We all have underwear of last resort, you know the ones – the underpants we only wear when there is no other underwear available. When you are wearing your last pair of underpants, you know it.
In my case the underwear, which is only just better than no underwear, is a pair of Jockey shorts with a rather interesting cut and seam placement; They are a little too long, so I can’t wear them with a lot of shorts, and they tend to create interesting divisions and placements of essential equipment, so there is a lot of adjusting; but they serve their specific purpose.
All underwear can serve a purpose. Bridget Jones introduced men to the idea of granny pants to look good or feel comfortable, and then lace panties when you want someone else to see them. My underpants serve a purpose: briefs for the gym or contact sport, merino wool quick dry for travel, cotton boxers for jeans, etc. The underwear of last resort also serves a purpose: A very strong reminder that you need to do your laundry!
I have just had a breaking of a drought. Literally. There is rain and, with no dryer, there is not much clean laundry after a trip away. Luckily today is clear and tomorrow I won’t have to wear loose boxers with loose shorts (too looses don’t make a tight!) which is not much more supportive than going commando, or undergarment free. In worst case scenarios, when in the past my emergency smalls were barely keeping their elastic, the constant pulling up of the underwear of last resort meant it was time to buy another pair of y-fronts.
You may ask, why keep a pair of uncomfortable smalls? Well, this way I can check the cut of these and make sure I never buy this style again. And, quite frankly, a day of being a little uncomfortable is a pretty good way to remind yourself to do the laundry, in a manner turning your undies inside out will never replicate.
The underwear of last resort reminds of all the ways life changes when we grow up. We have to do our own laundry and most and, perhaps surprising of all, that a pair of socks and jocks is usually a good Christmas present. And, while we’re at it, I only have 2 pairs of socks left in my draw as well.
Do you have underwear of last resort? Do you have specific pairs for specific occasions?
