The Basics of Underwear – A Style Guide

Today, I want to focus on a completely new topic: underwear. Many men swear by the same model or brand since their youth, but underwear is also fashion, so it's always worth taking a look around. There are always new labels worth a second glance.

In this underwear style guide, I want to give you an overview of what matters when buying boxers and the like, and introduce new brands that make it worth being unfaithful to your tried-and-true shorts.

Size Information for Men's Underwear

Just like with pants or suits, boxers and similar underwear have their own sizing. It gets especially complicated with some manufacturers who use their own sizes for underwear and some undershirt models. Additionally, there are standardized international underwear sizes that most of us probably aren’t very familiar with.

Below you’ll find a table where you can easily determine your underwear size based on your clothing size. Just like when buying perfectly fitting pants, you should know your measurements or take them again.

What Underwear Styles Are There?

There are different styles of underwear as well. Some men always stick to one style, while others vary between looser boxers for everyday wear and tight boxer briefs or briefs for sports. Here’s an overview of the different types:

Boxers

Boxers are especially popular among young men or anyone who likes patterns. Boxers are the loosest fitting underwear and are therefore better suited to wear under looser pants or jeans. For tighter skinny jeans or suit pants, boxers are not necessarily recommended as they can shift, wrinkle, or show through the pants. Most boxers have an elastic waistband and are mostly made of cotton.

Retro Shorts/Boxer Briefs

Tight boxer briefs go by many names: retro shorts, briefs, pants, trunks, etc. All these names refer to snug-fitting shorts. The leg length varies from model to model. Boxer briefs are mainly made from a cotton-elastane blend to ensure elasticity and breathability.

Many boxer brief models have a fly and an elastic waistband, so the underwear doesn’t dig in despite the tight fit. Briefs are well suited to wear under tight jeans or suits because they don’t show through or shift.

Briefs

Briefs cover only the backside and have no leg. This makes briefs especially suitable for sports or wearing under very tight jeans. The days of the old ribbed briefs are over, though. Today, classic fashion houses like Armani, Calvin Klein, or Dolce & Gabbana design briefs that have little in common with the old-fashioned styles.

Undershirts

There are also different styles of men’s undershirts. One is the classic sleeveless undershirt cut, usually made from plain cotton or ribbed cotton, which allows the skin to breathe well and doesn’t show too much under a shirt. This is especially important in the workplace.

Another undershirt style is the classic T-shirt, which can be worn not only as underwear but also as a simple companion to jeans. Most T-shirt undershirts have either a classic crew neck or a V-neck. Every man has his own preference for neckline depending on his overall style.

By the way: For women, the material question is different. Those who want to try underwear made from bamboo viscose in addition to cotton will find a fabric that feels soft yet allows good airflow to the skin – a noticeable difference, especially on warmer days.

Underwear Brands

Just like with other clothing items, there are various labels offering underwear on the market. Below, I’ve attempted a rough classification to give an overview.

The Classics

Underwear brands like Schiesser or Jockey are absolute classics in men’s underwear. Here you’ll find a wide selection of all models, mostly in plain white. However, these manufacturers have also released various collections in recent years.

For example, Schiesser has been drawing attention with its retro collection for a few years now. Both companies use particularly high-quality materials, so their models are more expensive than those from other manufacturers. Calvin Klein shorts have also become true classics, especially famous for their advertising campaigns featuring Mark Wahlberg, Kate Moss, and most recently Justin Bieber.

The Sporty Ones

If you like sporty designs, models from Gant or Tommy Hilfiger are a good choice. Both brands combine classic cuts with simple colors and patterns. The fits are well suited for sporty adventures, but the design doesn’t take a backseat to function.

The Cool Swedes

Scandinavian brands have also conquered the world of underwear. With simple yet innovative designs, these cool Swedes have won over many men in Germany for their shorts. I discovered the two Swedish brands Resteröds and Bread & Boxers through a recommendation.

Where to Buy?

If you don’t want to spend forever searching for a selection of cool brands, the boxer shorts online shop Boxerman is the right place for you. Here you’ll find a selection of traditional brands like Schiesser or Calvin Klein, as well as new labels like Resteröds or Bread and Boxers. So feel free to check it out.