Knickers!!!
Sorry for that outburst, but how long have we men made do with standard M&S fare for their underwear, perhaps from the women in your life as gifts? And what uninspiring specimens these tended to be… workaday… functional… dull.
My mother used to make occasional checks that you had a pair of clean ones on, “just in case you were run over by a bus” (eeeer?, thanks for your concern, Mum…), but what about the remaining bedfellows of "Clean"; the others in the Four “C”s of Gentlemen’s Undergarments… Colour, Cut and Cloth? Well, who cares when we all wore the same boring old white cotton briefs and Y-fronts?
Well, I hadn’t quite realised just how much that has all changed. Being from a generation that would probably have never thought to treat their underwear as anything beyond a mere practical necessity of life, it has come as a huge surprise just how much variety there really is out there now.
A good friend was once challenged by a female workmate on the very subject. Clearly uninspired by her work, she decided to do a little survey, asking all the blokes what kinds of pants they wore. When my friend reluctantly answered “just some sort of M&S briefs” she had a blue fit. She’s actually a good friend of both of us now and we often tease her for her soap box moment of glory when she stomped her foot and declared, “Pants are a fashion accessory… And should always be treated thus!” Of course the office erupted in laughter and she had the good grace to join in but this woman was onto something some fifteen years ago.
We all know that a certain Mr Klein also did do a lot to change this in the 80s and 90s but now there is a boggling range of choice in these three “C”s. Choosing the perfect pair of undercrackers has been elevated to an art form. And it’s not just the other top line designers that have joined Calvin in panting for your pounds. There are all sorts of street brands cropping up all over the place, from Manhattan to Melbourne and everywhere in between.
A couple of women I know browse seemingly obscure websites that present “the goods” in flashy pages that look a hair short of being top shelf items. Tongue firmly in cheek, I understand, but it seems that sex does, indeed, sell. But the tables have now turned and it’s my lady friends (hey! you’re no laaadee!) who are ogling these male models online, under a cover story of buying gifts for their fellas!
And if you don’t believe me just go a-browsing "Down Under" to Ginch Gonch. Enjoy!
A good friend clearly thought that the time was ripe for me to abandon M&S and get with the new beat. A slim envelope was gifted to me, containing a voucher from a new place in Glasgow's West End. Mr. Smith opened its doors to the good ladies and gentlemen of Glasgow just over a year ago and seems to be going from strength to strength. A shop devoted entirely to men's underwear is a rarity indeed, certainly out of London. So this really must be one of Glasgow's best kept shopping secrets.
A small independent shop, Gillian and Alisdair couldn’t be more charming and helpful. A right pair of pantologists (if such niche expertise is so named) they wax lyrical on all of the latest styles about to break onto the market. Another good friend clearly caught the bug for collecting designer briefs a while back and I soon discovered that he was a regular there and was clearly coveting my gift voucher. This slightly pant-obsessed friend is one of their best (perhaps THE best) customers and has often commented about special orders and the like that they have arranged. Great customer service! But, at the other end of the spectrum, I think even the most timorous “bloke” would feel comfortable here.
It’s well laid-out and easy to browse through, where one of every style is out of the box and within easy reach, with special labels that show details of the colour and size ranges. So, guys, if you’re like me and the middle has spread a bit over the years then you don’t have to rely on the unlikely airbrushed model pics on the packaging as your guide to what to buy. And what guy can be bothered fiddling with the boxes to take the items out and look? So, its all so easy at Mr Smith. Give them a go. And take your lady with you and hint for her to bring her credit cards with her!...
For those that like to maintain their indifference to anything out of the ordinary, I’ve found that they carry plenty of well made regular items, swimwear and a great range of socks, the other classic gift for your Dad, brother and partner!...
And for the terminally traditional, shy or shopophobic?... just browse their website at http://www.mrsmithunderwear.com/
Contact Gillian and Alisdair at Mr Smith…
Tel: + 44 (0)141 339 8020
112 Byres Road
Glasgow
G12 8TB
Opening hours (GMT):
Monday - Saturday: 10.30-18.00
Sunday: 12.00-17.30
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