9 Tips on How to Choose the Right Underwear
As a kid, a pair of underwear is the last thing you want to find when you tear into a holiday present. But as an adult who doesn’t always have the time or energy to seek out underwear that looks good and is actually comfortable to wear? Getting premium gift undies is an absolute delight.
So how do you get the right pair? Let the underwear experts give you a hand! Just follow these 9 handy tips on how to choose underwear for someone special. Whether you are looking for mens underwear or womens underwear, we’ve got you covered.
1. Make sure you’re shopping for the right person
No matter how you try to reason it out, underwear is an intimate gift that should be given with care. It’s important to choose your target audience right, no matter how well you pick it out. if you’re giving undies at an office Secret Santa, you’re sending out a creepy vibe, whether or not you mean to. But if you’re buying underwear for your partner, you have the opportunity to give them a gift they can enjoy without sending the wrong message.
2. Don’t guess the sizing
If you want to know how to choose underwear size for female or male body types, you can either be discreet or flat-out ask, but not buying the right size of underwear is a disappointment for everyone involved. If you live with your partner or spend a fair amount of time with them, you probably know which undies they wear every day and which ones they save for laundry day, so check for the right size or take a quick measurement. Or just ask! It’s much better to spoil the surprise than spoil the mood. Better yet, check out this underwear size chart to get the best-fitting underwear you can.
3. Get to know their style
There’s no shortage of styles when it comes to underwear designs. If you’ve never seen your giftee wearing a particular underwear style that suits their body type, there’s probably a reason for that. (And if you’ve never seen their underwear at all, go back and read number one again.) It’s okay to stray outside their comfort zone a bit. A guy who likes boxers may not realize how much they love a pair of briefs or boxer briefs until they try them. It is important to be aware of both the similarities and differences between boxers vs briefs so that they won’t be disappointed. Keep in mind, sometimes changing the underwear style may affect the size, especially when there’s a big difference in the amount of coverage.
Some of the most popular mens underwear types include:
- Boxer Brief
- Relaxed Fit Boxer
- Trunk
- Square Cut
Some of the most popular womens underwear types include:
- Brief
- High Rise Brief
- Thong
- Boyshort
- Cheeky
4. Put comfort first
Remember, you’re buying something for them, not for yourself. While most people like to look good in their underwear, it’s a lot harder to feel the part if your underwear doesn’t feel good to wear. Comfortable underwear should have soft or nonexistent seams and be designed to stay in place without sliding around or riding up into a wedgie.
5. Don’t skimp on quality
No one needs help buying discount undies. Even if they look great, a gift is the opportunity to give them something they might not splurge on for themself - and you certainly don’t want to send the wrong signal by being a cheapskate. Plus, high-quality garments tend to last a lot longer, which means they’ll have more opportunities to think of you.
6. Pick colors with care
Depending on your style, wearing the wrong color of underwear with your outfit will cause it to stand out in a bad way. If they can’t stand the color you choose then your gift won’t make its way into rotation very often. This is another moment to do some quick recon. Try to pick the best underwear hue that fits into their current style - or just pushes the edges a little bit.
7. Feel out the right fabric
Underwear stays in close contact with the most sensitive areas on your body. That means the best underwear should have soft, cozy, and breathable fabric. It also needs to be engineered to withstand whatever your day throws at it. Silk only passes half of this test - no matter how soft it feels, it won’t perform under pressure. As soon as you work up a sweat, it will stay damp and suffocate your skin. While not every pair of underwear has to withstand a workout routine, the right pair should be able to manage moisture without putting your health at risk.
Some of the best underwear fabrics include:
- Satin
- Cotton
- Lace
- Spandex
8. Play it cool
No matter how much time and energy you spent choosing the most perfect underwear, don’t get too enthusiastic when it’s time for them to open it. Gifts should feel effortless to give and receive, and the less pressure there is, the more likely they’ll be able to enjoy it the way they want to.
9. Personalize it with a message
On its own, underwear is just an article of clothing. If you don’t put time and care into crafting a good message to go along with it, the gift will never carry the weight it should. Write a message from the heart and even if they don’t love the underwear you chose, they’ll appreciate the gift a lot more.
The bottom line
Tommy John specializes in men’s and women’s underwear that balance style and comfort so you can look good and feel good whenever you slip them on. Help your gift speak louder than words by choosing quality underwear made from smart fabrics that can keep you comfortable all day long.
Still worried they won’t like it? Don’t. We back all of our undies with our Best Pair Guarantee - if they don’t love it, they can exchange it for something else or return it for a full refund, no questions asked.
