The need for male strippers to constantly replace or upgrade their underwear supply can become very expensive unless they learn where, when and how to shop to save money.
Depending on the brand and style, the price of a single pair of men's underwear can be as much as $30 to $50. As a photographer of male strippers, I purchase and provide the underwear for my models to wear. I refuse to pay full-price and have learned several ways to buy underwear at a discount without sacrificing style. I want to share with you how this is possible.
What style of underwear do male strippers wear?
The most popular type of men's underwear worn by male strippers is the boxer brief. This style of underwear can be found in retail stores where men's clothing is sold. It comes in a variety of colors and is made under many different brand names. I've also purchased several pair of boxer briefs for photo shoots and male stripper costumes on ebay.
The legs on boxer briefs come in differing sizes. The trunk is the shortest. The basic boxer brief is a little longer. And there are sports performance boxer briefs that reach to just above the knee.
In gay clubs the jock strap and ass-less underwear have become very popular. The brief has remained a staple over the years particularly in colors other than white, except at White Parties.
Thongs appear from time-to-time. They are particularly worn by members of a male-review show that caters to females. But it is worth noting that the thong is very popular with gay male customers as well.
What type of price difference is there in men's underwear?
The price of men's underwear is based mainly on the brand name. A department store or generic brand will be less expensive and most often will come in basic solid colors and prints, and tend to be less stylish. They are basically utility underwear that serve their purpose without much fanfare.
These will often be packaged in a multi-pack of 3 or 5 pair of underwear for one low price. A multi-pack will bring the cost down to $3-$5 per pair.
The underwear manufactured under designer brand labels will be significantly more expensive but will most often be modern and reflect current styles. There is a wide range of colors and creative prints.
Some brands offer multi-packs of 3 or 5 pair but many are sold in single pair packaging. Expect to pay $15 and up per pair. While researching for this blog I found the average price for new arrival underwear for Andrew Christian was about $22-$25 per pair.
How do I find men's underwear at bargain prices?
Bargain prices on men's underwear can be found at retail shops, discount shopping stores and online. The trade off is some of your time. If you do not have any extra time, then I recommend that you shop online, select the styles you want, and pay the price required. This will save you time.
If you are a brand whore who only shops at high-end retail stores, or if you must have the latest-and-the-greatest in men's underwear, then why are you reading this blog? Stop now.
If on the other hand, you like bargain shopping and have some free time each week, prepare to become a bargain hunter.
Shopping In Stores
Are you the type of shopper who would rather see, touch and feel the merchandise before making the purchase? Then I recommend the following for finding bargain prices on men's underwear.
Name Brand Outlet Stores
Before I travel on a road trip, I search online for outlet stores that are on the route I will be traveling. When I fly, I search for outlet stores in my destination city. I get a little extra exercise by shopping my way through the various stores. And, I always find great prices on popular name brand underwear. Remember to check the clearance rack for additional possible discounts.
You can find several mall brands and some designer brands at outlet stores. I have often purchased American Eagle underwear at these locations. They have fun designs, vibrant colors and the fabric is soft and clings in the right places.
Discount Retail Stores
I am a fan of TJ Maxx, Gordman's, Ross, Burlington Coat Factory and Marshalls. These five stores are located in the area where I live. I have found such brand names as Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Papi, Diesel, Penguin, Buffalo and others. The prices are great.
The strategy for being a successful shopper at these stores is to go often. Find out the day of the week when they stock their new merchandise. The discount retail stores are heavily shopped and unless you are prepared to visit often, you may miss some excellent buys.
After Holiday Sales
I shop ahead. I mean even a year ahead. When possible I shop the day after a holiday has passed to obtain a substantial discount. This is mainly for holiday themed men's underwear. For example, I have purchased for the following holidays on the day or week after they have passed: Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day, Independence Day, Halloween and Christmas.
Inventory Clearance Sales
All retail type businesses have to do inventory each year. For many this will be in January as they are starting a new year. At this time they will often place significant discounts on many of their products.
There are also seasonal clearance sales. The unsold Fall merchandise is moved out to allow more room for the Spring merchandise. This also happens when moving Spring merchandise for the next Fall.
The merchandise that is left and on sale at this time is those items that no one was wanting to buy at full price. It is worth checking to find that one gem of a product that was overlooked.
Shopping Online
More people are shopping online than ever before. If you have no problem looking at an image of a product and purchasing it then this might work for you. Be aware that some merchants do not allow the return of underwear.
There are many discount sites online that will sale underwear at reduced prices. I recommend that you check Amazon.com and Ebay.com. When looking at products at online sites such as these, make sure that 'pre-worn' is not a part of the description. This will be listed under 'condition'.
I have signed up for the newsletters of many online men's underwear vendors. By doing this, I receive notice when they are having sales. There are a lot of these.
You might want to create an email account at gmail or somewhere similar where these emails are sent. This will keep your main inbox from getting cluttered. Just be sure to check the account at least weekly to see what sales are coming up.
Some of the vendors will do flash sales where certain products are on sale for 24 hours. Some of these will give large discounts.
I personally like the Andrew Christian brand. The designs are created with gay men in mind. This is most obvious in the design of the pouches that snuggle 'the boys'. Check out their clearance listings for discounted prices.
The Truth About Underwear Worn By Male Strippers
One might think that a male stripper needs to wear expensive, name-brand label underwear but this is not true. In all honesty, most fans and customers are focused more on what physical assets are being displayed in the underwear, rather than the label being worn.
I recommend that you be most concerned about fit and style, and less about brand. The goal of any pair of underwear is to encourage the customers to step up to the dancer and tip. Tipping is most successful when the underwear fits well on what Mother Nature has given you.
Final Thoughts
If you are willing to put in a little time and work, you can find great underwear at the best prices. Purchase underwear as often as you can to keep your look fresh. Purchase underwear that goes with the theme of your costume, or the theme of the night.
I have included links to underwear for Andrew Christian and for Ebay. I chose to become an affiliate with both of these vendors because I have used them for several years and have found them to be good sources for men's underwear products for use in this industry.
Wish.com is where I buy all my underwear from and it’s cheaper than Ebay/Amazon.
First, thanks for reading the blog. And, thank you for the comment and the info. I went to wish.com and I see some great deals there. I’ll order something from them and test shipping, etc. and see how it goes. If it works the same for me, I’ll add them to this blog.
I have ordered from cheapundies.com probably in excess of 20 times. They sale many big brands and post new deals daily they can go through some dry spells but the prices are great. Shipping every time I ordered has been outstanding. They also have member benefits and additional discounts.
I am familiar with the cheapundies brand. I thought they only sold their own brand and did not realize they carried other brands. I will order from them and see what type of experience I have with them. If it is a positive experience, I will add them to this blog. Thank you for reading the blog and for the feedback.