The snug and fitted underwear known as briefs have been around for a while, but more males are opting for a pair of mens sexy briefs over their usual boxers or boxer-briefs. Briefs come in a variety of styles and sizes, and some of them can even be worn for swimming.
A Brief History of the Brief
The first pair of briefs ever sold (at least according to official records) was on January 19th, 1939. They were sold at Marshall Field’s Department Store in Chicago as the new and improved undergarment that would replace the jockstrap. The designer of these found inspiration from a French postcard of a model wearing a short fitted swimsuit.
Within the first 3 months on the market, nearly 30,000 pairs of briefs were sold around the country. Although briefs are quite different in terms of style from the jockstrap, they offer almost as much support – not to mention some men find them much more comfortable. The similar support paired with the added comfort is what can be thanked for the popularity of briefs.
As briefs started off, they were first called “jockeys” but then the more recent term – “tighty whities” – became more commonly used. After they took off in the US, they became more popular across the globe in the UK and Australia. Now they are one of the most commonly worn underwear styles in the world.
The Traditional Brief Design
Briefs can be worn by both sexes – in fact, many women love the full coverage that is offered by briefs. No matter your gender, traditional briefs extend up from the upper thigh to beneath the naval. These are called “full rise” briefs since the provide the most coverage.
In a pair of men’s briefs, you’ll see that there is a “fly” just like in boxers. This is obviously not necessary for women’s briefs since the fly is used for more convenient urinating for males. There are several different fly designs to choose from, or you can opt for no fly at all.
What About Briefs and Fertility?
You might have heard once or twice that briefs can negatively impact the fertility of men. Many people assume that tight underpants or undergarments for men can reduce sperm counts. This is mainly believed since briefs don’t provide the same circulation and airflow as boxers, which are much less constricting – yet also unsupportive.
The research on this is extremely inconclusive and it is nothing more than a theory that briefs can have a negative effect on fertility. There was even a study conducted in 1998 for the Journal of Urology that proved exactly the opposite to be true.
Where to Buy Briefs for Men
You have no shortage of options if you’re hoping to add a few pairs of briefs to your wardrobe. You can find them at any department store, but try to avoid low-quality cheap briefs since these will be much less comfortable and won’t last nearly as long as a high-quality pair. If you want a designer pair of briefs, consider brands like Calvin Klein, Marco Marco, or Hugo Boss.
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