Too Many Uncomfortable Undies
Women like men who look good in their underwear. They are no different from men who salivate over women in their underwear.
A woman walking around my hotel room in her undies and a T-shirt is much more appealing than a buck-naked woman lounging on the sofabed. Unfortunately, however, women tend to pay much more attention to their underwear-buying habits than men do.
Recently, I was shaving and lamenting the fact that I hadn’t done laundry in five days. I was particularly pissed with myself because the only pair of boxer briefs I had that were clean were not the more comfortable brand that I like to wear.
My dilemma is two-fold. First: I’ve gained twenty pounds since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and I haven’t been able to lose it. I’ve had to purchase more underwear.
Second: I have chosen not to dispose of my previous underwear because I hope to someday return to my lighter, thinner weight. Unfortunately, this accumulation of underpants has taken me well over my minimalist wardrobe threshold limits.
Simply put: I have far too many tidy-whiteys in my drawers. So how do I recreate or restart my minimalist underwear wardrobe?
Minimalist Wardrobe Goals
My minimalist wardrobe goals are super simple: I just want to have enough underwear to last for one normal laundry cycle. I think this goal is easily attainable for any man or woman striving towards minimalist perfection. However, as I mentioned above, my underpants wardrobe has grown when it should have shrunk.
To be honest, the number of underwear in my drawers has tripled. For Christmas, I got a week’s worth of underwear from two of my children. One gift set of boxer briefs was sized for my pre-Covid days.
The other set was appropriately sized for my new post-Covid girth. I tossed everything into my underpants drawer.
Now as Christmas is upon us once again, I know I will again receive an abundance of boxer briefs.
The infusion of 16 new boxer briefs into a so-called minimalist underwear drawer curtailed my progress toward a minimalist lifestyle. In a previous blog, I spoke about how minimizing my kitchen cupboard was gratifying and exciting. I want to do the same with my underwear drawer.
I had hoped to continue that progress in my bedroom with my unmentionables. Unfortunately, my overstuffed clothes bureau was a clear indication that somewhere along the way I had failed to achieve my minimalist wardrobe goals.
What To Do With Excess Underwear?
I mulled over my situation for a little while as I brainstormed the best course of action. Being a minimalist not only means reducing what I use, but it also means reducing waste. I cannot simply throw perfectly good underwear in the trash, whether I like the fit or not.
But, if you find that you have a drawer packed full of unworn undies that you don’t like or that no longer fit, it’s time for a clear-out. The key is finding a good and appreciative home for your intimate items.
So, I went sorting through my underwear drawer, gathering clean and new pieces to donate. The thing about donating underwear is that the folks who need these items aren’t as discriminating as you imagine.
I was coming with every excuse in the world as to why no one would want the briefs I wore back in the days when I could run a mile on the treadmill in only thirteen minutes. But why wouldn’t they want clean underwear?
I say this not to look down upon anyone at all. If I needed a pair of underwear and I had to choose between going commando or wearing clean but used boxers, I would take the used undergarments any time. And, chances are the clean briefs will be washed again when they arrive at their new home.
Donations are much better than throwing your undies in a landfill.
Another way to reduce waste and accumulation is to repair old items before buying new items. Now, this may work perfectly for women, but not for me. As a man, I am more likely to wear underwear until it disintegrates into a shredded waistband. I think the old-school comic, Sinbad, explained it best. It’s just what men tend to do.
Brief Solidarity with Sustainability
In the end, I had to reaffirm my commitment to sustainability.
Underwear must provide comfort, support, and if possible, sustainability. Women’s bras need to be made for all-day comfort and functionality. It’s the same as men’s underwear that should continue to support our jostling junk as the day wanes.
However, you are the primary stop-gap between waste when you mindfully decide not to purchase more than you need.
The planet is not a fashion waste-bin. As such, we should not accept single-use concepts for anything, even underwear. We can further support our planet by reducing the need for fast fashion items.
Spending a little more on undergarments that will last for a year or more is the best way to do this in my opinion. This concept works even for special event underwear purchased for birthdays or Valentine’s Day.
Be careful not to spend on materials that harm the environment (100& cotton is compostable.) This may be a crucial consideration when curating your minimalist underwear drawer.
I bit the bullet. I donated all items (new or old) that I could not squeeze my buttocks in. It was more important for me to have high-quality, comfortable undergarments than to see Calvin Klein’s name appearing in my drawer.
And although dreams are a nice start for achievement, there’s no room for dreams in my underwear drawer. If the underwear was not the right fit, I freed them from bondage. I decided to only invest in new underwear of a smaller size when I could wear them, not before.
Sustainable Minimalist Underwear Habits
Maintaining a minimalist underwear drawer means deploying your existing and proven strategies for sustainable shopping. What’s beneficial for your other clothing choices should apply to your underwear too. Instead of constantly buying for utility, hopes, and dreams, plan to invest in fewer, better-quality pieces that fit well and last a long time.
Look at your drawer and sort through what’s there. Smile as you part with items you haven’t worn or cannot wear. Repair what you can – if you dare, and be confident that your journey to minimize and downsize will produce the planet-saving minimalist lifestyle you always wanted.
When you’re ready to move up to the big leagues in big-boy briefs, try SAXX Men’s Underwear – Daytripper Boxer Brief Fly with Built-in Pouch Support – Underwear for Passport Bros.
Brief Conclusion
Start minimalism with underwear.
Undergarments are the easiest clothing items to inspect and give the yay or nay. You either wear them or you don’t. If you wouldn’t wear your underwear in front of a young lady you met in Cambodia, Singapore, or Thailand, they shouldn’t be in your dresser drawer, and you damn sure shouldn’t pack them in your suitcase! Give your boys a treat, and the ladies will love you.