Why Men Are Clueless About Their Own Underwear

By Jackie Burns, MSN Shopping contributor

The next time you ask a guy if he's into boxers or briefs, don't be alarmed if he doesn't know the answer. According to a study conducted by UK department store Debenhams, men relied on their mothers to select underwear throughout their childhood and teenage years and then tended to leave all buying up to the woman in their life from age 36 onwards. In fact, it seems that men only selected their own tighty whities during a 17-year period, between the ages 19 and 36. Even then, the survey found they only did so because they believed wearing new underpants was an essential pre-requisite for beginning a relationship. It also found underwear buying peaked among males at 23, when they bought up to 31 pairs annually. Women were found to be far more hands-on, starting to buy their undergarments at age 13 and never looking back.

Guys, do you buy your own undies? Or are you more hands-off like the men across the pond?

Related links:

• Shop for men's underwear
• 5 tell-tale signs you're a metrosexual

Comments

I definatey by my own, and have since I was about 10 give or take...once my mom stopped buying me briefs and I started buying my own boxers and boxer briefs and I have never looked back...Still don't let my wife buy my underwear, she comes with me and usually puts in her two cents about adding colour or get these ones instead but she doesn't normally comment to much...

I have been purchasing my own underwear since I was 16. I had no interest in the tighty-whities my parents used to cover my rear for the previous 14-15 years. I wanted boxers and was often very particular where I bought them and how they fit. Now that I am 35 and married I buy my wife's under garments (with her help of course).

Parsonally, I am of the opinion that men who rely upon thier significant other to determine what they wear are still little boys who traded one mother for another. But... some women find that charming I guess.

As the survey was only at one store in the UK obviously the results missed my demographic. Perhaps a more accurate way of framing the words in this article would be to say that "British men rely on thier wives/mothers/girlfriends to buy thier clothes and or dress them". No wonder the UK has the highest incidence of cross dressing...

i buy my own undergarments for i am still in pursuit of the best fitting ones. i find boxers don't always have the best support and/or the best waistband. i hate having them fall, whether it's boxers or briefs. i also hate how i will buy what is supposed to be the "correct" size but from one brand to the next, it's not always correct. also, sometimes it's like buying shoes -- i should buy several pairs of the best fitting ones but i never do -- i'll find the best brand/style, and then they will be discontinued, because for some reason underwear styles go through "trends". we wear them UNDER our clothes, for #@^** 's sake! no one sees them (at least not in public). arghhh...sounds petty but it is maddening.

HaHaHa like it matters, as long as they are comfortable and clean.
Ask men what colour socks they are wearing, without looking down...very low priority stuff.

there are more important issues at hand...

I buy my own and the ones I wear depend on how I feel...I purchase both boxers and briefs. My sons have been deciding on their own for years as well so I am not sure how accurate this statistic is. I buy the ones I like and the ones I like are the ones that I find to be most comfortable.

Note to "ANOTHER STUPID POST", if you do not want to read an article in the shopping section on shopping then just don't read it. Oh, and what is stupid about an article in shopping on shopping trends, seems rather logical to me. No one makes you read it.

This is true in most cases, I live with only my dad and he's older then 36, and im stuck buying his underwear!

31 pairs annually ?? Did they have some sort of bladder or intestinal problem that caused them to have accidents on a regular basis ?

Wear it twice and then throw it out ? Or did they make a quilt ?

I buy my own and prefer what is called Boxer pouch brief. They fit nicely, are comfortable plus the pouch gives easy comfort access. The colours offered though are black and gray, not much choice.
My wife has never offered advice though offers nice comments when a pair strikes her fancy.

Looks like I'll have to ditch my wife for a real wife. Not only have I (in the last 20+ years of marriage) bought all of my own clothes including, underwear but also ironed them & the families, washed them & the families, made my lunches and the kids school lunches.
Somehow I'm thinking I accidentally married a woman who bought into everything about the feminist mantra except the working part. Time for a change

Its great posting .Sex appealing based on what you are wearing & its mainly based on brand and its brand image and USP.Comfort level to branded cloths have the work which leads to high research on fabric & styling.