Men's Undergarments Buying Guide
What better place to start when getting dressed than underpants
and undershirts?
Add some socks,
pajamas,
and possibly a robe
into the mix and you're all set to lounge, sleep, and do whatever your day may throw at you. Like everything else you wear, undergarments are a matter of personal taste, so wear what you feel best in. But do consider this, a men's undershirt
will protect that expensive (and possibly custom made) dress shirt,
and boxer briefs
will keep those expensive new grey flannel trousers
from having to be dry cleaned after every use. It makes sense, doesn't it? Read on about your choices in the underworld of fashion.
Sizing
We all know men have it easy with sizing--nothing complicated like women's clothes. Typically if you are a medium for one brand of shirt, you will be the same size for a different brand. See a few basic rules of measurement below.
- Undershirts: For this item of clothing, you'll need to know your chest size to figure out if you're a small, medium, large, or extra large.
- Underwear: Mostly sized by the waist in inches. If you know your pants size, you'll be fine when buying underwear.
- Socks: Generally one size fits all. Occasionally dress socks will come in two sizes- S/M and L/XL. Buy according to your shoe size.
A Few Notes on Fabrics
- Cotton:
Very comfortable for warm weather. It is natural, breathable, and can be woven in a variety of ways.
- Flannel
: Warm, soft and great for lounging. It's made from cotton, wool and/or synthetic fibers and frequently appears in plaid prints.
- Spandex:
A tight and stretchy synthetic material. Lycra
is a popular brand of spandex. It's great for clothing that will hug your form. Synthetic fibers tend to trap odors and may not breathe as well as natural fabrics, but some clothing items, especially activewear,
is designed to help your body breathe.
- Nylon
: A durable and inexpensive synthetic that can be silky and form-fitting.
- Silk:
Warm, luxurious, soft and often imitated. It stains when wet and is therefore not great for all undergarments. But if you want the silky feel, many synthetic silk-like garments can be gentle on your skin and your wallet.
- Wool
: Very warm, natural, breathable and variable in quality. Merino wool, especially when blended with cotton, can make a perfect cold weather garment. Cheap wool can be itchy and make you sweat.
Undergarment Styles
Undershirt Styles
Loungewear
Socks
Related Guides
External Links