Briefs for Jeans
I'm a believer.
It’s just what happens: Your underwear shows because your jeans hang low. Was it even a look before Calvin Klein ads made it one in the early 90s? But has it stopped being sexy for even a second since?
I’ve always had a less-is-best attitude about what I wear under my jeans. They’re jeans. Who needs maximum support or coverage in jeans? But then I had a customer who was wondering if she should go up a size in the Georgia tell me that these Spanx made the smaller size feel perfect. “Like it was made just for me,” she wrote, which got me thinking about what the right underwear can do for the relationship we have with our jeans. Had I been missing something all these years? Was underwear – slimming, visible, unisex, or not – actually game-changing? The more I thought about it, the more obvious it seemed. Why wouldn’t the shape-and-mood-enhancing effects of our underpinnings rub off on how we feel in jeans?
There’s a thing happening in denim right now where the rises have gotten more mid. And there’s a thing happening in fashion, too, where what looks like underwear – discreet, drawstring-ed, and Spanx-y – has been attached to the top of very loose-fitting pants. Alaïa currently offers these, which have a built-in girdle made of thick, stretch jersey. I tried them and, gotta say, the band feels great – like, great – and takes all of the pressure off the denim waistband to stay still or even touch the body. For all its structure, I felt so free.
OK, so enough with the warm-up, here’s what I’m saying: Big, brief-style underwear is worth trying. They make lower rises work and feel… better. I like these with my bigger vintage 501s and a boxy boy tee, or with these studded J.Crews. Leave the bottom buttons of your blazer or denim shirt undone, if you like. Should your underwear show – because, say, you bend over to pick up a toddler – it’s cute (v compromising).
To end this letter, let me return to how good it feels to wear something other than a thong under jeans. I say, follow the feeling. How you style briefs or any other supportive thing matters a little less than if you wear it, and if you do, I suspect you’ll think it’s nice and easy to go all day long in. Sometimes, that’s all there is to it.
Thank you for reading and being the most supportive, most enthusiastic subscriber base I’ve ever had. I’ll be back next weekend with a very special guest. Until then, denim forever.
Jane
More to read…
All the great fashion Substackers told me what jeans they’re wearing this fall.
I recently bought these Stella McCartney jeans. No regrets.
asked me why vintage denim continues to trend upwards.
This is the only way you can get me back to low/mid rises. The lacey one is very cute.
YES x yes x yes. If you joined CAKE (Irene Kim had memberships -- more on CAKE soon!) -- there is a lovely savings CAKE card for Fleur du Mal, which is a brand I love. I also think the Miu Miu options looks good b/c there's less to bunch there. I wonder if I couldn't have the dry cleaner turn regular boxers into that shape for a lot less than the Mius. XOXOXO Thanks as always, Jane!