When it comes to underwear, I’m a little promiscuous, waking up with Calvin Klein and going to bed with Tommy Hilfiger. Pinning my hopes on Kim Kardashian to make an honest man of me may not have been the smartest idea.
As part of the sprawling Kardashian empire, reality TV’s brightest star officially entered the domain of men’s underwear last month with her brand Skims. I decided it was time to add another notch to my bedpost.
Skims ambassadors: NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, NFL lineman Nick Bosa and Brazilian soccer player Neymar Jr.
Since launching in 2019, Skims has revolutionised the women’s underwear market with fashionable shapewear, dipped front g-strings and, most recently, nipple push-up bras.
The elasticised empire was valued at $US4 billion ($6 billion) in July, with Kardashian holding an estimated 35 per cent stake in the business.
The company, which plans to expand beyond online into physical stores, expects to reach $US750 million in net sales for 2023, up from $US500 million in 2022.
Following her manipulation of the female form, my imagination boggled at what Kardashian could do below the waist for men.
Lift or separate?
Men shouldn’t expect Skims to change any of their regions, nether or otherwise.
While the women’s range offers dressing solutions that pull in stomachs and push up breasts, mens genitals and buttocks are left to their own devices, with three categories; cotton, stretch and sport.
The men’s Skims collection features boxers and briefs, loungewear and workout gear, but no technical assistance in achieving the intimidating appearance of the brand models plucked from the ranks of the NBA, NFL and soccer. Skims has already become the official underwear partner of the NBA.
Nick Brosa , an NFL player with the San Francisco 49ers in select Skims pieces.
Where are the padded buttock underpants, like those from Rounderbum, which featured on season 9 of the US television series Shark Tank?
Bulge enhancing technology, such as the elastic C-ring embedded in US brand Andrew Christian’s briefs, which proudly presents men’s genitalia, is also absent.
Skims does offer diversity in sizes, stretching from XS to a generous 5XL. This is consistent with other brands, with some Bonds products reaching 7XL and Step One offering some boxer briefs up to 6XL.
What’s in the package?
I ordered a three pack of boxer briefs (3 inch inseam - any longer and I feel as though I’m wearing bike shorts to work) in a tasteful palette of swampy green, gunmetal blue and heather grey.
For good measure, I added a black sleeveless workout top in the hope that I may achieve the same level of pectoral definition as NFL player Nick Bosa, who appears in the advertising campaign.
Despite the women’s Skims collection being stocked by David Jones in Australia, the only way to order the mens is through the brand’s online store, which has Australian pricing. The underwear three-pack was $84 and the workout top set me back $70.
I bypassed the $10 shipping fee by splurging over the $125 mark. The pieces arrived in five working days and I received a follow-up email offering care instructions for my purchases.
The verdict
I was surprised by the tastefulness of the branding, with a discreet Skims logo, which I felt more comfortable flaunting than Elle Macpherson’s moniker on her shelved mens underwear collection from the noughties.
The cotton was soft and the boxer briefs’ cut offered support without strangulation.
Minimal adjustment was required throughout the day, although a humid afternoon did have me occasionally plucking at the waistband for air like a lazy bass player.
Once things cooled down, the boxer briefs were comfortable enough for me to wear to bed.
The muscle top survived my workout, but the silhouette was shorter than some of my other singlets, which make sure that you don’t flash the gym while attempting a chin-up.
I’m uncertain whether I will remain loyal to Kardashian. Since receiving my Skims I’ve still enjoyed days with Calvin, Tommy and Aussie Bum, but they have joined my underwear rotation roster.
Before finally settling down, I might have to wait until shapewear becomes available (those chin-ups aren’t working), which Kardashian says is in development.
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