More than Boxers and Briefs: The Latest Breakthrough in Men’s Fashion

When it comes to men who wear lingerie, usually one of two images comes to mind. The first is the Rocky Horror-esque transvestite—a man who gets his sexual kicks wearing women’s undergarments. The other is the flashy drag queen, whose hyperfeminine appearance is usually just for show. But few people consider the fact that straight, cisgender men can—and do!—enjoy wearing frilly, feminine underthings for reasons other than satisfying some secret sexual fetish.

Whether it’s due to the quality of the fabric or simply a desire for variety in their underwear drawer, the fact is that many men enjoy wearing lingerie.

“There’s no variety in the men’s lingerie sold in department stores. It’s boxers and briefs, and if you’re really daring, maybe a thong!” said Australian lingerie designer Brent Krause. “There’s no denying department stores sell good quality, functional underwear, and that’s fine for ninety percent of men. But not me.”

So Krause created Homme Mystere, a line of bras, panties, camisoles, and the like made for men of all types. Pieces range between $20 and $54, and are available for purchase from the Homme Mystere website as well as other select retailers, including six in the United States.

Homme Mystere is unique, not only in its target demographic, but also in its inclusivity. The line is marketed carefully to appeal to regular guys who may simply want to shake up their wardrobe, and in doing so, leaves room for those in fetish and trans* communities.

“I purposely tried to avoid any link to a fetish or any specific kind of label,” said Krause. “If I had done that, it would have meant immediately labeling our customers by default, and I have no idea how my customers view themselves.”

And it’s a good thing—Krause’s client base turns out to be fairly diverse. In a survey done by entertainment network Fusion, several Homme Mystere wearers revealed just what they like about the collection—and why women’s lingerie just isn’t the same.

According to the survey, lingerie appeals to men because of the luxurious quality of the material.

“I was extremely pleased, even excited, and I could see my nipples pressing against the sheer fabric,” said a customer of his first experience wearing a Homme Mystere bra.

Due to their masculine proportions, male lingerie enthusiasts can’t simply stop by Victoria’s Secret to get their frilly fix. Yet, they might not feel comfortable turning to more fetish-oriented retailers just to stock their underwear drawer—which is one of the reasons why Homme Mystere is a game-changer.

“The first [bra] I bought was actually for cross-dressing, in which I wasn’t as interested,” said one customer. “I’ve much preferred the ones from Homme Mystere, which are less concerned with faking the shape of a woman.”

For these men, Homme Mystere represents a shift in the market. As one survey-taker put it, Homme Mystere pieces “have the appeal of feminine lingerie but with a male fit.”

But could it possibly be more than that? Could the rise of non-fetishized male lingerie represent a cultural shift in terms of acceptability? Some survey-takers seemed to think so.

“Frederick’s of Hollywood and Victoria’s Secret are now mainstream, but didn’t start that way,” observed another fan of the men’s intimates collection. “This could be a breakthrough.”

Whether or not the large-scale normalization of male lingerie is on the horizon, it’s something many men have been waiting for. “I’m so glad there is lingerie for us men,” said one reviewer. “I have waited for this for 20 years, I’m 50 years old, and at last it is here and I’m so glad.”

And it’s not just men that are enjoying this enlightenment. Most of Homme Mystere’s customers—a whopping 90% of those surveyed, in fact—report being in relationships with women. Moreover, their female companions are enjoying seeing the line’s offerings as well.

“I have purchased Homme Mystere’s lingerie over the past 2 years. My wife loves when I wear it,” one customer confessed. “In fact, she says she is jealous because my lingerie looks better than hers!”

It makes sense that the designs are so aesthetically pleasing. Krause spent six months perfecting the line’s initial offerings, which went on sale in 2009. Five years later and the designer is getting even more daring. Today, the site sells several unique pieces, such as barely-there “c-strings,” peekaboo bras, and crotchless panties, in addition to their more traditional offerings. But all of the pieces give men the chance to wear designs they might not normally get the chance to.

“Choosing a department store brand of underwear each morning is a no-brainer. Choosing a style of Homme Mystere each morning is a little more fun,” Krause said. “Busy day with meetings, let’s go with PinStripe. Feeling a bit toey? Frill thong.”

The upcoming collection will likely push the envelope even further.

“I’m putting a little more effort into the bras and my seamstress thinks I’m a little crazy with a couple of my ideas,” said Krause. “But until you try something different, how do you know if it’ll work? Might as well have a go.”

That’s a good philosophy for any fashion designer, but it’s especially good advice for men who may be shy to try the innovative line.

It doesn’t matter if you’re gay, straight, cisgender, or trans. Anyone can enjoy the soft touch of silk. Because, as Krause put it, “Life’s too short for plain underwear!”

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