Emporio Armani Big Eagle Brief

Emporio Armani is one of those coveted brands that I had always hoped to one day own. However, for the longest time, I couldn’t bring myself to splurge the amount of money one of these pairs command. But one day I finally took the leap and this bright green pair of Emporio Armani Big Eagle printed briefs is the first Armani brief I have worn. As fate would have it, there has not been any Emporio Armani underwear reviewed on this blog and it is my pleasure to share with you my impressions of this bright green (I think officially it is called mint green) stretch cotton brief. It is also available in black, white, marine and mastic.

Let's start with the most obvious thing about the underwear: It has a rubberized Emporio Armani logo eagle on the hip. This raised design element looks amazing but doesn’t get uncomfortable. In daily wear you can barely tell there are these lines running on your underwear. So that’s not something you need to worry about. Speaking of comfort, there is no lifting or pushing out of your package in the front like in certain products that aim to enhance the bulge. Just ample room for your precious cargo to hang and be supported. This makes it very comfortable to wear for extended periods. You feel like you have nothing on. No complaints about the waistband whatsoever either.

Finally, I am also able to comment on long term performance of this underwear as well since it has gone through the cycle of wear and wash a few times. The one thing that was disappointing about something in this price range was that the fabric on the crotch shows a lot of pilling. Also known as bobble, these are small round balls of fibre which result from rubbing or abrasion. This makes the underwear look unsightly and old. As per my understanding of textiles, this is more prominent in fabrics made of shorter length fibre. So take that as you will about the quality of this $30 underwear.

Overall, I would give these Emporio Armani Big Eagle Briefs a total score of 7/10:

FIT: 7/10
COMFORT: 8/10
STYLE: 8/10 (really depends on your feelings towards the green)
QUALITY: 6/10
VALUE: 6/10

International Jock's Father's Day Sale!

Treat Dad (or yourself!) to some new undies, a swimsuit, or even lounge wear during International Jock's Father's Day sale. All of Dad's favorites including top brands like Calvin Klein, 2(x)ist, Emporio Armani, C-IN2 and more are available now for a limited time at 25% off. During the sale you'll find EVERYTHING from these major brands at the best prices of the year. 

Every dad could use some fresh underwear or an amazing new bathing suit to get ready for some summer fun in the sun. Shop now for the best selection. At these prices, International Jock's incredible selection of men's underwear and men's swimwear are sure to go fast.

Emporio Armani on GILT

Emporio Armani is available today on GILT.  They have lots of trunks and briefs available from the high-end fashion label.  Some of their deals are better than others, but the best deal is probably a 3-pack of briefs for $27.  You can't really beat that. 

GILT is a member's only site.  If you're not already a member, use this exclusive link to join on us. 

Eye Candy - First Look at Rafael Nadal for Armani

This just in: sexy new pics of tennis hunk Rafael Nadal modelling for Armani.  The new campaign for Emporio Armani will feature Nadal as the face (and bulge) of Armani underwear (much like David Beckham was in the past).  These are just the first of many more to come, enjoy!

Question of the Day:  What are your thoughts on the trend of sports players becoming underwear models?  First Beckham, now Nadal?  In your opinion, how do they compare?  

Model to Mogul

Soccer star turned underwear model David Beckham has decided not to return as Armani’s underwear front man. Instead he’s taking charge and getting his own underwear line with Armani. This makes sense since underwear sales have soared for the company since they signed Beckham to be their international ambassador of fashion. Plus he is married to another Armani underwear notable former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham. No doubt she has had a hand in the rise of her husband's success within the fashion industry. Connections are very important. Of course that’s not to say David doesn’t have what it takes on his own, let’s face it the man is gorgeous and he has talent. Beckham started playing soccer professionally when he was only 17 and through his time in the game has offered his skills to a variety of teams in as many countries. He now plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy and is a huge power behind popularizing the sport in America, the last country to embrace the sport apparently. Beckham has had a similar effect in the fashion industry. It was a long held belief that a man who made fashion and looking good a priority in his life had to be gay. Beckham was a key player in the coining of the phrase “metrosexual” meaning a straight man who took the time and energy to look good. Men took notice and thought David Beckham is an athlete, and a good one at that, with a hot wife and a lot of money so if he looks like that maybe I should too. David Beckham has been a godsend for all men!

Now he’s taking it to the next level. And hopefully he will still be the eye candy in the trunks he puts out, but either way I am sure he will succeed. We don’t know yet what design this underwear line is going to take but it will probably be along the lines of Armani’s collections that come out now. And knowing the Beckham style they will most likely be quite manly and have a sleek style all Metro Men will want. Beckham brought style to men around the world who were lacking it, and now he’s going to make sure they recognize this means their underwear too. So be on the lookout because soon we all can have David in our pants!

Will the Real Lowrise Please Stand Up?

I’m baaacccckkkkk! Damn! It’s been a long time. But you can’t keep a good contributor down.

Now, I consider myself a men’s briefs expert. I’ve tried them and own a large variety of them. And much to the chagrin of my dad, I’ve touched them on other boys. I love the variety of cuts, prints, and colors that are now available to men nowadays. We ARE living in the age of underwear.

But above all else, I love a good low-rise brief. I think my unexplainable adoration of the low-rise stems from the way they provide the support of a brief, but allow for greater freedom of movement than your average tighty whitey (not that I have anything against those). To me, the skimpier cut says a lot about the wearer; it says that you’re sporty and need just the barest of coverage for you to move in for the score. It could be that they say that you’re naughty, and that the brief coverage is just a promissory note for what’s to come.

In the hierarchy of underwear I think “low-rise” gets confused at times with “bikini” or “hi-cut”. In my opinion, these three terms refer to three distinct garments. The rise refers to where the waistband stops on your body. Bikinis do not have waistbands and hi-cut briefs are pretty much bikinis with a waistband.

To qualify as low-rise (to me) the brief has to be cut in a way so that when one slips them on, they provide coverage so low riding in the front and back that it barely covers your red zones…basically, you need to see bush and crack Sadly, manufacturers and designers don’t have a consistent vision as to what constitutes a low-rise, a hi-cut, and a bikini. This lack of consensus is frustrating for consumers; imagine rushing home after thinking you purchased an uber hot low-rider and unwrap something that is not lowrise at all. It’s definitely happened to me a couple of times, ergo, this article.

Luckily for you, dear readers, I have gone into my vast underwear drawers to dredge up a couple of tried and true lowrise briefs that I heartily recommend for your wearing pleasure:

C-in 2: C-in2 lowrise are dependable low rise. They come in a bunch of fun colors and prints. Their lowrise briefs are called no-show.

2(x)ist: These are from the contrast line. 2xist lowrise briefs are notoriously inconsistent from line to line. For example, their Optic line no shows are pretty full cut so much so that I wouldn’t consider them lowrise. But this contrast brief…love it!

Go Softwear: Remember the super low cotton-lycra contrast briefs? They really are super low. Here, I’m rockin’ the camouflage version. These are one of the original super lowrise briefs.

Emporio Armani: These were advertised as a Macy*s anniversary edition hip brief. But when I pulled these suckers on, well, Happy Anniversary!

So my little chickadees, now that you know the difference go out and get them lowrise and don’t be afraid to fancy up all that junk up in your trunk.

Celebrity Underwear Sighting: David Beckham

It looks like Beckham doesn't just wear Armani for the adverts, he seems to really be wearing them as underwear (he was previously a known Calvin Klein fan). He's seen here wearing some Emporio Armani underwear underneath his Abercrombie boardshorts. You can get your EA underwear here or here and your A&F boardshorts here.

David Beckham's billboard debut

On a billboard measuring 310 square meters, Beckham made his official worldwide debut as the face of Emporio Armani underwear in Milan yesterday. The billboard can be found on via Cusani and via Broletto. This unveiling is just in time for Milan Men's Fashion Week (which starts the 12th of this month). If you happen to be in the area, be sure to check out this location. Similar billboards should be going up around the world in the coming months, so be on the lookout for those as well. If you spot one be sure to let us know. Image Source.

The Becks becomes the face of Emporio Armani

David Beckham will become the face (and package) of Emporio Armani underwear which Armani plans to launch in the US. Women's Wear Daily reports that Beckham shot the ad campaign in Los Angeles late last week with top fashion photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. The ads will debut in fashion magazines beginning with the January issues (meaning we'll be seeing photos next month). So be on the lookout for those.

*Note: Photo is NOT from the Armani shoot.

Emporio Armani now at Mensunderwear.nl

Emporio Armani underwear is now available for purchase at Mensunderwear.nl.