Trunks

“These are a newer style and offer the simplest silhouette, ideal for wearing under slim-fit trousers. They sit perfectly on the hip, a little lower than other styles, and are short in the leg, cutting across mid-thigh, which make them best for men with skinnier legs.”

Take care with ‘hipster’ styles, warn the experts at M&S; they sit low, so work best with tucked in shirts. Or you risk an intimate breeze every time you bend down.

Boxer Briefs

“Boxer briefs are a hybrid between the traditional boxer short and the trunk – they sit on the waist and are slightly longer in the leg. Universally flattering and versatile, they’re the go-to option for most. Particularly good for those with fuller buttocks.”

Athletic

“If you’ve ever tried to run in baggy boxers, we sympathize. Athletic underwear comes with special requirements – it has to keep you in place and be breathable enough to cope with sweaty gym sessions.”

Best Men’s Underwear

Calvin Klein

You don’t need us to tell you that Calvin Klein is the daddy of all men’s underwear brands, but we’re going to tell you anyway. Ever since that not-so-subtle branded waistband graced the hips of Marky Mark, the sight of a pair of snug Calvins has become sartorial shorthand for ‘man who’s serious about his undercrackers’.

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Ron Dorff

Ron Dorff’s statement of intent is ‘Swedish functionality with French style’. Mercifully, that’s delivered through its un-flashy, well-made men’s underwear range. Fabric-covered waistbands, discreet design, and crowd-pleasing colors make this brand the Apple of the underwear world: plenty of brains and no shortage of beauty.

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Marks and Spencer

Marks and Spencer used to be the place your grandad would head for men’s underwear that did the job and not much else. Today, though, Marks and Spencer’s underwear designs combine a wallet-friendly price tag with a surprisingly comprehensive range of colors and patterns. Move over gramps.