There is one thing that has always surprised me running UNB, is the number of guys who would never go shopping for underwear in person. They do 100% of their shopping online and don’t want to go into a store. This concept is foreign to me!

For as long as I can remember I used to go to the “Boy Next Door” or Macy’s here in Atlanta to find underwear. It’s always been fun just to go see the new styles or brands. I remember the first time I saw 2(X)ist, Go Softwear and C-IN2. They were all in stores!

So this had me wondering why is it there are guys who don’t want to shop in person?

Well the first reason I came up with is many guys are very personal and private. They don’t want a store clerk to judge them for buying a thong. They would rather be a faceless customer to an online store. If they had to walk up to a cash register and put a thong on the counter and pay for it. Well it would never happen.

Next, they equate buying great underwear with sexuality. This is one of the biggest myths in underwear. Guys think if they buy a great pair of briefs that they must be gay. Lately, more straight guys are buying underwear so you can’t “judge a book by its cover.” In fact most people who work in stores won’t blink an eye, especially if it’s an underwear store. They won’t care if you’re gay/straight/bi.

There are no stores in your area. I know if you’re in mid-America or live in a rural area your options are limited. Most underwear stores are in larger cities. I remember there used to be one in Des Moines, Iowa, but it went out of business. The market in Iowa is not the same as in NYC or LA. This is a hard one to over come. But if you go on vacation, find an underwear store and do some shopping

Lastly, some guys just get turned on buying underwear. I have fallen into this category when I was younger. Something about picking out underwear that just turns you on. For some this can be problematic in public while others it’s only mildly so. Over the years this has calmed down for me but sometimes I still get a little tingle when I go shopping. This usually depends on the place.

Let’s say you’re one of these guys who has never shopped in person and want to venture out to an underwear store. I say do it! Here are some reasons to do it in person.

Underwear needs to be seen and felt. After going to Magic/Curve this has taught me some of the pictures for underwear never do a pair justice. But, once you see a pair the color pops and you must have it. Also, feeling the material is part of the shopping experience. You wouldn’t buy a shirt or pants with out feeling them would you? You want clothes that feel good.

If you go shopping at a store that is all or a majority of underwear the staff can make recommendations. Most people in an underwear store will know the styles and make recommendations. Say you like 2(X)ist but are in a mood to try something new, they can recommend something they have that has a similar fit or fabric. You can be exposed to new brands.

Shopping is social, well it is to me. I love going shopping with a buddy who loves underwear. Much like a staff recommendation, a recommendation from a friend carries more weight then anyone else. I love helping a friend find new underwear or open their mind to new styles or fabrics. I have many friends who come to me for advice about brands they read on the site. It’s just fun to share!

If you are a guy who doesn’t shop in underwear stores I would suggest giving it a try. I’m not saying to give up shopping online. You can get some amazing deals and brands your local store doesn’t’ carry. Shopping in person you may be exposed to a new fabric or brand you wouldn’t have considered until you felt it. So mix up your shopping experience. If you do let me know how it goes !

Picture is from Brief Charlotte

Would you dare to wear lace? I hear many of you out there going “no way,” “That isn’t my thing” or “If I wanted women’s underwear, I’d buy it.” Lace underwear is one of those things that has always caused controversy on UNB. There are guys who love it and those who would NEVER wear it.

A few years ago we did a week-long series of MaleBasics reviews on the lace undies. Some of our guys gave it a try. It turned out pretty well overall. The guys who reviewed wanted to try it out.

We go back to about 2010, which is when the trend of men’s lace underwear started to come into underwear market. The main thing that surprised me was the creativity the companies had about the new lines. Some of the pairs were inspired to look like women’s underwear. Believe it or not there are plenty of guys out there who love wearing women’s underwear. But, men don’t fit well in those pairs because they aren’t made for us

Then there were companies that took lace and made underwear for men. This is just taking the lace fabric and creating underwear for men and inspired by men. This includes making briefs, thongs and other pairs out of solid or partial lace. The one style that surprised me was a jockstrap. Male Basics took a jock and turned it into something interesting out of lace.

My personal point of view is there is nothing wrong with lace underwear. I have reviewed a pair of Male Power and it fit amazing. I was really surprised how supportive and great they felt. I worried the fabric wouldn’t give or things wouldn’t fit right. Granted I can’t find the pair now, so it kind of makes me upset I don’t have it still in my drawer.

I have talked to some of our readers. One reader really likes guys in lace underwear. He said “it’s the mix of masculine and feminine. Seeing a masculine guy in lace just is a great mix” That is one opinion another is “Guys should look like guys” and not wear something that looks like a woman will wear.

Those of you out there who have never thought about lace maybe wondering if sexual orientation is brought into the mix. I have talked to plenty of guys about underwear, gay/bi/straight and guys across all like and dislike lace underwear. So, in my unscientific research sexual orientation is not important in this. I have heard straight guys say they love it and so do their girlfriends. Then I had gay guys say no way would they wear lace.

This brings me to the point of this post. We all love amazing underwear. Each of us has a specific style, fabric or brand we love most. Would you wear lace underwear? Why would you or wouldn’t you? What would your significant other think of seeing you in lace?

Have you ever wanted to be in the center of the underwear world and be able to ask brands any questions you wanted? Well that’s me at Magic/Curve. I get to sit down with a lot of the top names in the industry and talk shop. I will admit this week is one of the highlights of my year. I get to catch up with a lot of my underwear friends and see what new things are coming.

Each Magic I post Brief Distractions of previous years. I get to go through the pictures and remember some of the brands I got to see and the undies that were released. This trip marks my 10^th trip to Vegas for the shows. It’s hard to believe I have been going this long!

The first time I went was Feb., 2010 and flew up for the day. You may say that is crazy but I flew out Wednesday night, spent all day at the show Thursday. Then took the Red Eye back home and was at a conference at 7 AM. Times have changed, now spend 3 days at the show meeting with everyone from 2(X)ist and Andrew Christian to new brands on the scene.

Looking through my pictures is always bitter sweet to me. I of course remember the good times and brands I plan to meet with at this next show. Then there are those brands that either no longer go to Magic or have gone out of business. Some of these I’m sad about because I got know them well and loved what they were doing. But it’s all part of business right?

This trip will be kind of special since it’s my 10^th trip. Each time I go I get to catch up with people I haven’t seen since the last show. I also always get to meet new people and brands. Doing the blog for 6 years, you think I may know every brand out there but each day, at least, one new brand comes on the market. It’s hard to keep up.

I hope this trip I will have good internet like last trip. In previous years you couldn’t get text or cell service. They have upgraded the network and this last trip I could do things. If it’s the same I’m going to Tweet who I am meeting with and what’s happening while in Vegas and LA. So follow me on @unbtim on Twitter and interact with me!

Many of you out there know my story on how I initially got into underwear. I got bikinis for the first time when I was 13 and was hooked. The colors, fabric and cut hooked me. The Jim Palmer ads for Jockey were the main reason I got them. They were different from the Tighty Whities of the time. This was the early 80’s and before the boxer and brief craze.

By the mid 80’s a lot of guys started to go to boxers. I never got boxers because I loved the support of my bikinis. I hated to have things go free. I think I may have tried one pair and said never again! At the end of the 80’s the boxer brief was invented. The first time I saw it was in a CK ad. They were a staple though the 90’s and 2000s.

We are now 20 years out and the underwear pendulum is swinging back to briefs and bikinis. You maybe asking, “how do you know this?” Again this is unscientific but I have had more guys tell me they are giving briefs a try again. This is allowing brands to bring briefs and even bikinis back to their line ups.

Many brands we all love have been making briefs. Being underwear lovers we are on the forefront of men’s underwear fashions. Most of us are willing to experiment and have fun with our underwear. Whereas, the general public is still hooked on boxers and boxer briefs styles. Go into any big box retailer and what do you see? Mostly you see cartoon/print boxers and multi packs of boxer briefs. Fashionable briefs are nowhere to be found.

There is one exception to that rule, which is Target. They have always been one to have fun with underwear cuts and colors. If you go back with Target, they started with the Bum like and have since moved to a new brand. That brand is the Evolve line and has always changed up colors and styles. There are more briefs coming to Target.

Why are tastes changing? I have one big reason for this, which is support. More guys have told me after they go back to briefs they forgot how great the support is in them. My biggest complaint with boxer briefs is they don’t hold their shape and my business has no support.

The next reason I think briefs are making a come back are the guys working out and getting great bodies. The trunks and boxer briefs can be super tight in the thighs. And we all know how bad underwear can be when it’s too tight anywhere! Plus I always say if you got it flaunt it and what better way to show off your body than in a brief or bikini.

These are just my thoughts. I’d love to hear what you guys have to say. Leave a comment or send me a tweet at @unbtim