Are men's boxers the new miniskirt?

Boxers don't just look good on Jeremy Allen White or Nick Kamen, who famously stripped down to his white cotton underwear in a memorable 1985 Levi’s commercial, waiting for his jeans 501 to finish washing at the laundromat. Underwear in general - especially men's underwear - continuously reimagined by contemporary brands, adds a twist to the looks of Zendaya, Bella Hadid, Kylie, Kendall Jenner, Florence Pugh, Alexa Chung, and many other celebs who increasingly choose it, even for the red carpet. Nothing new, you might say. Gwen Stefani, Aaliyah, TLC, and even the Destiny's Child - along with other pop punk, rap, hip hop, and pop punk stars - let their underwear peek out from under their pants. Thanks to Miuccia Prada, though, we've gone from visible underwear bands to completely ditching pants. The result? More and more influencers and celebrities leave the bottom part of their outfits at home, much to the horror of those who cringe at the sight. Like Giorgio Armani, who during the last Milan Fashion Week said he was "tired of seeing some lunatic wandering around in underwear on Via Montenapoleone in Milan".

Men's boxers in women's fashion

Miu Miu SS24

Miu Miu SS24

Cormio SS24

Cormio SS24

Stella McCartney SS24

Acne Studios SS24

MSGM SS24

Isabel Marant SS24

Natasha Zinko SS24

Natasha Zinko SS24

Miaou SS24

N°21 SS24

N°21 SS24

Mugler SS24

It all started with Miu Miu, with the unmistakable bands of boxer shorts peeking out from beneath micro-miniskirts in the SS23 show, which - adorned with crystals and paired with turtlenecks and tights in a clear nod to Edie Sedgwick - ended up replacing pants altogether. In the following seasons, boxers and briefs, even in sportswear versions, became increasingly prominent on the runways for many brands and houses. Examples of no pants looks abound in SS24: Miaou and Acne Studios paired briefs with leather jackets, N°21 drew inspiration from boxing shorts, Cormio offered striped or floral variations of boxers, MSGM had models wear them with blazers. Mugler kept it minimal with added buttons, Isabel Marant opted for snug and high-cut designs, and Stella McCartney adorned them with crystals and metallic details. Lastly, London-based designer Natasha Zinko combined five pairs of white briefs into a skirt to be paired with knee-high socks and stilettos.

Celebrities Who've Embraced This Trend

Remember Emma Corrin at the 2023 Venice Film Festival in a full Miu Miu ensemble? Or Julia Fox in gray men's briefs wandering around Los Angeles? The allure of visible underwear continues into 2024. At PFW, Sydney Sweeney wore a pair of blingy Miu Miu briefs worth $5,800, pairing them with a cropped satin tank and a blazer, while Kiernan Shipka opted for a moss green braided Chloé ensemble consisting of a cardigan and briefs. During the press tour for the film Love Lies Bleeding, Kristen Stewart sported Brunello Cucinelli briefs with Wolford tights. And then there's Zendaya, who attended a photocall for the film Challengers in Sydney wearing a Lacoste outfit specially made for her by the brand's new creative director, Pelagia Kolotouros. Would you dare to try this look?