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Underground > Art, Fashion & Design >

G-strings and other underwear

21:42 / 02.12.04

Lately I've realised that almost everyone I know - regardless of gender or sexual preference - claims not to find G-strings sexy or attractive at all. This strikes me as a bit odd, since they are selling well enough that you can now buy them wherever, like, in the menswear depts of bland chainstores. Somebody, presumably, thinks they're sexy. (I mean: someone other than me.)

I have three G-strings, all originally bought for specific outfits they'd go with, but now under the unconscious pressure of all the nay-sayers I am hesitant to wear them out - what if G-strings (on men, at least) are simply a sketch comedy indictment of the wearer, and I end up going home with someone who goes into non-erotic convulsions on seeing them?

More generally, I am fascinated by underwear and will often go undie shopping to cheer myself up when I'm feeling down. Sadly, the men's underwear on offer is incredibly uninspiring, esp. compared to the incredible range of colours, styles, designs, logos, etc., available to women. My preference, generally, is for briefs - my biggest concern is rear snugness. I don't mind Bonds hipster trunks (halfway between briefs and boxers), but as far as I'm concerned, boxers are completely unacceptable underwear. If anything would make me burst out laughing, they would.

So generally, I am interested in other people underwear preferences, and esp. your feelings regarding G-strings.

Brigade du jour

22:20 / 02.12.04

I'm kind of a comfy soft boxer shorts chap myself. Like you, I fail to see the appeal of underwear you could cut cheese with.

In fact, this thread reminds me of an ex-fiancee who went to an Ann Summers party and bought me ... well I don't even know what you call it, but it looked like a chicken and laid bare all my sartorial inexperience in one fell blow.

Needless to say, we parted ways soon after. Mainly because my bollocks hung out of either side of the damn thing.

03:19 / 03.12.04

You wear thongs on your feet?!? Now that's just gross...

Myself, I usually wear the tighty-whities. My preference, however, is for silk boxers. I feel like I can go from zero to love-god in seconds flat when I'm wearing silk boxers.

01:38 / 04.12.04

Well, what the hell do you call them, then, if not thongs? I'm assuming you're aware that there's a difference between a G-string and a (what we Yanks call) thong. The G-string having a quite literal string or v. skinny elastic up the old crack, and the thong having a bit more material up the old crack.

I prefer low-rise bikinis and low-rise string bikinis for comfort, though I frequently wear a thong (well, WHAT? what else can I call it?) if the pant calls for it - anything without pockets on the ass, pretty much. I have a G-string that works best for dresses, unless I'm willing to go commando, which I sometimes do but not too often. And, of course, briefs - aka Granny Panties - for those really grouchy PMSy days.

01:40 / 04.12.04

Oh, and if you boys are all wondering what I prefer on you, I like briefs and boxer briefs about equally, and best. Boxers are okay, but just sort of amorphous and boring. And I've never seen a man in a thong, or G-string, or whatever the hell.

02:26 / 04.12.04

As far as I've seen we Yank males have little variety in the neither-garments department. As ibis stated, either briefs or the boxer briefs. The US had a small affair with trunks, demi-briefs, "Bonds hipster trunks" or whatever, but it seems to have been short-lived. I have been known on occasion to wear bikini briefs, mainly because they are cheaper that other styles of underwear, not as a fashion statement, and only when there's no chance of anybody being interested in seeing me sans-clothes.

An anecdote: I was in the men's dept. the other day when a couple of young women came through the underwear section and spied some not-footwaear-thongs. I quote:

"Eeeeeeeeeeeewwww!"

Gentlemen, you have been warned.

04:58 / 05.12.04

I'm assuming you're aware that there's a difference between a G-string and a (what we Yanks call) thong.

I had no idea - in Australia both the styles you describe would be considered G-strings. I guess because here, 'thong' is the word for what I think are called 'flip-flops' in the States, i.e., kind of a more casual (and declasse) sandal. They are closely associated with unattractive people and footsweat, and hence, not an appealling name for an undergarment.

23:23 / 05.12.04

When I was a kid back in St. Louis, we called flip-flops "thongs," too. I must be a regional thing.

I'm a girl and I almost always wear bikini underwear. I have one G-string that I tried on once. It felt so weird, I couldn't stand it. I also have a pair of Invader Zim boxer shorts. I wear them as pajama bottoms in the summer.

G-strings don't look good on guys. It doesn't matter how toned or hairless you are, it's just not flattering. Men are sexiest in boxers.

00:11 / 07.12.04

My vote says that women are sexiest in g-stings/thongs.

Invader Zim underwear comes in a close second.

No star here laces

08:38 / 07.12.04

Men's g strings are just irrevocably associated in my mind with bad strippers and sexual novelty shops. I think of those nasty nylon things with 'humorous' elephant faces on them. Yuk.

It's like the male equivalent of a basque or french maid outfit, just in really bad taste.

I think the most attractive underwear is generally the kind that doesn't overtly hide or reveal but treads a nice middle line. So on women the kind with a string waistband and two triangles, worn low, whatever that's called, that's the sexiest one.

On men, the one which is like a classic y-front, but with a much lower waistband, those are nice. Gives the pouch effect at front, but not too obviously, gives a nice shape at the back.

And I like white cotton underwear best, terribly vanilla, but whatever. There's something about really nice clean, bright white pants.

13:03 / 07.12.04

I think of those nasty nylon things with 'humorous' elephant faces on them. Yuk.

I agree. I once saw a pair with Santa Claus on them. Talk about things that make you go,"Gleeeushusheshusheush!"

15:33 / 07.12.04

I have a question for the (hetero) men - are women's Y-fronts or women's boy-brief-style underwear sexy or creepy/weird/dorky? How about when they're not white, but Underoo colors?

13:24 / 08.12.04

Depends on the situation and the person I guess...I remember one of my ex's looking extremely sexy lounging around the house in an old T-shirt and a pair of boxers. For me, the old maxim of "it's not what you wear, it's how you wear it" definately applies.

16:06 / 08.12.04

Thinking about why (hettie) women don't generally get excited by men in thongs, and tend to prefer the shorts/briefs look, I was taken by the whole culture of presenting bodies for sex/titilation. Whereas there's a well established visual tradition of women in skimpy/lacy/see-through etc. being 'sexy' and 'arousing', there's less of a precedent when it comes to sexualising the male body. So when man strips off to reveal thongedness, there's just no reference/received culture that sparks arousal in the woman's mind. And when women do see men in g-stings, my experience is that they laugh and get excited, but necessarily in the sex deparment. Its just the inheretence we share from having lived and been influenced by such a, dare I say it, misogynistic little world......Would be interesting to know how thongs go down in the male gay scene....

17:33 / 08.12.04

i prefer boxer briefs myself, both for myself and for other men. briefs are too tightie-whitie, boxers ride up strangely, thongs or bikini briefs or anything are too cheesy in that Chippendale's sort of way. boxer briefs look good and are comfortable.

for females, thongs are good, but g-strings are trying a bit too hard. i must confess a weakness for the thong peeking out of the jeans. boxers are fun and playful. panties are fine.

as far as lingerie and bedclothes for women go, nothing is hotter than wearing nothing to bed but a crisp white men's button-down dress shirt, or occasionally a big t-shirt. yowza.

14:36 / 09.12.04

Well, boxers on women, sure, but I was asking about the ones that are styled to look like tightie-whities, fake fly and all.

19:23 / 09.12.04

Well, boxers on women, sure, but I was asking about the ones that are styled to look like tightie-whities, fake fly and all.

depends on the woman, honestly. that's either really hot, or colossally un-hot. no in-between, with high variation and low predictability.

14:45 / 12.12.04

Men's g strings are just irrevocably associated in my mind with bad strippers and sexual novelty shops. I think of those nasty nylon things with 'humorous' elephant faces on them. Yuk.

It's like the male equivalent of a basque or french maid outfit, just in really bad taste.

Ha! One of my friends had both a French maid outfit and a Piglet thong that she tried to convince her boyfriend to wear. He refused.

Which is good, because I'm squeamish about wearing undies that another man has tried on.

I agree, appalling taste... but a lot of fun.

02:57 / 20.12.04

nothing is hotter than wearing nothing to bed but a crisp white men's button-down dress shirt

Amen

(Ladies, take note)

ONLY NICE THINGS

15:39 / 20.12.04

"button-down dress shirt"...

Americans.

Lilly Nowhere Late

16:27 / 18.01.05

That would be "Blouse" for Haus.

For women, vintage bra and knickers, mmmm.
for men, um, vintage bra and knickers?

07:50 / 19.01.05

'Vintage' bra and knickers, eh? I'm a bit perplexed trying to imagine what you mean. I keep picturing either grubby old greying undies, or highly-underwired 'hands off' 50s pink stuff. The latter? Or something else entirely?

Lilly Nowhere Late

19:35 / 19.01.05

No greying undies please!
I mean brand new(never before worn) reproductions of all the romantic lacey early 20th century undergarments(for women) but especially bra and knickers sets and super especially repros of french lingerie from the 1920's. YUM. The Victorians had nearly as many ribbons too. Suprisingly enough, Marks & Spencers do a great line of imitatations.

And btw, I don't really like men in bras, so about all those PMs, bugger off already, it was just a joke. You'll have to dress up for someone else, or maybe even each other. Shall I hook you up?

11:20 / 20.01.05

Please tell me that pun was intentional.

Lilly Nowhere Late

18:42 / 21.01.05

O how I wish I were that clever. Really I do.

23:41 / 21.01.05

I can't reach mine, either. Lilly, you mind?

So THIS is what they mean by hooking up. I have been so confused.

Lilly Nowhere Late

05:13 / 22.01.05

I have always considered being a matchmaker a worthwhile profession actually.

22:15 / 22.01.05

My big problem is not thongs - sorry, G-strings (did you all think Sisqo's 'The Thong Song' was about his love of sandals?) - is that, OK, some people may find them sexy, fair enough. But thongs + low-riding pants (trousers) are the real problem. I teach classes of mixed nationalities, and I can't tell you how many times I've had to take a look at a student's nasty-ass crack + their thong in full glory (black lace, butterfly, stripey, etc.) as they bend down to get out their textbook/pencil/mobile/whatever. And let me tell you, it's not a pretty sight. Ew.

I think what type of underwear a person is wearing, unless you want to sleep with that person, qualifies as TMI. A hint of underwear is ok, I guess. A string, a bit of boxer visible, this adds an air of sexy mystery. But your neon pink heart thong on display for all to see as you tie your shoelace, PLEASE WON't SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN?

21:56 / 30.01.05

I just bought myself a few pairs of the new trendy hotpants style undies, as seen here -

I love them. What an excellent alternative to thongs. I wear thongs when I must (pocketless trousers, all other underwear in the wash) but I've never gotten used to the feeling of wearing a strip of fabric up my butt all day long.

Goodness Gracious Meme

18:27 / 04.02.05

How did I miss this? I *love* underwear shopping, and alos often do it to cheer myself up.

G-strings, as we call them here in the old country, hmmm. I have a couple that are phenomenally comfortable, especially in summer - very cooling. But I'm really not crazy about how they look, on me or other women.

Can't bear 'knickers/panties'yuckyuckyuck. You will only find me wearing these if i have nothing else left/several layers of clothing between them and outside world. I'm afraid I would probably giggle and twitch if I went home with someone and she revealed herself to be wearing such things.

I've got some of those hipster shorts as above, which I *love* Comfy and stylish. Other faves are boys' boxers, mainly the tight-fitting trunk kind, but also some slightly looser cotton jersey things. Soooo comfortable, and I feel sexy wearing them/appreciating them as grrlwear. Not so keen on the looser ones for boyz, but as for trunks - mm-mmm

As a friend pointed out, loose boys' boxers are ironically much more comfortable for women than men, as providing zero support...

I have some lovely trunk shorts from Primark of all places, microfibre and seam free=just smooth all over with a bit of (in my case purely aesethically pleasing) ribbed support.

Briefs/pants/y-fronts on boys-risible, I'm afraid. I have been known to point and laugh. Y-fronts kinda doable on grrls, or is knowing kitsch otherwise noooooooooo

Hmm, g-srings on boys, I can see as being sexy, but only in very particularly circs, i think(working a kitsch thing) but are, like laces associated for me with Anne Summers novelty wear.

Nothing at all=yum.