It's amazing to think how far mens underwear has come in the past decade. The innovation in styles, colours and materials has brought men into the twenty first century. But the public perception of acceptable apparel is probably the biggest herald of the modern male underwear drawer.
This may seem trivial to the tighty whitey lovers out there, but for the more adventurous man it has revolutionized the industry and availability of the more racey styles.
There are now a whole host of websites and companies developing sheer mens underwear, from the homo-erotic bulge enhancing technologies offered by brands such as Gregg Homme with their sheer pouches, to the more traditional cuts and styles offered by Mansilk there is sure to be a pair to suit any mans wardrobe.
Many guys buy underwear based on basic preferences but cite comfort as the most important factor. After all, what use is a pair of underwear that looks good but makes you feel uncomfortable and itchy?
The internet has also innovated the distribution of these striking styles and materials, obviously there is a stigma attached to underwear that serves as a billboard above your head in a department store or boutique that if you are browsing through or purchasing intimates that you are homosexual. I can honestly look back and laugh on the day I purchased two silk thongs in a department store and had my nephew in a stroller with me. The forty-something year old woman behind the counter remarked on my purchase as "not a lot of material for the money" and asked quite rudely if "they boy's" (she cast an alarmed look at my nephew at this point) parents were right to be leaving a child in my care". I was offended not only by the rudeness but the implication that I was unfit to mind a child if I were gay. So having survived the scrutiny of the department store sales clerk I understand the apprehension some men feel about buying sheer underwear.
Obviously a lot of men who would like to experience these garments have missed out in years gone by, and while it's simply a personal opinion it does explain why some men have found the pleasure in wearing their partners/wives underwear in secret.
Women have had access to the wonders of microfiber, silk, satin, spandex and lace for decades but now both men and women alike have woken up to the magic of male lingerie.
If a man turned up to a strip club and all the pole dancers were wearing granny's old nightshirt and hair curlers he'd walk out disgusted by the lack of skin on display, and women have finally decided they want their men to make some effort in the bedroom too.
DMK produce a brief which has sheer panels on the sides and across the top section of the rear which contrasts with the stretch satin pouch and rear of the brief. And you can find sheer ratings systems on many underwear websites now for both swimwear and underwear.
Onion skin is another fabric which is popular due to the high shine stretch fabric, the onion skin seems to be more flexible and often is cheaper to buy than silk underwear.
You have to marvel at the sensation of support, and when the wind breezes through your jeans/pants you get that perceptible sensation of feeling like you are 'going commando'.
Aussiebum launched a 'catch of the day' pair of briefs last year which did for all accounts look like a man had been caught up in a fishing net. And while the function of the underwear was identical to their cotton counterparts (with fully functional fly) the stretch mesh fabric had the shock value sheer underwear provides whenever it appears in locker rooms.
N2N and HOM have been successful for producing sheer underwear for years as have many brands, and while you might argue style, stigma and practicality I urge any man who has never tried sheer underwear to give it a shot.
Whether you prefer briefs, boxers to the tiniest thongs or jockstraps you can find a style that will find aesthetically pleasing. And once you experience the freedom of that 'almost not there' underwear you'll wish you'd started wearing them years ago!