Not every $12 Tuesday is underwear. Sometimes like today it’s a Tee! We all need some Tee’s every now and then. This week’s special is the Light Yoga Tee. Check out the other sales on the Specials page including underwear and swimwear! Find this and more on the Baskit site
This post is a week later than normal. There are two reasons for the delay. The fist is we had our UNB Awards this past week and the second is I came down with Bronchitis in Vegas. Let me tell you there is nothing worse than being out of town and being sick. The good part is I didn’t get full on bronchitis till after the shows were over! So Thursday night it hit me.
Magic Week is always a blast for me. I LOVE catching up with everyone and seeing what is new. In attendance this year was Baskit, 2EROS, Freedom Reigns, Radical Element (new company), Mundo Uncio, Gregg Homme, Cocksox, Bwet, Tribe, Go Softwear, Fit-in-1, Wood Underwear, Timoteo, Jack Adams, Baskit, Mossman Underwear, Andrew Christian, Papi, 2(X)ist, N2N Bodywear, Pistol Pete, Junk UnderJeans and more!
There was one big change this year that didn’t sit well with the brands. Magic moved everyone together in Project (part oft he magic show) where its more trendy and whats hot in the world of fashion. This was good for me because I didn’t have to walk from one side of the convention center and back. But, they told everyone they shouldn’t have models. Which is one of the reasons for going. So we have just one video this year from magic that will be out in Mid March. It was from the one brand not at Magic but showing in a suite. Many of the brands were told they could have models and already hired them. Then the first day of the show, show officials came around and told brand they couldn’t have shirtless models. We will see what happens next year but many were not happy.
Another big change is the partnership between Curve/Magic. On the last day of the show I received an email that Curve had teamed up with Magic. So the Curve show will be a “strategic partnership” with Magic and become an part of Magic in August. That means it will move from the Sands Convention Center/Venetian to the Las Vegas Convention center. It will remain a separate show but be part of Magic. I am still wondering how they are going to do this. It also fueled speculation that the mens’ underwear brands maybe moved to Curve again.
Some of the high lights for me this week and there were many:
So what is coming in the world of underwear and Swimwear? Well I can’t tell everything I saw. But underwear has some great colors and prints coming this year. Some of the new styles I saw just blew me away. Some are amazingly sexy while others are classic. A hint, about the new N2N Bodywear, they have some amazing pairs in the Erotic collection coming. Speaking of Erotic, the new Gregg Homme as always blows me away. How Eric does it is beyond me.
As for swim. There is one company using some unconventional swimwear materials in styles I haven’t see before. You have to wait till summer for more info. I”m dying to tell you guys! 2eros and Teamm8 both have amazing prints out right now. The colors 2EROS uses together amazes me how Jason does it. Teamm8 has made some super amazing prints.
As for new brands there is one that really impressed me. They are Radical Element out of Los Angeles. They are a swimwear company that embraces LA. They have created their own prints and have amazing style. If i had a new best brand they would win it for Magic. The owner impressed me and I will have more on them soon.
This is just a quick overview. I am following up this week with companies and firming up release dates. Mid March will be our video and hopefully have a lot more for you!
Today’s Brief Distraction features two of our favorites Modus Vivendi and photog Tom Culls. This he did back in November for the Military line.
Are you a fan of really fun and interesting underwear? If you are then you need to check out some of the new Pikante! The brand has always had super fun pairs. Remember the solider/camo inspired from a few years ago? This year is no different. The collection has a lot of “Dare to wear”
What is “dare to wear”? Its a collection made up of a lot of minimal coverage, mesh, cut outs, thong and pairs that show off your business. I mean nothing is left to the imagination with some of the pairs. To some of our readers you are going to love this collection. We have a ton of guys who read who love these undies. If you aren’t one guy who loves it well just enjoy some pics.
We are going to profile a few pairs you should check out.
Pikante 8048 – Are you a fan of a thong? From the front it looks like a bikinis but has a thong back. This pair is available in blue/white and black/blue
Pikante 8016 – Looking for something with a bit of fun? The Thong has studs in the front and a solid pouch. Available in four colors: Black, Red, Grey and Tan.
Pikante 8389 – Are you a fan of mesh? The new boxer made entirely of mesh is a pair that shows it all off! Just available in black/white (shown) and White and black
Pikante 8648 – This one is for the bikini fans. It’s a smaller cut with rings and snaps on the side. The material in the line are all metallics, which gives it a super fun factor. The colors available are black, silver, gold and purple.
Pikante 9240 – Maybe you don’t want to go totally wild. The 9240 is a traditional jock. it has the signature Pikante waistband with a solid pouch and smaller leg straps. Colors available are red, yellow and black
Pikante 9241 – Maybe you don’t want a traditional jock but something fun from piquant.This has the same waistband as the pair above but with a new take on a classic with the cut out and buckle. It’s a jock with a twist. The colors available are black, blue and gold.
If you want to see all the pairs in this collection go to the GDD World site and see the entire collection. If you can’t find the new Pikante at your favorite retailer, check out Candyman Fashion.
Today is the last day to vote in our Reader Awards! Thanks to everyone who has voted and all the brands who have helped to make this a lot of fun for us here at UNB! We do it every year and hope you guys have voted and we will announce the winners Tuesday or Wednesday. So if you haven’t go vote at the UNB Awards14 page!
We posted a picture on the UNB Facebook Page today featuring the Greasley brothers but here we are featuring a great pic of Ryan Greasley by photog Simon Le.
One more day to vote in the UNB Reader Awards! Don’t miss out! Head to our UNB Reader Awards page to cast your vote and see all the pairs nominated!
Pink is one of my all time favorite colors of underwear. Since as far as I can remember I have loved it. After I found my first pair I sought out other pairs. At times it has been super hard to find but in the last 5 years it has been a big color in men’s underwear. Like it or hate the trend it’s not going anywhere.
ErgoWear has released a new limited edition series in just pink. The limited edition is limited to just the thong, brief and boxer. So it’s not a super huge pink collection but is in three of their favorite styles. Each of these styles has the amazing Ergowear pouch that has to be one one of the pairs I will always recommend. The pink is now just an added bonus!
If you are looking to try Ergowear and love pink, there is no better time to try them. You can get an amazing color and a pair of underwear with an awesome pouch! You can find these on the Ergowear website.
2wink has created some super fun swimwear and underwear over the last year! When I was in Vegas last week they sent me an email about the Pit Crew line. This line definitely fits in with the rest of the underwear they have in their collection. They have their own style and creativity that shows in everything they do.
The Pit Crew briefs have a distinct pattern made for the Pit Crew line. It’s a black background with a white and blue print on the fabric. It’s different and pretty cool to me. Patterns and prints is one of the hottest trends in men’s underwear. 2wink is doing their thing that really shines through.
The material of the Pit Crew line is one of my favorites. They have chosen a modal material that will feel amazing on your skin! That paired with the 2wink black waistband and black leg trim make it an amazing pair.
The Pit Crew line is just in the black print and is available for $21.95 AUD from the 2wink site.
Don’t forget you have 2 Day’s left to vote in the UNB Reader Awards! You can vote for the nominations or write in your own favorite. The winners will be named on Wednesday next wee. Vote at out UNB Awards page!
Underwear can be full cut or minimal. Some of our readers really love the latter. Thongs, jocks and smaller briefs are the name of the game for them. This is exactly what the new aussiBum Sportscup is, a dare to wear! aussieBum is no stranger to the cup design. For those who are not familiar with a cup. It’s a waistband with a cup only. There are not straps, attachment or anything. Your business fits in the cup and hangs!
“aussieBums ‘Seamless Sports Cup’, is the latest in underwear innovation. The full garment, including waistband, is made from a seamless premium micro-fibre with stretch and is tag-free for absolute comfort, making it ideal for both general and active wear”
The Sports Cup is available in 3 colors. Those colors are blue, navy and red. It retails for just $10.24 at the aussieBum site. If you are a fan check it out at the aussieBum site.
PetitQ is one of those companies that has a fun way of looking at underwear. This year they did a run way show featuring the 2015 collection!
Today’s Brief Distraction features Pikante Underwear. They just released a new collection, which we will cover this weekend. Its another super fun and erotic collection!
The Awards launched on Monday! So you have had three chances to vote, you have four more till Sunday! Don’t miss out on naming your top picks for 2014 in our Reader Awards. To see everything and to vote go to the UNB 2015 Reader Awards page!
My goal here at UNB is to try to awaken the notion that straight men should care about their underwear as much as every undie-fanatic out there. I do so because it’s important to me that all men see the options they have, while simultaneously educating them about how underwear is now, more than ever, being crafted specifically for men of all different shapes and sizes.
The biggest reason I’ve chosen to write for an underwear blog isn’t the fact that I love everything about men’s designer undies, it’s because I am a straight man who happens to love everything about men’s designer underwear. Sure, just because I am straight and I love underwear doesn’t make me unique, but given the overtly (at best) and in-your-face (at worst) homo-centrism that seems to have attached itself to the entire industry, my position as a straight guy navigating the insides of an industry dominated by homosexuality does give me a unique perspective.
Ultimately, the system likely won’t be changed, so it is my job to help my fellow straight brethren look past all of the aspects that make the industry so much more palatable to gay men. But in order to do that I decided to list some of the biggest reasons the industry favors one sexuality over the other, so without further ado, here are my Top 3 reasons it’s so much easier for gay men to be into the world’s best underwear.
1. That whole sexuality thing… If we’re going to start anywhere, it might as well be what I see as the genesis of all of the remaining issues on this list. Let’s face it, gay men and boys are attracted to (gasp) other men, so naturally an advertisement of picture of a fitness model in a pair of briefs or even boxer briefs registers perfectly with them. A straight man is attracted to women in their underwear. I don’t know too many men who get excited or want to see more of a Victoria’s Secret model wearing a pair of briefs with a contour pouch. Thus, the difference in sexuality makes it much easier for a man to be more inquisitive about a pair of underwear he sees on an attractive other man. And perhaps most important in creating this underwear-gap between the two “sexualities” is when the younger a boy recognizes he’s gay, the earlier the love of–or at least the recognition of men’s underwear may end up playing in his life.
2. Sexual objectification doesn’t go both ways… Men aren’t seen as sex symbols in the U.S. due to a lot of institutional factors, and because of this there is simply no desire in Straight America to see a men’s version of a Victoria’s Secret catalog. Worse yet, most women feel peer pressure to outwardly be disgusted by anything to do with a penis unless a penis or something to do with one (like…underwear) is being made fun of.
The fact is, men are the sex who “objectifies” in this country regardless of their orientation, straight men objectify women, and gay men objectify men. Once you think about it this way, not only is it easy to see why gay men have it so much easier to get exposed to the best underwear, it also becomes crystal clear why it is nearly impossible to market men’s underwear to straight men.
3. Underwear ads are only getting gayer… One of the biggest issues keeping straight men away from underwear while at the same time bringing more gay men to it, is the increasingly homo-erotic nature of men’s underwear advertisements. Now I plan to write a follow up piece on this topic because it’s rather large, but let me stick to the basics.
It’s a hell of a lot easier for a gay man to see a male model with tanned abs, sitting spread-eagle shooting the looker a bedroom gaze wearing a designer’s latest and think, “I have to have those” than it would ever be to even the most “metro-sexual” of straight men. Worse yet, overtly homo-erotic advertisements actually serve to further one of the biggest misconceptions about men’s underwear itself, which is that the underwear you choose to wear somehow dictates your sexuality to everyone else. While gay guys may love a bunch of simulated sex and naked video modeling on AndrewChristian.com, it’s only going to drive a straight guy away from amazing well-designed underwear.
There are several additional reasons why the world of outstanding undies is more suited to gay men rather than straight guys, but these are my top three. Fellow straight guys, what did I leave out? Gay guys, do you think I have a point?
Let me know on Twitter (@UNBBrandon) emailing me at brandon@underwearnewsbriefs.com, or sending me a message on Tumblr (thefirstthingon.tumblr.com)!
Enjoy this quick behind the scenes video from JOR! New brands are coming out very soon! I am back from Vegas and was going to write some stuff up but came down with bronchitis so you will get it next week.
Go vote for your Favorite Brief! We have several to choose from! These are posters we created for each part in the category. To vote go to our UNB Awards page and vote once a day till Sunday!
The wet and miserable winter the UK havs suffered is showing no signs of disappearing any time soon. Luckily shoppers don’t need to brave the elements to enjoy the new season delights arriving at men’s underwear specialist website Deadgoodundies.com. Here are some highlights from this month’s newcomers.
A picture can’t really do justice to this metallic marvel. The glittering pattern is created with clouds of gold, silver and copper for a super shiny look.
Mundo Unico Manaos Brief GBP19.00
The spring Mundo Unico underwear and swimwear has breezed onto the DGU site and UK gents seem keen to grab pastel coloured underpants like this colourful cotton slip.
Bruno Banani Colour Code Hip Short GBP23.50
Can’t choose your ideal colour this season? This designer brand is here to help with this paint chart inspired print!
Manstore M455 Grope Pants GBP36.00
This European collection is proving hot property this month with a host of stunning releases including this petrol blue boxer brief. The naughty shorty grants access to the pouch through open pockets at the side.
HOM Strawberry Boxer Brief GBP33.00
When these trunks are warm or are rubbed they emit a tasty fruity fragrance. All this wrapped up in a neat microfibre shorty from those fine designers at HOM. The men of the UK are really whetting their appetites with this one!
This great value animal print string is proving hugely popular with male shoppers this side of the pond. Luckily DGU have restocked fast to avoid disappointing undies fans.
Male Power’s two best selling designs are by far their Moonshine Jockstrap and their Zipper Short (still in production!). They’re undeniably sexy and both fly off the Jockstrap Central shelves as fast as they arrive. But now, Male Power is back with new versions: It’s the Radical Sport Zipper Moonshine Jockstrap and the Radical Sport Zipper Short which adds a front zipper to the Moonshine and making them both in a soft, slinky and stunning striped fabric in either slate-blue and black or wine and black. We love them.
The Male Power Radical Sport Moonshine Jockstrap has a low-rise brief front but gets its “moonshine” name from the back – the best way to describe it is a brief back with a big hole cut out for your “moon” to shine. As mentioned, the fabric is striped and the stripes help to accentuate the contours of your package and because it’s nylon and spandex, it’s super soft feeling almost like silk against your boys (they’ll love you for it!). And new to the Moonshine design is the zipper in the front pouch so now your front can be as exposed as your rear.
The Male Power Radical Sport Zipper Short, just like the original, has a low rise trunk cut and a very noticeable front zipper pouch for easy access. The spandex nylon combo not only feels great against your boys but it stretches in all the right places making this one hot go go short that’s sure to draw attention. And speaking of drawing attention, like the jock, the striped fabric although subtle does its job of highlighting every contour of your package.
Both designs includes a welcome extra fabric backing behind the zipper to help prevent things getting caught, but please still be careful!
Jockstrap Central’s big hunky model and fitness trainer Tristian is back to put the new Male Gear through their paces so be sure to head on over and enjoy the view.”
NOTE post contains an affiliate sales link
Remember to go vote for our UNB Reader awards. This is a small of some of the brand and pairs that have been nominated. Let your voice be heard and vote for your favorite. You can vote every day for your favorite for write in a pair you think should win!
Vote at out UNB Reader Awards Page!
I am calling it now, I think that 2015 is going to be the year of the swimwear brands! We have some amazing companies come on to the scene. One of those companies is Holas Beachwear.
Today is the day to get great deals on underwear! You can get the Active Trunk from Baskit for only $12 today! just go to the Baskit Site and go under specials!
Last year we launched out UNB Reader Awards. This year we have some great brands in each category. So you can vote in every category or just one! You can vote once a day from now till Sunday March 1st. We will announce the awards on Wednesday of that week. Here are the finalist in each category. Click on each category to see all the pairs nominated.
Each category has a write in option so if you disagree with our choices you can write your own in.
To vote go to our UNB Awards page!
In the last few years subscription services have been big in men’s underwear. Some focus a specific style while others like Bird Briefs focus on keeping your underwear drawer full of new undies as needed. It’s a great concept and for the busy guy who doesn’t have time to shop for undies (Yes I did said that!). We all know friends who can use a service like this. We got to talk to them about the new business that launched Jan 1 of this year. Here is what they say about there brand.
This is one of my favorite behind the scenes pics from UNB Holiday Shoot. We were setting up for the shoot and the guys were relaxing in Charles Owo underwear.
