Empowered from the depths

sponsored post

“If you don’t feel good in it, don’t wear it. Because it will never look good. Any hesitation in the fitting room and just walk away.” These were the words spoken by L’Wren Scott in 2012 during an interview with the Telegraph and demonstrate what an intuitive designer must know. 

I'm sure that you're going to all the beaches and bars this summer. Besides the towel, sunscreen and your good pair of sunglasses, you should buy a good swimsuit every season. Don't recycle your swimsuit of last year, your friends may have a photographic memory. And this is where our friends at GayUnder can help you; a recent discovery of ours in the designer and fashion underwear world.  

GayUnder is a new commitment that will empower you from the depths. GayUnder is reinventing the male's underwear drawer with comfortable, bold, sexy and innovative collections. They have cool design and high quality clothing at incredible prices. They also have designs and brands to suit everyone and every situation. GayUnder comes to fill a gap in the gay underwear world with quality and design in a brand that makes you feel like you never did before. Free your mind, let yourself go and feel GayUnder. Explore new sensations with GayUnder, and discover a new world full of opportunities. Do not waste your money just in plain clothes, find and wear feelings with GayUnder. A breath of fresh air coming to cover your expectations, like no one has ever done. GayUnder, just feel it!

Andrew Christian Models hit the Streets of Amsterdam

Last week Andrew Christian models walked the streets of Amsterdam to promote the AC brand and their store in De Negen Straatjes area of Amsterdam.  They escorted designer Andrew Christian to the store where national TV network RTL came to capture it all.  To see the video click here (unfortunately it's not embeddable).  There's a lot of Dutch (I believe that's the language) in the video, but the interviews with AC are in English.  Enjoy!  

 

New Store: AlphaMaleUndies

AlphaMaleUndies is a new underwear retailer out of Ireland stocking a wide range of styles, cuts and colors.  They stock designer labels like Andrew Christian, LASC, Tribe, Pikante, Punto Blanco, PPU, Clever, Joe Snyder, Teamm8, Todger and Ed Hardy.  They just started advertising with us at MUB, so as a special for MUB readers right now you can save 20% off your purchase by using coupon code 'MUS234' at checkout.  This offer does not apply to sale items. 

New Brick and Mortar Store in Hollywood, CA!

Trendy underwear designer Andrew Christian has just opened its flagship store in West Hollywood, CA. It is located at 8943 Santa Monica Blvd. There is a grand opening party tomorrow, May 29th! So if you are in the area you should go check it out. And if you get there between 8pm - 11pm you'll get 25% off your purchase. Also, follow AC on Twitter because he's going to be putting up a secret word on his account around 7. The first 100 with the word will get a goody bag on their way in. Andrew Christian himself will be there to help get the party started.

If you're thinking this store is just going to be a bunch of Andrew Christian gear, you're wrong. The store also features a number of hand-picked brands that compliment Andrew's design philosophy. Also, stay tuned because Andrew Christian will be opening two more stores in West Hollywood this summer!

Godly? Babygod Organic - A review

Today I'd like to review Babygod Organic briefs which can be purchased at Jacksies. First a little background on the brand. Babygod Organic is exactly what the title implies, it is made from organic fabrics. What exactly does this mean? Well traditional cotton farming is done using a lot of insecticides and pesticides, which takes a toll in the environment. Organic cotton is farmed without these methods and is much more environmentally sound. Not only is the cotton used in these undies organic, but it is also Fair Trade. So you can feel rest assured that your comfort isn't taking on a toll on someone else's comfort.

Now for the briefs. I want to say that these are just basic briefs. And they are. They are a pretty standard pair of full-rise briefs. They only come in white and they have a white waistband and fly front. But they do have a little edge to them. They come in two "colors". I put colors in quotes because they aren't really colors per say but color accents. The ribbing around the fly and detailing on the waistband is done in a contrast color - either orange or baby blue. The pair I tried was orange. As Jacksies describes them, they're "crisp white cotton with a flash of colour". I'd say that's a pretty accurate description. Without that flash of color though, these briefs would just be your everyday briefs.

The fit on these is very modest. They are full-rise and keep everything covered in the front and the back. The leg elastics stay in place and do not gape. There are no side seams or back seams, just a seam at the functional pouch. Unlike most pouches though, there is only a center seam and one on one side (where the opening is). There is not a seam on the other side. This makes for a strange fit in the pouch that does not completely form to your package as it should. Instead there is a slightly awkward bit of fabric in that area that cannot really be fixed with any amount of pulling. The pouch is double lined for extra comfort. The thick waistband stays in place and has no text on it. Instead there is just the Babygod logo in stylish silhouette.

As for the feel of these things. Don't be fooled, organic cotton does not mean that it is any softer or more comfortable than regular cotton. It simply means that it is organically farmed, and in this case fair traded. While these are not bad things to have in a garment, they don't make it any more comfortable. In fact, quite frankly the fabric is a little thick and can be a little too warm for hot days. And since they are 100% cotton they don't wick or dry well. Just like most underwear that is 100% cotton, these have a problem holding their shape after multiple washings. They hold up well for a few washings, but they do begin to get a little stretched out after repeated washings - something that exacerbates that pouch problems. There is also a slight problem with the color-fastness of the accent color. After a few washes, the orange bled a little bit onto the white. It is hardly noticeable and does not make a huge difference, but it is worth noting.

So are they worth it? These are briefs that I really want to like. They are basic and yet stylish and the type of thing that you can wear and just be comfy in but still look pretty. But with all the other companies out there competing for your underwear dollars are they really worth the $22? I want to say yes, but considering what else is out there your money might be better spent on something else. While these are comfy and stylish, they don't hold up as well as I would like. The main problem with these is that they are 100% cotton (which does not wash well). If they added 5% lycra it would greatly improve the quality of these briefs. If you are one of those people into organic and green fibers or you're like me and only wear a given pair of underwear a few times, these are a good option. If you do want to give these a try, they can be purchased at Jacksies for £14.95 (approximately $22 USD).

MY RATING:
Overall, I give the BabyGod Organic Briefs a total score of 6.5 based on the following criteria:
FIT -- 7 (out of 10) - Modest, full-cut fit. The pouch could fit better.
COMFORT -- 8 (out of 10) - These are quite comfy, go-to underwear. The organic cotton is not any more comfortable than regular cotton though.
STYLE -- 7 (out of 10) - Pretty basic, but with a small splash of color.
QUALITY -- 6 (out of 10) - Does not hold up after repeated washes, looses its shape a little.
VALUE -- 6 (out of 10) - Considering that the quality, they may not be worth the price.

********** 6.5

Rufskin Opens San Diego Area Retail Store

Rufskin is proud to announce that after 8 years of being in business they are finally opening up a retail location. It's located in the thriving hipster community of North Park in San Diego, CA. The full collection will be available in store as well as additional select accessories and items that compliment the brand's ideals including the return of the long-awaited custom leather collection. So if you are in the San Diego area be sure to stop by. Their address is: 3944 30th Street in San Diego, California. In case you need it their phone is : (619) 341-2660. And be sure to let them know that we sent you.

New Site: Boomlads + Exclusive Discount

First I'd like to apologize for the lack of posting as of late and let you know that I am going to be amping up the number of posts now so keep checking for updates.

Today I'd like to introduce you to a new online retailer called Boomlads. Their big claim to fame is that their prices are 10% cheaper than any other UK store. They have lots of great brands like 2eros, Waxx, Obviously, James Tudor, BBoy, D&G, Sweat, and more! But what I really like about their site is something I haven't seen anywhere else and that is high definition videos of the products they are selling. I really like this feature because it gives you an idea of what the underwear looks like all the way around (not just static images of the front and back) and you can also get an idea of how the underwear will move when worn. I think this is a really cool idea. They don't have videos for all their products yet, but since they are just starting this feature I am sure they will be adding more videos soon.

As a special for MUB readers, Boomlads would like to offer an additional 10% off to all of you in addition to their already low prices. All you have to do is use coupon code MUB10 at checkout. This offer is good through the end of August so you can stock up a couple times. So go ahead and check out Boomlads today!

New Store: ABoyStore

ABoyStore is a brand new site for meeting all your underwear needs. This is a very exciting launch and has been in the works for a while now.

The interesting part is that the owner of ABoyStore used to be a lead buyer for another major underwear site, so he has all the connections to hook you up with all the latest merchandise. That means that this store is already huge at launch with 50 brands and over 800 products. If you know anything about men's underwear sites you'll know that this is a HUGE selection. Some brands include: 3G, Artificial Flavor, American Jock, Baskit, Ben Sherman, C-In2, Clever, Diesel, Go Softwear, Intimo, JM, Jocko, Joe Snyder, Justus Boyz, Malebasics, Nasty Pig, Obviously, Otter, Play, Rufskin, Score, and many more! So this site is definitely worth checking out.

In addition to underwear, ABoyStore also stocks accessories, footwear, loungewear, gym wear, swimwear, and other men's fashion items.

Also, to get the momentum going ABoyStore is offering a few promos. If you order two or more items from the same brand you'll get free shipping. Also, just sign up for the email newsletter and you'll get a code for 15% off your first purchase of $50 or more.

So if you're a boy in need of some new undies, be sure to stop by ABoyStore.

Underwear-addict relaunch sale

Underwear-Addict is proud to announce their relaunch. In honor of their relaunch they are offering a 15% discount on everything in stock from now until March 18th. Use promo code relaunch15 to get discount.

Abercrombie to launch underwear store in 2008

Thank you to a reader for tipping us off to this story. Abercrombie will be launching a subsidiery in 2008 called Gilly Hicks. Gilly Hicks will be an Australian-themed store that will deal exclusively with men's and women's underwear. Seven stores are slated to open in January, including one at Natick Collection just outside Boston and another at the Mall of America in Minnesota. So far there's not much information about the store except for what is found on their official site (just the photo reproduced above and a risqué promotional video) and the Wikipedia entry. I'm a little unsure as to what they will be offering for men as the promotional video seems to mainly focus on women. We'll keep you posted on this.

New Site: POP Underwear

POP Underwear is a relatively new underwear site. This site is really unique in that it doesn't sort underwear by brands or profile; rather, it sorts underwear by your personality (POP stands for People of Personality). Some personality types that they have include: Sexy Nerdy, The Player, and Rockstar. I think this is a pretty cool concept. The store's stock is fairly limited though, but then again they just started, so I'm sure it will increase as time progresses. I've gotta say, the site design is very sexy and the concept is very cool. Check it out.

New Store: Boy Wonder

Boy Wonder is a brand spankin' new online store based in New Zealand. They specialize in men's underwear and swimwear. BW currently stocks 2(x)ist, DT Clothes, Ginch Gonch, and Andrew Christian. They have a great selection for such a new store. The layout of their site is very modern and easy to navigate. This site will make shopping for that perfect pair a breeze.

Precious Undies... literally

Check out these awesome new briefs from QZ Bodywear. They have a funky look with black body and high-contrast ribbing and waistband. And on the waistband they have their logo spelled out in metal Swarovski! They're available at Men Attitude for about $33 each. So check them out!

New Brand: Benjamin Blak

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

New Concept: Reversible Underwear

Well I've read in many forums about guys turning their underwear inside-out to get an extra use out of it without washing. That is just gross. You should just get yourself off the couch and do some laundry or buy some more underwear. Jeeze. But that is not what this post is about. Up until recently, I had never heard of underwear that is actually meant to be reversed. Now this underwear is not intended to be worn two days in a row. Rather, this underwear is more like the reversible belt or the reversible shirt; it is meant to give you two looks for the cost of one. Now of course the difference in the two looks is limited, because it is still made out of the same fabric (you wouldn't want there to be two fabrics because that would add way to much bulk). But still, it is a very creative idea and will add more options to your underwear drawer. You can find quite a few reversible styles at Erogenos made by a brand called Key. I am particularly fond of the reversible purple (shown above) and the reversible blue (shown below). They are a little more expensive than some other alternatives, but they are nowhere near the cost of buying two pairs with so much styling. This idea definitely offers some great options for the future of underwear, but since I have not seen it from any other brands (yet) I cannot classify it as a trend.

Bed Beach & Burn now open for business!

A little while ago I told you about the site Bed Beach & Burn. Well it is now up and running and ready for business. They do not yet have all their stock in. But when it is all in the plan to have Calvin Klein, Ginch Gonch, Levis, Rufskin, Paul Frank, Puma, 2(x)ist, Original Penguin, DT, and probably more! They currently only have items from DT, Original Penguin, and Ginch Gonch for sale. Even though you cannot currently buy everything they plan on selling, you can still get involved at their site. They are currently having a drawing to win £100 worth of product from BB&B. All you have to do to enter is just sign up for their newsletter. Sources tell us that next week BB&B will be doing a photoshoot with Ryan Daharsh in which he will be sporting some CK underwear and other underwear and swimwear that BB&B will be selling. Ryan Daharsh is known for his work as a model at Abercrombie and Fitch.

New store coming soon...

New store, Bed Beach & Burn coming soon! Stay tuned for more info.

Björn Borg at Mensunderwear.nl

I have two great new things to tell you about today. The first is fantastic new underwear store that is based in the Netherlands. It is mensunderwear.nl. They offer lots of great brands, including: 2(x)ist, Body Art, Bruno Banani, Calvin Klein, Chevignon, DIM, HOM, Unico, Nikos A., Punto Blanco, Schlesser, Sloggi, and Björn Borg. Out of all of these I am possibly most intrigued by the Björn Borg. I have never actually seen this brand anywhere else, which is probably why it intrigues me the most. It is a really fun and great brand. In the photo you can see the Björn Borg new style boxer. This boxer is really fun and comes in a lot of fun colors and print varieties. I really like the whole Björn Borg collection that is available at Mensunderwear.nl, so check it out now.

New Store: OnYourBod

OnYourBod is a new online underwear store to my knowledge. They actually started in August 2004 in Moncton, New Brunswick and then relocated to Ottawa, Ontario in September 2005.

On Your Bod carries JM, Snob, Punto Blanco, Impetus, TKM, Boiish, Unico, Body Tek, Artificial Flavor, Ginch Gonch and HOM. I have actually never seen the Snob brand or the TKM brand before, so check them out. They're also have a lot of great sales going on now.

Bruno Banani swimwear now at DGU

This is not an underwear notification, but with the days getting hotter I will talk a bit about swimwear since it is very similar to underwear and thus somewhat related. The newest underwear site on the web, Dead Good Undies, is now offering styles from Bruno Banani. Some of the styles are actually underwear (not swimwear), so check it out.