I have never been a big fan of being cold.  So when winter rolls around I look forward to wearing my long compression leggings and tops and of coarse, the good old fashioned but sexy union suit.

I was fortunate enough to get a pair of 2(x)IST Tartan Cotton Union Suit. I have had several different union suits and onezees. Normally I prefer a nice synthetic material to cotton, so when I was given the 2(x)ist Tartan Cotton Union suit I was a bit hesitant. But I am always willing to try something new.

When I first put on the 2(x)IST union suit, I was surprised that the cotton did not stretch as I have found lots of other cotton underwear has in the past.  The 100% cotton construction did not stretch out and sag. The fact that is stayed firm and supported me pleased me. It was as if I was wearing a synthetic blend union suit.

Now I never wear the union suit out of my home. I prefer wearing them as lounge/ play wear. These did not disappoint. The color has not faded after several washes and wearing’s. They keep me warm and make me feel sexy and as an added bonus I have been told they look really sexy on me.

If I had that “someone” special I would get him a pair so we could cuddle together on the next cold night, watch a movie and see what happens.

I know you can find these and the 2(x)IST website and I recommend them on your next quiet, romantic night in at home with your special someone.

When Tim told me there was a company that was designing matching socks and underwear (furnished by Sock It To Me). I immediately got excited. As you get to know me, you’ll learn I am very detail oriented. “The Devil is in the details” I often obnoxiously gloat. I usually meticulously coordinate my outfits. So with Sock It To Me creating matching socks and undies, this could make my life a bit easier. One less decision to make when getting ready!

Initially I was expecting matching designs whether it be paisley, plaid, polka dots etc. But when my package arrived I was unexpectedly excited to see the mighty tyrannosaurus rex covering the boxer-briefs, and one mighty t-rex on each sock. Admittedly I probably wouldn’t pick these out at the store. My drawer consists of mostly classic colors or simple prints. These remind me of my Underoos as a kid and I’m always down to add a bit of nostalgia to my wardrobe. This is the first I’ve heard of Sock It To Me. (Although I swear I’ve seen someone whip these T-rex socks out before.) They have been designing fun socks since 2004 and matching underwear seems to be a new endeavor for them. They currently offer a handful of matching sock/undies combos for women and men. Bikini cut and boxer-brief, respectively. Socks are available in ankle, crew, and knee high although the combos only come in crew currently. I was a bit worried at first. I didn’t want the underwear to just be a gimmick and fall short of quality. Right out of the package I noticed how soft the fabric was for the underwear. Also credible stitching and detail in the sock, as to be expected. I began thinking of a proper forum to test ‘em out. Casual attire seemed appropriate. T-shirt jeans etc. but I thought how fun these could be hidden under a suit or tuxedo even. Possibilities could be endless here.

Considering how fun these socks and undies were I knew they needed to be seen and talked about. One of my favorite watering holes is consider a “hipster hangout”. It’s basically a glorified gas station with zany merchandise and a beer lover’s heaven. This was on the agenda for the evening and I thought this lounge-y atmosphere would be the perfect place to test ‘em out. After my shower I slipped on the boxer-briefs and was impressed at how soft they were. Really soft comfy waistband with the Sock It To Me logo branded around. Perfect addition to the “everyday drawer”. The design on both the socks and the boxer-brief are both really well done, and strand out nicely. I thought about how well these would sit on the shelves in the bar I was on my way to. Right next to the rubber chicken key chain, and the squirrel car air freshener. Really though, these would kill it here. Also, this is the perfect atmosphere to slip in “hey my underwear matches my socks!” and be met with uproarious (t-rex boom!) laughter. On the other end lounging in these watching tv/playing video games felt quite appropriate. These guys are onto something!

I received a Large and right off the bat I felt as though these are a bit snug. Which is rare because I usually fit right between a medium and large. According to their size chat a Large is 35-37. Without a wash these are a bit snug. I worry my crack will show throughout the night. (one of my biggest undies peeves!) The elastic around the legs seems properly made as though it will stay put and not ride. The site refers to it as a “Crossgrain crotch gusset”. These provide a simple front no fly seem that holds your package comfortably. Now the back is interesting. There is no seem, typical of a boxer, yet this underwear provides a nice lift in the butt. Maybe where the added tightness comes into play? Once I slipped them on the hugged me like a proper glove. One glance in the mirror and we both agreed,” damn we look good.” Throughout the day I never notice my crack exposed as though the waistband stayed in place, despite its snug fit. Never felt constricted. I barely noticed them which is exactly what I want in a day to day pair of undies. I am comfortable recommending you purchase your typical (US) size for the undies. They are also made of a cotton spandex blend that feels really nice and form fitting. The socks also never slouch around my ankles and fit nicely under my Converses. (my most obnoxious fitting shoe) There is also a nice subtle cushioning around the ankle, toe, and heel. The crew cut comes up just below my calf and again stayed put all day. I would almost consider these dress socks in the way they feel with a very lightweight material. “Stretch It” sock technology covers men’s feet 7-13. I am an 11 and these fit nicely and normally. I dare say these are master crafted socks.

I really liked the design on these socks and underwear. A very fun addition to the drawer. The boxer briefs have a classic look with just a bit of new technology to make them comfy and stylish. Perfect for the day to day. Super soft waistband with the no tag tech that everyone should be adopting. The butt lift was really surprising to me given the no seam back. Similar with the front seam pouch. Simple design but looks great once you get it on. They may be onto something with this simple cut. The socks also feel great and allowed my feet to breathe. The little bit of cushion they offered actually helped. I did notice the stitching inside the socks would get caught on my toes when putting them on. I worried I was warping the design. Not something I could see myself wearing every day. Also the hang dry recommendation for the socks and undies can be tough and out of routine for some. Overall though I have been really enjoying them.

I am pleasantly surprised Tim told me about Sock It To Me. They weren’t what I was expecting but got to have some fun with them. As I assumed that bar was the perfect place to let these mighty T-rex roar! I think I lasted one beer before I was like “Ok, shut up everyone and check these out”. It floored some of my friends and they immediately wanted to know where they could get some, and what other designs. Some friends are like “ok stop flashing your undies, you do this all the time”. BUT! They all agreed how great these would do in these bar/grocery dives that are popping up everywhere. I felt unprepared when someone pointed to the socks and asked what they’re names were. (genius red-headed stranger!) If you are reading this. Let me introduce Barnabus Theodore Rex(Right) and T. Rexico Buress(left). I don’t think I’ve heard men’s underwear being brought up so much in conversation in one night. Kind of wild! Nor have I had to expose my undies in public so. Thrilling! What an adventure I got to have with my T-rex undies and socks. Even when I got home I found myself lounging around the house, not wanting to shed this fun gear. I can’t wait for them to come out with a whole bunch of matching socks and undies.  Cheers, Sock It To Me!

Note- this was too good not to include. From their site-

“Imagine T-Rex trying to pull on a pair of men’s boxer briefs. It’s almost as hilarous as these underwear. Our popular T-Rex style is now available on underwear for men! These men’s boxer briefs are comfortable and stylish. Too bad T-Rex will never know. Poor guy.”

Pros

• Super soft undies. Great for every day.
• Really fun design. TLC went into making both socks and undies!
• I mean matching socks and undies, c’mon!
• Really well-crafted socks
• Both socks and underwear fit well and comfortable all day.

Cons

• Recommends hang drying socks and undies
• Inside stitching in socks may cause problems down the road
• Underwear may appear a bit snug

• Daily Fit- 7
• Sizing- 7
• Construction- 8.5
• Styling – 9
• Daily Performance- 8
• Overall= 8

These are available on The Sock It To Me website for $20 in the boxer brief and $11.50 for the socks. If you buy the bundle, you can save some coin at $29.50 altogether.

This post is a mix of Patreon and what we want to do this year. So when you see a post it’s like PBS pledge week!  But we feel that crowd funding is the way of the future for content creators. So without giving you guys the sales pitch again I’d rather tell you what we want to do this year. How your help will help us.

First we want to be able to do better videos. We have done videos for years on the site. We want to branch out and do a lot more of them. This will include web series, video reviews and more. Video work takes a lot of resources. I have a lot of ideas I want to see happen this year!

We want to make some site improvements. This is from a new them to making our current site easier to navigate. But this is beyond my level of expertise and we need to hire someone to help make this happen! On the list are a few things from the last site deign and some new things that have been developed.

Shoots! We love doing shoots but want to do more. We have heard from straight guys you want to see a guy and girl together in a shoot. Gay guys want two guys. So we can do more artistic and shoots aimed at each audience. I have one thing that is tied to a shoot that I really want to do this year but.. more on that later. I can’t let you guys know everything.

Reviews of undies. Yeah we do plenty of reviews but we want to buy some undies we wouldn’t get normally. They could be from Japan, Columbia, Australia or more. New brands and unknown brands in the US. These pairs are usually not cheap. The price of the undies or shipping!

These are a few of the things we want to do this year and we would love your help with it! We want to make UNB even better! So if you  can help go to the UNB Patreon Page and help. If you can’t afford to do monetary help share UNB in your social media!

Coming to terms:

My journey with #undies has really made me actually love myself and it has been life changing. #underwearpower

— Beau Briefs (@underloverwear) January 29, 2016

Last night I was tweeting, after a bit of wine, and I tweeted

and it got me thinking. It’s true. I have grown more and more to love myself. This self-love and acceptance seemed, upon further reflection to have an interesting correlation with my underwear hobby/obsession. However, as my old argumentation professor would be quick to point out correlation and causation are not the same thing. Very true. Underwear did not cause me to love myself but they added to my self-esteem and overall self-image. And then I realized something:

My relationship to underwear bears a strange and sort of beautiful resemblance to my relationship with my sexuality and in the end myself. So let’s dive down this rabbit hole.

When I was younger I would sneak old Nordstrom catalogs into my room and check out the underwear section, starting with the women’s but always fixating more on the men’s. So much was my unknown suffering at the time that I was even okay to be sneaking looks at gross, outdated, tighty-whities that I would one day come to mega-loath. I mean icky, old white pairs with the infamous thin gold band at the top. These were dark times.

Now I grew up in a very conservative household and I would have died if my parents knew that I was looking at the catalogs like this, let alone the men’s section. It was a secret and it was a secret that I even kept myself from acknowledging for a long, long time.

I remember once trying to cut a pair of my own underwear so that they would be more bikini brief style. The experiment did not go well. Much like trying to find and make the partner that one wants out of the clearly wrong ones. Sorry girls. There are times and situations in our lives that demand flexibility and making things work. Yet there are things in our lives that we have to realize don’t fit or conform for a reason. Those old tighty-whities were never meant to become bikini briefs, never.

Eventually I would come to buy my first pair of nice underwear, black Calvin Klein hip briefs. From there I would buy random off brands of different cuts and styles from the likes of Fred Meyers or Macy’s (Bon Marche for the PNW back then, shout out!). Yet every so often I would purge the underwear from my life. Round up all of the ones I had bought secretly, put them in a paper grocery bag and throw them away. Burying them deep in the garage can so they wouldn’t be seen.

I promised myself to keep everything “conventional”. I would discipline myself, train myself. Somehow I saw underwear as a gateway, a secret acknowledgement to the even bigger secret that I, like the undies in the trash, had buried so far down that I wouldn’t let myself truly discover it. From deep down in the drawer to hidden deep in the closet and then to deep in the garbage, this was not to be spoken of.

This went on for years. I would “slip” and buy a pair of undies and just like that the collection would grow again. Being able to drive to Seattle and shop at more scandalous stores with a big, vast selection accelerated this trend. Build it up. Bury it down. Repeat. And at every step of the way, fear.

Fear was ever present. What if my mother discovered a pair of different underwear? What if I were exposed while changing at school? In my mind, one slip up would leave me alone, banished, outcast. Not until years and years later did I realize that I was actually imposing those realities on myself because of this fear.

Naturally this cycle coincided with the cycle inside my head about who I was. Right when I was about to reach a point of admitting my deep down secret to myself I would purge all traces of acknowledgement from my life. To use what I now see as a terribly offensive term, I would cleanse myself of it all. My 17-20 year old self probably would have used that term in the moment and I know now how detrimental that was to my self-love. There was nothing to cleanse, there was everything to embrace.

And so it went. Cycle after cycle. Nowadays I have a semi-massive underwear collection and I sometimes laugh to think about how large it would be if I never went through those purges. Similarly, I wonder how much fuller my life would be if I hadn’t dismissed myself or the real me.

Finally, I couldn’t escape it anymore. I LOVED underwear. I loved having it, I loved buying it, I loved wearing it and sometimes yes, I loved showing it off. It made me feel good about myself, it made me feel like a more realized version of myself. If you ask me, I am never sexier or happier than when I am rocking a great pair of underwear.

I accepted it, finally! It only took me 21 years. I let the collection grow, expand and get more diverse. At the same time, I slowly mustered the courage to love and accept myself. I unburied the secret I had been actively shoving down for years on end. I opened that trash covered paper bag and I let my true self out. And it was breathtaking. I could look in the mirror, into my face and be as happy with the person I saw looking back as I could look at underwear in the mirror and be proud. I was me and I was free.

To this day my underwear collection is a reflection and a beacon of who I am. It is my favorite and most valued expression of who I am, all of me. And I love it. And I love myself, my real self.

I understand that the love of underwear might seem stereotypical or over blown to some people and that’s fine but I don’t care. I really did treat this love, this passion as a reference to my sexuality and my acknowledgement of myself. I invested in it only to dispose of it in secret. I prized it only to tarnish it internally. And finally I let the world know. And thank goodness I did because I have never been happier.

With Tim rallying us this previous weekend, he mentioned our theme for the week would be “magic”. I immediately began thinking how I could add some “magic” to my week. Looking over my schedule for the week, and then digging though my underwear drawer i began to think this might be difficult. I did have a concert coming up on Tuesday I was really looking forward to, and wondered how I could maybe include it, without just geeking out about music. I felt like running out and buying some exotic underwear was forcing it and wouldn’t truly capture any magic. I knew I was expecting my underwear subscription (3 pairs) but I had already glanced over what I was getting and didn’t think much of it.

Tuesday morning arrives and I wake up thinking how to get this day going. To begin with, concerts are my holy grail, my church, etc. I take them very seriously and am very detailed oriented about it just like everything in my life. (ha Im more fun than I sound I swear!) Lying in bed planning my day I hear my mailman shove a package between my front door. “Undies! Score!” I exclaim! I take the package upstairs and start opening it, only half excited because again I half knew what I was expecting. I never know the colors I’m going to get so I’m always a bit curious. A quick glance to see the colors then I go back to planning my day.

When putting my outfit together I decided id bust out a new pair I had just received and thought the red and yellow PUMP! Brief seemed like a cool color scheme so I’d go with it. I nonchalantly opened the package and my fingers immediately notice. “Holy Crap!” this was a mesh brief. Something very new to the what now seemed like a mundane brief selection in UNBBrady’s old drawer. I thought what better way to spark some magic, than to step out of my comfort zone in most comforted of zones. This was sure to be an interesting concert if at least for my outfits sake.

I slide the fire truck red mesh brief on and giggle a bit at how airy it is. The word PUMP! In red across the bright yellow waistband only cause more giggles. Of course my first mesh brief had to be loud as hell as far as color. The mesh itself is pretty normal. I’m not sure of the fashion term but its comparable to a basketball jersey. The design otherwise, pretty standard for a new men’s fashion brief. Nice center seam front and great lift in the butt. Amazing red and yellow color scheme with white trim. The elastic around the thighs isn’t too invasive, but is tighter than some of my other briefs. With that being said the waistband is extremely comfy. I did notice on the label that these briefs suggest air drying. Unfortunately, this will cause them to get worn less because that tends to be somewhat of a pain.

Once I had them on I starred at myself in the mirror for a bit. At first I was in awe at how exposed I felt. Then I nervously began to think, “what if I met a girl after the show?”. I started to think that maybe this wasn’t the best forum to try out my new adventurous brief. “Let’s just keep it safe “I thought. My mind then goes to Tim’s pump up before and I remember there’s no magic in safe! I quickly slide my jeans on before I change my mind.

First foot out the door I catch a breeze between my legs and right across my arse. I quickly hustle to the car and laugh at how fun this already is. At the bar throughout the beginning of the evening I catch many a wind. These briefs are definitely not for the cold winter, but that’s somewhat to be expected. Honestly, every time it simply excited me and reminded me of my little secret I’m wearing below. I even leaned over to grab a beer an exposed the bright waistband which immediately garnered a conversation. I wasn’t up for the whole mesh brief explanation so I left it at the color and cut. Most of my friends know me as the underwear snob so it’s not too odd of a topic.

I knew I was up for some fun and maybe some chills but I had no idea how applicable these briefs would be at the show! The mesh kept me so cool down there! I can remember leaving shows in the past and after getting real sweaty down there and then stepping outside into the freezing cold and being miserable. These gave me the perfect transition! These might become my official concert undies! If you want to add a little more magic to your underwear drawer you can buy these briefs at the PUMP! Website for $28.UNB Magic Week indeed!

Suit Up!

If you’re like me a suit is ever present in your wardrobe. Whether it be for work, special occasions, or just to look damn good and exude confidence. I think everyone should have a tailored suit in their wardrobe. You never know when you are going to need it. With that being said, tailoring the suit is only half the battle. There are many little things that can set a great suit up for disaster. A poor choice in underwear is definitely one of those. It may not be quite as apparent as clashing polka dots and stripes but it can still crush your look. This can be extra important when confidence is key say a job interview or work or social event. Hopefully with these tips you’ll be looking and feeling great when you suit up next!

When choosing the right underwear for a suit the first thing to consider is the color, cut and fabric of the suit. Honestly your best bet here is to try some different combinations at home before you go out in public. You may need to buy new undies first! Very, very rarely is free ballin’ it in a suit a good idea. Also consider what you are going to be doing in said suit. Sitting or standing all day? Any possible physical activity? Will the setting or lighting change? It may sound crazy and obsessive but the devil is in the details!

Here are some no nos. Thinner fabrics like linen and some wools may show your undies underneath in the right light! It may be best to as closely match the colors as possible. Like this lightweight Italian line suit from Jcrew and these heather grey hip briefs from Wood.

Just like women have to deal with hiding the lines from their underwear men should do the same. Thicker underwear under a thick suit can look bunchy or like you are wearing a diaper. On the contrary lightweight materials may show brief lines. Again its best to play around and see what works. A lightweight slim fitting boxer might be the best for the occasion. You wont have to worry about lines around your butt or thighs! Like this slim fit lightweight boxer from Brooks Brothers and their olive Twill slim fitting suit combo.

Finally consider what you might be doing. If you’re going to be wearing a suit all day outside and want to stay cool and collected, make sure to pick some undies that let the boys breathe! Maybe even a pair you would typically wear to the gym. A nice synthetic blend with maybe even moisture wicking properties. Just nothing crazy or you’ll start seeing sweat marks. Maybe like this classic medium weight modern- fit suit from Burberry and the incredible, lightweight synthetic Collins brief from Garçon Model.

Again to some I know I am going to sound like a nut, but I can tell you some personal horror stories. (Also some great stories from sisters/brothers who have fallen to poor choice of underwear) Like the time you could clearly see my white briefs in my black linen suit. Or the time I sat down and you could see the lines around my thighs from my boxer briefs from across the room.  My circuits scramble and my confidence plummets. Its suddenly all I can think about. In high pressure situations this is not something you want to deal with. Not to mention making first impressions. Learn from my mistakes! Wear your next suit with total confidence.

It’s MAGIC WEEK! New readers maybe asking “What the heck is Magic week?” Is is something to do with magicians? No it’s a trade show in Las Vegas that is held every February and August. The purpose is to show buyers new items for the coming months. The show is not just underwear. Its everything form suits, jeans to accessories. Buyers and exhibitors come from all over the world.

Magic is no longer Magic! There is another show called Curve that used to have a lot more men’s brands. Currently its 99% women’s brands. In the last two years two new shows have come to Vegas. The new shows are Liberty and Markt. A few of the underwear brands are going to them. In the past Nasty Pig and Naked attend Liberty. Wood Underwear now goes to Markt.

I originally went to Magic in February 2010. It was something Baskit said I needed to do to get to know the brands. They flew me out to the show and I spent one day in Vegas. I got to talk in person to all these people I had known via email and phone calls. It was a lot of fun! I was so tired after the day. I got to as many brands as I could but still needed to see more. Also, I learned about Curve. About half the brands were there in 2010 and I missed out on a lot of people.

We flash forward to August 2010 and I went to both shows! I spent one day at Curve and one day at Magic. I would have 35 to 40 brands to see. It was go go go from the beginning. At Magic they would have some upstairs and some downstairs. I had to walk about 20,000 steps a day. After my day I would go back to my hotel room and crash!

Not all brands were at the shows. Some would show in suites. I like the suite meetings. They are a bit more laid back and easy going. Plus you can have a model up in a suite! That is where we shot a lot of our N2N Bodywear videos. But this adds to walking. If you have ever been to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center its a long walk from the Hotel to the Convention center. Just imagine doing it 3-4 times in a day!

I have met a lot of great brands over the years. They include: Pistol Pete, Baskit, Go Softwear, N2N Bodywear, Cocksox, 2EROS, teamm8, 2(X)IST, Bwet, C-IN2, Nasty Pig, Boy Rio, Wood Underwear, Good Boy Gone Bad, Jack Adams, Gregg Homme, Papi, Mundo Unico, Manus Swim, Garcon Model, and the list goes on an on!

Over the years there have been some changes to the shows. The first is there are less brands going. The shows aren’t cheap to exhibit at and a few brands no longer show. Which sucks because I really love talking to them in person and bringing you guys undies. Some brands only go in February and skip the August show. This past August there were around 20 brands to see. Way down from 40 in the early 2010’s. This trend will continue and in 10 years we may not have all the brands in one area.

The other change that we aren’t happy with and brands aren’t either is the lack of models. They moved everyone to a different area and have clamped down on brands having models. This is how we did videos and pictures to help cover the events. If you noticed less videos this is why. Only 3-4 brands had models this last show. Will this change for this year? I doubt it.

In the future more brands will be doing business on the internet. Relying less on shows. But this will allow the internet to do more. Things like Skype/Hangout Video chats will take the place of shows. We are starting to do that on UNB as well. I will miss going to Vegas two times a year. I love the town and have a few traditions such as Secrets Pizza, Mermaid’s Deep Fried Twinkies, Bellagio Fountain show and more! But that’s what vacation is for right?

Happy Valentine’s Day guys. I say Valentine’s is the biggest underwear wearing day of the year. ! Why is it the biggest underwear wearing day? We all want to wear something to make us feel sexy through out the night. Then hopefully the same pair is sexy to our partner. But what about us single guys out there. Should we be left out of the underwear for the day? I say hell no! We will explore both sides of the coin!

If you’re married, engaged or dating. I think underwear is very important on this day. Its really a day you both can share your love of underwear. If you have a supportive other half, it would be great for them to give you a pair of undies for the night. I mean what’s not to love when that special person picks underwear for you? Something you will love to wear and they will love to see you in! Now if you have a partner who isn’t going to buy you underwear, its up to you to get something fun!

I have found that many people I have dated don’t get underwear. However, they never minded me wearing something super fun for after hours. They were amazed at how many pairs I did have and some over time really got into them. I have had very few partners buy me undies but it has happened! If your partner isn’t into it wear something that you feel amazing in but nothing too far over the top that will scare them off undies. Dropping your pants to have a hot pink lace thong maybe a bit much. But if you have an ample package or bubble butt, find undies that accent them. Especially if they love that part of you!

What if you’re single? Should you miss out on amazing underwear on Valentine’s Day? I unequivocally say HELL NO. Even if we don’t have a special someone that doesn’t mean we should wear bad undies for the day. I think it gives us even more of an incentive to wear great undies. Sure no one may see it but us, but think of how great you will feel wearing it all day. Even if you plan to Netflix and chill, by yourself!

Being single on Valentine’s Day we should try something different and fun. Why not step out of our box and wear something mesh, smaller cut or soft fabric. Brands you should consider are Gregg Homme, BodyAware, Cellblock 13, and Modus Vivendi. Each of these brands has something sexy and different. If you are like me wearing super sexy underwear just makes me feel so much better, even if no one is going to see it! So why should all the married/partnered/dating people have all the underwear fun!

We hope you have a great Valentine’s Day with or without a date!