Lingerie Guide

Is There Lingerie for Men?

A guide to lingerie and intimate wear for men — from elevated everyday underwear to explicitly intimate styles, sizing considerations and how to find what works for you.

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Yes — several categoriesMen's intimate wear ranges from elevated everyday underwear to explicitly decorative pieces designed for intimate occasions
No single definition"Lingerie for men" means different things depending on who is asking — from silk boxers to lace briefs to gender-inclusive intimate wear
Fabric matters mostSilk, microfibre, modal and lace transform the intimate wear experience for men in the same way they do for women
Growing marketMen's intimate wear has expanded significantly — luxury brands, specialist labels and gender-inclusive lines all offer options

The short answer is yes. The fuller answer is that "lingerie for men" describes several different things. At one end: elevated everyday underwear — silk boxers, modal briefs, microfibre trunk shorts — that replaces standard cotton with luxurious, skin-close fabrics. At the other end: explicitly intimate wear designed for the bedroom, including lace briefs, sheer pieces and decorative styles. Between these two: gender-inclusive intimate wear from brands that design for all bodies, and a growing category of men's underwear designed specifically to be seen and to create a visual and tactile experience.

What "Lingerie for Men" Covers

Elevated everyday underwear. Silk or satin boxer shorts, modal boxer briefs, microfibre trunks, fine cotton briefs. These are the men's equivalent of a woman choosing a silk chemise over a standard cotton T-shirt for sleep — the same function, dramatically upgraded material. The fabric difference against the skin is the point. Silk satin boxers, for example, move very differently from standard cotton — lighter, smoother, luxuriously cool — and the experience of wearing them is substantially different from cotton, regardless of any aesthetic or intimate context.

Intimate occasion wear. Underwear specifically chosen for intimate occasions rather than everyday function — styles that prioritise appearance and the visual and tactile experience rather than practical all-day wearability. This includes close-fitting briefs and trunks in microfibre, sheer or mesh fabrics, styles with lace detailing, or underwear in bold colours and patterns. This is the direct equivalent of a woman choosing a lace set for an intimate occasion rather than everyday cotton briefs.

Explicitly decorative intimate wear. Lace briefs, sheer underwear, pieces designed specifically for visual effect in intimate contexts. A small but established market — several specialist brands and mainstream intimate wear labels offer these styles, recognising that the desire to feel attractive and to wear beautiful intimate apparel is not gender-specific.

Gender-inclusive and crossdressing intimate wear. Lingerie designed for male bodies wearing typically feminine intimate wear styles — including designs that accommodate male anatomy while providing feminine silhouette styling. A broader cultural shift toward gender-inclusive clothing has made this category more visible and more widely available than it was even five years ago.

Men's Intimate Wear by Style

Style Description Best For
Silk boxer shorts Loose-fitting shorts in silk or satin — the most direct translation of women's luxury sleepwear to men's intimate wear Sleep and loungewear; the most accessible elevated intimate wear for men
Modal boxer briefs Close-fitting briefs in soft modal fabric — significantly softer and more luxurious against skin than standard cotton Elevated everyday wear; the most wearable daily upgrade from cotton
Microfibre briefs and trunks Smooth, lightweight, seamless or minimally seamed briefs — invisible under clothing and very comfortable against skin Everyday elevated wear; also used specifically for intimate occasions when chosen in bold colours or sheer fabric
Lace-detailed briefs Men's briefs with lace trim or lace panels — designed for intimate occasions Intimate occasion wear; the men's parallel to a woman's lace brief
Sheer and mesh underwear Underwear in sheer mesh or near-transparent fabric — designed to be seen Intimate occasion wear; for men who want the visual and tactile quality of decorative intimate wear
Gender-inclusive lingerie Pieces designed to fit male or non-binary anatomies while providing typically feminine silhouette styles Personal expression; intimate occasions; crossdressing or gender expression contexts
Satin pyjama sets Matching satin shirt and short or trouser sets — the men's equivalent of a satin chemise and robe Sleepwear; the most mainstream luxury sleepwear upgrade for men

Fabric: The Biggest Upgrade

The most immediately impactful upgrade in men's intimate wear is fabric. Standard cotton briefs are functional and comfortable, but they do not provide the sensory quality of the fabrics used in women's lingerie. The key fabrics for elevated men's intimate wear:

Silk and satin. The most luxurious option. Silk satin boxers or pyjama shorts feel dramatically different from cotton against the skin — lighter, cooler, smoother, with a gentle drape. Tom Ford, Zimmerli and Paul Smith all produce quality men's silk intimate wear at investment price points.

Modal. A plant-derived fabric (from beech wood pulp) with a naturally silky handle — softer than cotton with a slight sheen. Calvin Klein, CDLP and Hanro produce well-regarded modal men's underwear. More durable and easier to care for than silk.

Microfibre. Lightweight, smooth, quick-drying synthetic fabric — produces a seamless, smooth fit under clothing and a noticeably different skin-feel to cotton. Widely available across price points from Calvin Klein to HOM to more affordable options.

Lace. For explicitly intimate occasions or personal preference. Men's lace briefs use the same fabric as women's lace knickers — the fabric quality and texture experience is identical. The difference is in the cut and construction, which accommodates male anatomy.

Sizing Men's Intimate Wear

For men's underwear in standard men's styles (boxers, briefs, trunks), sizing follows waist measurement in inches or centimetres. UK men's underwear sizing typically runs from XS (28–30 inch waist) through to 3XL (46–48 inch waist), with most brands covering S–XXL. Always check the brand's specific size guide — men's sizing is more consistent than women's lingerie sizing but still varies.

For men buying women's lingerie styles (briefs, bodysuits, lace pieces), sizing requires more consideration. Women's brief sizing is based on hip measurement rather than waist, which produces different results for male and female bodies. Some specialist brands that design women's lingerie for male bodies provide adapted size guides based on waist and hip measurements. For gender-inclusive pieces, size guides are typically given in specific body measurements rather than gender-coded size labels.

Men's Intimate Wear Tips

Start With FabricThe most accessible upgrade in men's intimate wear is swapping standard cotton for silk, modal or microfibre. The sensory difference — lighter, softer, smoother, cooler against the skin — is immediately noticeable and does not require any change in style or silhouette. A modal boxer brief or a pair of satin boxer shorts provides a substantially different wearing experience from cotton without any visual change to what you are wearing.
Elevated Everyday Wear Is the Most Accessible Entry PointFor men new to considering intimate wear beyond standard cotton basics, elevated everyday underwear — quality modal briefs, microfibre trunks, silk satin sleep shorts — is the most natural starting point. These are simply better versions of things most men already wear, with no requirement to change style preferences or enter a new aesthetic territory. Many men find that trying a single pair of quality modal boxer briefs permanently changes their approach to underwear.
Intimate Occasion Wear Follows the Same Logic as Women's LingerieThe principle that applies to women choosing lingerie for intimate occasions — choosing what makes you feel attractive and good in yourself, rather than defaulting to whatever is ordinary — applies equally to men. A pair of quality microfibre briefs in a rich colour or a close-fitting style chosen specifically for an intimate occasion produces an equivalent effect to the deliberate lingerie choices women make in the same context.
Gender-Inclusive Options Are Widely AvailableMen who want to wear styles traditionally associated with women's lingerie now have a wider range of options than at any previous point. Several specialist brands produce women's lingerie styles — lace briefs, babydolls, teddies — in cuts adapted for male bodies. Gender-inclusive intimate wear from brands like HOM (lace briefs explicitly designed for men), Masculinity in Pink and others makes this category accessible without the need to guess at sizing conversions from women's patterns.
Care for Luxury Fabrics CorrectlySilk, modal and fine microfibre intimate wear requires the same care as women's lingerie in the same fabrics: hand wash or delicate machine cycle, cool water, no fabric softener, no tumble drying. Silk in particular needs cold water and a silk-specific detergent and should be laid flat or hung to dry away from direct sunlight. Treating quality men's intimate wear with the same care as women's lingerie extends its life significantly.
Wearing What You Want Is a Personal ChoiceWhether the motivation is sensory (preferring the feel of fine fabrics), aesthetic (enjoying the visual quality of intimate wear), intimate (choosing pieces for their effect in an intimate context) or personal expression (wearing styles traditionally coded as feminine because that is what feels right), what men wear as intimate wear is a personal choice with no obligation to explain or justify to anyone. The category of intimate wear is growing specifically because the desire to feel good in what you wear against your skin is not unique to women.

Brands and Where to Find Men's Intimate Wear

Men's elevated everyday underwear: Calvin Klein (modal and microfibre basics), Hanro (luxury cotton and modal), Zimmerli (Swiss quality fine cotton and silk), Paul Smith (patterned silk satin), CDLP (Swedish sustainable modal), Derek Rose (silk and fine cotton). Men's intimate occasion wear: HOM (Temptation collection — specifically marketed as men's lingerie with lace and sheer options), Male Power, Gregg Homme. Gender-inclusive intimate wear: several smaller specialist brands produce women's lingerie styles designed for male anatomy — search "men's lingerie UK" or "gender-inclusive intimate wear" for current options. Mainstream retailers including ASOS, M&S and John Lewis also stock elevated men's underwear across modal, microfibre and satin options at a range of price points.

For women's lingerie care and styling inspiration, see our full Lingerie Guides hub. Browse our collection at Ava Noir.

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Explore our full range of intimate wear at Ava Noir.

Our Lingerie Guides hub covers every aspect of lingerie — from choosing and sizing to wearing, caring for and gifting intimate wear.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there lingerie for men?Yes. Men's intimate wear covers: elevated everyday underwear in luxury fabrics (silk, modal, microfibre); intimate occasion wear in close-fitting styles and decorative fabrics; explicitly decorative pieces including lace and sheer styles; gender-inclusive intimate wear designed for male bodies in typically feminine styles; and luxury sleepwear including satin pyjamas and silk robe sets. The market has expanded considerably and continues to grow.
What is the best men's intimate wear fabric?Depends on purpose. For luxury sleepwear: silk satin boxer shorts or pyjama sets. For elevated everyday wear: modal (softest and most durable natural-origin fabric) or microfibre (lightest and smoothest synthetic). For intimate occasions: microfibre in close-fitting styles, or sheer and lace options for a more explicitly decorative effect. All provide a substantially different experience from standard cotton.
Can men wear women's lingerie?Yes. Men who want to wear styles traditionally associated with women's lingerie have several options: specialist brands that produce women's lingerie styles in cuts adapted for male anatomy; gender-inclusive intimate wear designed for all bodies; or standard women's lingerie sized to fit by comparing waist and hip measurements with the brand's size guide. Whether the reason is sensory, aesthetic, intimate or personal expression, wearing whatever intimate apparel feels right is a personal choice.
Where can men buy lingerie in the UK?For elevated everyday men's underwear: Calvin Klein, Hanro, Paul Smith, M&S, ASOS and John Lewis. For men's intimate occasion wear: HOM (Temptation collection specifically marketed as men's lingerie), Male Power and specialist online retailers. For gender-inclusive intimate wear: specialist online brands — search "men's lingerie UK" or "gender-inclusive intimate wear UK" for current options. Most mainstream retailers' men's underwear ranges include upgraded fabric options alongside standard cotton.
What should men wear for an intimate occasion?Whatever makes you feel attractive and good in yourself — the same principle that applies to women choosing lingerie for intimate occasions. Practically: a pair of well-fitting modal or microfibre briefs or trunks in a rich colour, a quality close-fitting style in a smooth fabric, or more explicitly decorative options if that is your preference. The upgrade from standard cotton basics to quality intimate wear in a luxurious fabric produces an equivalent effect for men as it does for women — and the gesture of considered choice communicates the same thing.