Like everything else old that has become new again, boxer shorts as daywear are back. Within the past month, I passed a stylish young lady on Walnut Street sporting a pair with a casual jacket over a tee, socks, loafers, baseball cap, and just like right about of confidence. As risky as wearing a pair of boxers outside of a pair of pants (and I acknowledge that they would be even more risky bunching up under a pair of pants), I wonder if she knew how unoriginal she actually was.
Because this lewk reeks of the mid 1990s.
Recently, I posted to IG story a couple pairs of boxer shorts I bought for myself as something to change into when I got home from work but before proper pajamas. I don’t have to worry about busting my budget with extra trips to the dry cleaner if I should get my work clothes messy. Along with a sweatshirt, it is the ideal outfit for at home happy houring, prepping dinner, and feeding the littles. Six pairs, enough for one extra for a full workweek.
I could not have imagined the feedback I got from my Gen X and Millenial friends. It seems my IG story involuntarily dragged a ton of viewers down memory lane. Per my real estate agent and friend, Galit:
Boxers as shorts with a men’s white v-neck. My jam in the 90s. 😬
Galit Winokur
Back then rather than wearing a pair of boxers outside of my outfit, I found a use of them for layering under overalls. Do you remember how baggy overalls were back then? Those with small waists who preferred the overalls oversized, ran the risk of exposing underpants. I found that a pair of boxers combated wardrobe malfunctions of this variety.
By the summer of 1999, boxers were largely in my rearview. However, I distinctly recall visiting the local American Eagle boxers summer 1999 immediately before the first day of school. I spied a few stacks of women’s white boxer shorts. Each stack featured a floral doodle in bright thick pen-like strokes. I knew my mom would not go for buying me a pair, since we were deep in school shopping season. Alas, the boxers now live in my memory and here on the blog where I am logging said memory.
Now that I have my own damn paycheck, I will buy my own damn boxers and make some dinner prepping, baby feeding memories wearing them.
