think will give you a pep in your beach walking step. If one catches your eye online and you start thinking that maybe it’s going to be too revealing or worry about how your belly will respond (I think that often) forget those thoughts! We all want to look good but in the end we all NEED to feel good. Go for it.

Have I always listen to this advice? Nope. I own a grey and orange swim thong that I have worn only outside of the US and I need to just wear it, because I want to. Yet, this summer when it came time to skip down to the beach. I did wear a new floral Timoteos speedo, it’s tiny and tight and I love it. I feel great and I am not currently in my best shape.

Speedo cuts aren’t for everyone and that’s fine. They shouldn’t be. If you don’t feel comfortable in them, don’t force it. I own a couple of super cute short shorts. Like my white and mint Sauvage pair and they are just as cute as any slicked tight suit I own. And they have their place in my drawer and on any beach I choose.

Don’t hide in suits that you think you SHOULD wear, be out there in the suits you WANT to wear. Cocksox is out with a new line of suits and if they are anything like some of their underwear…be prepared to be bold. Timoteos has some extremely cute suits out, so do N2N, Sauvage, and many more.

I like to wear whatever fancies me that day, which is why I own a variety of suits. When I want to get out and get a cute tan line and have my booty pop a bit, yeah, I jump into my speedo. It just fits the mood of the day and that’s exactly what it should do. When I was a bit of a “cute and flirty” look that is more effortless to wear, I pull out my mint trunks. They are so easy to wear. So easy to never have to think about while I’m wearing them (one speedo needs some constant adjustment in the dernier region). And when I kind of want to shock those around me and be a bit of a spectacle, I pull out the thong. Even when it is just my friends in a hot tub in Whistler, it’s fun. Swim suits aren’t one size fits all. They aren’t one suit fits all moods, it all comes down to you and what you want, when.

I’ve been out to the beach a lot this summer (yeah, in Seattle, we’re heating up over here). I know what I love most about it all…my swim suit tan line, a semi lasting impression of the fun I had at water’s edge in a great suit.

One thing I pride UNB on is our number of straight readers. When the blog was created I didn’t think I would ever have straight readers who loves underwear. Over the last few years guys are realizing why let women have all the fun in the unmentionables. I asked UNB Brandon to give us some pros and cons about being a straight underwear lover on Twitter. If you haven’t read much of Brandon he’s a straight shooter (pardon the pun). He speaks his mind and isn’t shy about it. That is one of the biggest reasons I like him. He’s 100% honest and what you see is what you get! If you are asking where he is, he’s been dealing with work and personal issues. He knows he always has a home at UNB!

Here are his pro’s an con’s:

Pro: Having a presence on social media, especially one where I am sharing photos of myself in my underwear collection provides visual that straight guys really can be into great underwear.

Con: On the flip side of that “pro” there is plenty of people (both gay and straight) who actually cannot believe a straight guy would be OK with posting himself in designer underwear, and many of the “cons” to follow are related to this.

Pro: Due to the large contingent of gay men using social media, Twitter and Tumblr specifically to oogle pictures underwear or of guys in their underwear, having a presence on those sites while sharing ”real” photos means social media attention (gaining followers) is fairly easy to come by.

Con: At the same time, when you start to get a lot of followers the expectations on [me] to post daily pictures, or continue at whatever pace I established in the beginning grow right along with the follower count. Additionally, if I don’t continually post, I will lose a few followers after a few days.

Pro: Having a personal underwear account on Twitter and Tumblr forces me to stay interested in underwear and the underwear industry. It’s the easiest way to discover brands (and if you’re posting yourself in underwear) sometimes brands even end up discovering or tweeting at you.

Pro: Being a straight guy means I am kind of already “unique” when it comes to the fact that I am into underwear at the same level some gay men are, and by disclaiming that I am straight in my bios and through tweets or posts, I’ve found that it becomes a great way for other straight guys to discover someone like them–who really loves underwear, or who gets a feeling of relief, knowing their love for underwear doesn’t make them gay, or whatever.

Con: The biggest negative to holding down Twitter and Tumblr pages like mine is the fact that both social media platforms use a similar set up, where once you follow someone, you end up seeing their Tweets and Tumblr posts (re-blogs, mostly). Where this becomes problematic for a straight guy is that a lot of underwear accounts on both sites are almost exclusively catered towards a gay audience. On Twitter, I may want to follow someone who tweets out photos of underwear models, or pics of themselves routinely that I catch being retweeted, but when I go to their page, they themselves are retweeting still images of hardcore gay porn. On Tumblr, the same thing is happening, but what makes it worse is the fact that there are plenty of “Underwear Blogs” who post 85-90% photos of underwear (models, photoshoots, etc.) but the other 10% is hardcore gay porn, or a guy jerking off, or a photo of a naked guy… It’s those types of pages that I REALLY want to follow, but when I’m sitting on the couch with my wife with the laptop open and I am browsing my dashboard (Tumblr) I don’t like “explaining” why a photo of three guys rimming each other is on my dash. It’s an eternal struggle that REALLY, REALLY sucks.

Con: The second biggest (and last for this segment) is related to the second example I posted. For whatever reason, me posting photos of myself in my underwear is “just too gay for a straight guy to be doing.” The reason I finished that sentence in a quote is the “con” here. That is the sentence (or some version of it) I get after I have just been propositioned by someone who wants me to send them nude photos of me, or dick pics, or wants to send me dick pics or nudes of themselves, or wants to know if I’ve ever “done anything with a guy”, the list goes on… Hopefully you can imagine why I view this kind of attention as a con.

I use Twitter to get my photos out there which I format later in the day to post to Tumblr. It is Tumblr that I really like for what I am doing. I’ve made acquaintance with several straight guys who’ve gotten up the courage to ask me several questions, and some of them have even gone on to create their own blogs. The reason I do it is because I want straight guys to know that getting really deep into the world of men’s underwear is completely OK, and if anything they should be looked at as courageous.

If you are a straight guy do you share these issues? Let us know!

We bring you another great interview. This time we feature Colby Melvin who has been modeling for a few companies over the years. Its amazing to see how his career has progressed over the years. Read the interview and find out more about him and what he’s doing behind the camera now!

What was your first modeling job and how did you come to get it?

It was for Bayou Beau Underwear in Houston, TX. I had just recently come out and they came to me at a pool party and asked if I would consider modeling for them. A few weeks later a was on the cover of the local magazine in their underwear. It all took of from there! That was back in 2011.

What made you want to pursue modeling?

Well I never considered it before Bayou Beau approached me. After, I just kept getting more requests for work. I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do next so it started as just a temporary side job and turned into something bigger than I could have ever imagined.

Do you have a shoot that you consider your breakthrough in your career?

My shoot with Patrik Mark for Cover Male was my first national campaign, but once I shot “Jockstrap Cowboys” for Andrew Christian things really took off. That’s when I moved to Los Angeles.

Which shoot has been your favorite? Why?

Splatter shot by Gabriel Gastellum. There was just something about getting messy in that paint where I felt like I was able to bring so much more energy and personality.

Which shoot has been your most challenging? Why?

A shoot I did in the Palm Springs desert for Freedom Reigns. I was wearing a jockstrap and there was a lot of wind. Every had your ass sandblasted? It’s not fun. Trust me, don’t try it.

Are there any brands or photographers you would like to work with that you have not worked with yet?

I think I’ve worked with a ton of brands and photographers, but I am always looking for more collaborations. Recently I have decided to work more behind the camera. I am now working with Marco Marco as the marketing director. His underwear are so fun and full of personality and I can’t wait to bring my creative ideas to my mentors brand. I think people are going to be blown away when they see what we come up with.

What is something our readers don’t know about you outside of modeling that you want them to know?

I never expected any of this to happen. 5 years ago I was living in Mobile AL and still thought I liked girls. Once I allowed myself to be myself, all of this happened. So I encourage everyone to never be afraid to be yourself.

What kind of diet and exercise do you do to prepare for shoots?

For me the key to staying fit includes finding a way to make exercise fun. For instance, I literally dance around ALL day lol. Obviously working out is involved, but I’m not as strict with my routine as I’d like to be. Travelling non stop makes it pretty difficult.

Favorite cheat meal?

I love pizza…and gummy bears, cinnamon rolls, chicken wings, and thanks now I’m hungry.

Were you a fan of underwear before modeling?

Ever since I came out I’ve had a thing for underwear.

Looking at your underwear drawer, what is it made up of?  

70% briefs 30% jocks 0% thongs (I hate the feeling of my hole being flossed by a thong)

The craziest pair of underwear you have ever worn?

Petit Q (I don’t even know how to describe it.)

What are your goals for your career?

Underwear modeling for me has always been a platform to bigger and better job opportunities. Luckily that time has come. I am doing a lot more marketing work. Launched a clothing line earlier this year, and will soon be launching another one on my own.

What is the best advice anyone gave you when you started your modeling career?

Authenticity always wins. Be you and the rest will follow. If not, then it wasn’t meant to happen. That being said, if you want something bad enough, you will find a way to make it happen.

Thanks Colby for answering our questions. Find Colby on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

We have been talking to a new company called Bülge. They reached out to us and they are an underwear company founded by some great guys. I got a chance to ask them some questions about Bülge to introduce them to you guys. They are doing some great things and they are a brand I want you guys to get to know!

Many of our readers may not know about you guys. Tell our readers about your brand Bülge? Where did the name Bülge come from? What made you passionate about the underwear industry to start your own brand? 

BÜLGE Clothing began in early 2014 with a vision of a company whose products weren’t manufactured by cutting corners on quality and comfort.  We were tired of shirts that fit like a generic brand sold in thrift stores, but still paying top dollar for a name. Jason decided to shop around a bit for the material, but as soon as he felt the bamboo, he was convinced. That’s why we urge the public to try just one of our products because the rest is self-explanatory. We were also tired of uncomfortable boxer briefs that fit like cloth-like grocery bags, also paying for just a name. We had a friend assist us with the cut we were interested in designing. Though the products had the look we aimed for, they were not up to par with our standards. It was an unbelievable pain to find another company with the craftsmanship we sought, but we eventually we did and have been impressed to this day with their work.

What styles do you currently offer in the Bülge collection? What sets your underwear from other companies on the market?

Currently we offer just boxer briefs for our underwear, two differently styled Curve-Kissed Tees. What sets us apart from the rest is our commitment to quality and high standards, our cut that’s made to accentuate a man’s natural physique and curves, and our name, of course.

You guys currently make boxer briefs, are you guys going to expand to more styles?

The company is looking into Underwear and a shorter cut of our standard boxer briefs. We’ve also been working on our women’s sports bras and yoga pants, as well as men’s compression shorts.

Who currently are you focusing on as a customer?

Our focus is men ages 18-45. However, we want all men to wear our products. Men have trouble sometimes actively replacing their underwear. When they do, there’s no mainstream company centrally focused on men’s underwear that combines the high quality and comfort at a very reasonable rate.

You have some awesome guys representing your brand. Who are they and what made you get them to be a brand ambassador?

We were proud to work with the gentlemen chosen to represent the brand. IFBB Pro, Stan De Longeaux, was a contact of a good friend of ours at TRAIN Magazine. We reached out to him because his body is nearly perfect and we knew our products would look amazing on him. He fell in love with the name and the actual products once he wore them. We recently closed a deal with NBC’s World Series of Fighting Light- Heavyweight Champion, Justin Gaethje. Justin loved our products when he was introduced to the brand in Denver a few months back. His marketing company reached out to Andrew and one thing led to another, so now Bülge is his official sponsor for his fight shorts, as well as his boxer briefs and compression shorts. On Sept. 18th, he’ll be rocking them live for his title defense fight. We’re actually having a viewing party so if you have any contacts here in FL that would like to come, or if you’re around at the time, please feel free to join us once the details of the location are ironed out.

Bülge has a big passion for charity, specifically the Autism Society, why are you so passionate to give back?

We’re working with a sales rep who’s family member is a person with Autism. She instilled in us a want to help. We made history partnering up with them and are proud to say we are helping in the fight. Not to take away from any other cause or foundation or any thing in the likeness, but this is who believed in our brand and we couldn’t be happier to work together.

To date what has been you guys biggest accomplishment? What has been the biggest challenge in launching the brand?

We’ve excelled quickly in a few short months and have done so much that it’s difficult to pinpoint a top accomplishment. If we had to select one, it’d definitely be having partnered up with the Autism society of America. Justin Gathje will be wearing our fight shorts with the puzzle piece ribbon on the back of his fight shorts. in support of the foundation. The biggest challenge, as most would say, is gaining the exposure needed to highlight our brand. We know the name is great and the quality is better. We want to put it in everyone’s hands so they see for themselves how awesome Bülge Clothing really is.

What can we expect from you guys in the future?

We will have some interesting brand expansions in unexpected markets. We have so many avenues we can take our brand through, but don’t want to burn out quickly so we’re pacing our releases. But trust me, it’s going to be awesome!!

We thank the guys at Bülge for answering our questions! Go check out the Bülge Underwear site!

I have been running UNB for 7 years. Over the years I have seen more mass market acceptance of men’s underwear. The rise of the Metrosexual made it more acceptable for straight guys to start paying attention to what they wore. However, we still have a very long way to go to make it a non issue in public.

Women’s underwear has always been a non issue in the general public. Victoria’s Secret every year around Thanksgiving has a show on network TV in prime time. Rarely is anything said about this in the media or in general. What if 2(X)ist did the same thing. Would they be on a network TV or a cable channel? Would we see guys walking the runway in anything but trunks and briefs? Doubtful.

Underwear is about feeling great. I know on the people reading this I am preaching to the choir. Is it sexy? Yes it is. Its is fun? Sure is. But why is it that we can have thonged Victoria Secret models but when David Beckham is in a Super Bowl commercial we talk about hiding his bulge? Its definitely a double standard in the US.

Recently we posted about musician Steve Grand and wearing swim briefs. He’s tired of the press, pardon the pun, covering him more for wearing a swim brief than this professional career. He’s a very talented artist and would we have the same coverage of a female star in the same situation. Sure they may post a paparazzi picture but they wouldn’t dwell on it and only cover her if she wore a bikini. It would be a bonus for her and more people would discover her music. There is definitely a double standard in our country.

Outside of the gay community guys, for the most part, don’t talk underwear. It’s still something that is giggled at and thought of as pornographic. I have first hand knowledge of this thought process. When people find out I run a blog about men’s underwear. I get one of two responses. The first is “WOW that’s so cool” or “You do what?” The second is always a bit weird like they just met Larry Flint. They think it’s a totally sexual thing with no redeeming factors. Like I just post pictures of guys and go “he’s hot”, “Look at that bulge”, “I want to tap that ass” and other stuff.

For me and the purpose of UNB is to spread the word about how underwear can make you feel better and sexy throughout the day. It’s about empowerment in what you wear without judgment. In 2008 when I launched UNB I figured the blog would be for my friends who loved underwear and it wouldn’t go much farther. After 7 years we have gathered quite a following. Our straight guys have grown as well. All guys want amazing underwear regardless of sexual orientation.

How are we going to accomplish breaking out of this double standard? Regardless of sexual orientation we need to talk about underwear. What brands we love and why we love them. If we wear underwear to the gym don’t be afraid to wear something that isn’t a white brief and if someone comments (good or bad) address it and say you wear what’s comfortable and makes you feel great. These are baby steps but sometimes that just how things get done, slowly but surely. So go out, wear what you like, and don’t be afraid to talk about it, to defend it. Underwear is about you but with continued dialogue we can help make it acceptable for us.