$100 a pair underwear for men flying off the shelves

[Initech]

There are plenty of examples that indicate that the market for men’s unmentionables has been heading in a more fashion-conscious direction for some time, what with the popularity of the new Calvin Klein Bold collection (featuring vibrant color choices like “limeade” and “splash”), rainbow-striped briefs from Diesel and — oh, my word — the latest snakeskin-printed waistbands from 2(x)ist. It’s almost like the 1970s again, except that synthetic fabrics are now considered desirable.

But the introduction last month of a high-tech design from Sweden that costs $100 a pair, one that requires special care in cleaning, suggests that men are embarking on a new relationship with their briefs. That is, they can now expect to be as confounded by the options before them as any woman shopping at Victoria’s Secret.

Behold the Frigo No. 1, as the new design is called, the first underwear with an interior mesh pouch that is suspended from elastic straps, so it can be adjusted to fit different characteristics of the male anatomy. It’s sort of like a bra with one cup. Also, the waistband and leg holes are bonded to resist bunching, and laser-cut vents placed along the lower back allow for aeration.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/03/fashion/call-it-victors-secret.html

[rrneck]

1. Freeballers forever! nt

[Initech]

2. Cause I'm free.... free ballin'...

[Scuba]

3. Still free to go commando.

[TrogL]

4. I'd buy that

I hate baggy underwear but most bikini-style are too tight.

[MADem]

5. "But $100? And you can’t throw it in the dryer?"

They do look a bit dramatic, but I'll bet they'd end up in the dryer--people are just too lazy or inattentive.