In Praise of Y-Fronts - 6 Seams and Pockets

Such has been the impact of Y-fronts that they have become a universal shorthand for men's underwear over the years although none of the competition have the upside down 'Y' seam which gives the garment it's name. The fork of the Y frames the pocket in which the male organs rest in a most satisfying way.

The shape and size of the pocket varies, small ones creating a 'trapped' effect while broader styles bring the area forward visually.

The other salient feature, traditionally, is the high waist which looks a bit old-fashioned in this day and age – but in a way that's part of the appeal, suggesting an innate modesty in their wearer which is endearing. The wearer is no flashy kid, but a mature adult who favours comfort over image and who expects to reveal his underwear only to the select few.

Modern Y-fronts however do make concessions to the trend to skimpier fits and this picture shows a lower waisted example which is by no means short on erotic appeal. 

 

The superman tattoo on this model makes a nice connection to the heyday of Y-fronts in the 50s and the joke about wearing of underpants outside his tights.

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In Praise of Y-Fronts 5 - Baggies

Because Y-Fronts are designed for comfort there is a tendency towards bagginess, especially in well used – or should I say much loved - examples. You can see this in the pictures of Dustin I posted earlier and I've added more views here (thanks to Buk Buddies again).

The baggy Y-front has been much ridiculed by the media and those women who get a kick out of mocking male stereotypes. Personally I don't find baggy underwear sexy in itself but the statement it makes about the wearer can be attractive. It certainly doesn't detract from Dustin's sexiness.

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The reality of any garment – male or female - is nearly always different front the glossy image portrayed by a model. And the image can be magnificent!

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Humble Y-fronts? No way, these garments are mighty masculine apparel.

The modesty more apparent than real in these examples.

On a practical level, any red blooded male will be happy to claim that 'room to grow' is essential whilst aficionados of the feel of cotton on the skin can (in private moments) appreciate the luxurious freedom of movement within.

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In Praise Of Y-Fronts - 4 Invidious Comparisons

Today's pictures are intended illustrate the 'undressed' effect I talked about in the last post. The vintage model posed in Y's and boots is intentionally sexual despite the superficial modesty. Forty years on, this picture still manages to deliver a sense of shock at seeing underwear inappropriately exposed. In fact the picture positively reeks of seedy sex.

The striped slip below which is slightly later it captures a little of the same effect by virtue of it's unfashionable pattern. 

Contrast this effect with the selection of more modern, overtly sexy and fashionable underwear below. Younger readers may have a different perspective but to me the other models don't look undressed at all – at least no more than a man on the beach in swimming trunks does.

These garments are intended to be seen and admired. The skimpy line, close fit and uncluttered look is certainly attractive but the image lacks the extra charge that comes from a sense of indiscreet exposure.

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There are 3 other “In Praise of...” series at mitchmen in which Mitchell the gay fetish artist describes the allure of Jock Straps, Swimming Trunks and Sailors and the influence they have on to his drawings. Use the search functions in the side bar to find them.

In Praise Of Y-Fronts - 3 Caught Undressed

I have always been turned on by Y-front style underwear on men. To me this garments seems to say 'I'm a man and real men don't dress in skimpy or coloured underwear, we wear practical garments'. And because the seams and pockets clearly show the functionality of the garment, they highlight what is contained within. So that same modesty also dictates they be kept hidden as far as possible. So when I see a man standing in Y-fronts, it doesn't mean he is trying to look sexy it means he has been caught undressed, his intimate garments exposed for all to see. That's sexy!

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These pictures are from Buk Buddies, now defunct,
but one of the few sites that proudly featured Y-Front style underwear.
The model is Dustin.

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In Praise of Y-Fronts - 2. Catalogues

I don't imagine I am the only person in the world whose adolescent development was lit up by images of men in newspapers, pictures from football matches and other sporting events and adverts selling men's underwear. Later I discovered Shopping Catalogues and feasted my eyes on the wide selection of garments on offer.

These underwear ads were the most exciting because they showed garments that were supposed to be hidden from view and worn by handsome young men too. I loved the way these ads placed men in underwear in situations where they ought to be fully dressed – it was quite shocking to my youthful sensibilities – and unbelievably sexy.

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The sop to 'decency' was that the models always wore vests as well as pants, so no nipples or belly buttons, which might inflame the reader, were visible - even through the cotton. The vests were always tucked into the pants and the tackle was generally morphed into a smooth unrecognisable lump. One of the pictures shown here seems to have slipped through the last test.

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In Praise of Y-Fronts - 1 (Boys will be Boys)

Today's post introduces a series of articles called 'In Praise of Y-Fronts'
in which I show my appreciation of a much loved garment.

 I love to dress my boys in white underwear.

In this series I explain why
and give some favourite pictures of how to wear them well.

Mitchell - Boys Will Be Boys

This picture is an image from Mitchell's "S+M Clinic" series posted at mitchmen (Yahoo Group).
All the pictures and Story can be seen by joining the mitchmen Yahoo Group (link in right sidebar).

Read Part 2 

Other titles in the In Praise Of..... series covered 
jock straps, swimming trunks and sailors 
and can be found by using the search functions.

Mitchell's A-Z of Fetish Artists - Conclusion of Letter 'I'

I generally select a favourite artist for each letter. Very often it's an obvious choice and sometimes I have to weigh up a couple of contenders, but I find it difficult with this group. I don't feel I know any of the artists really well, either because of lack of material or because their genre is not my thing. The Japanese contenders generate a lot of atmosphere in their pictures but the facial expressions are not really the stuff of erotic dreams and, in my collection at least, there's more sex than fetish. So I'm going to plump for Iceman on the grounds of cute men and plenty of pain. See the example below.

For link see original Iceman post

For earlier posts in this series click on the A-Z label below