Boxer Rebellion
March 20, 2016 2:40 PM Subscribe
My 14-year-old daughter wants to start wearing boxer shorts instead of panties (not all the time, I think; just when she's not feeling particularly girly). She wears size 7 panties. What is the appropriate size of boxer for her to wear?
When I looked into the matter, I immediately became confused by the fact that panty sizes apparently refer to hips, while boxer short sizes refer to waists, and I know the hip:waist ratio varies considerably between men and women. So what I'm hoping is that those of you who are women who like to wear boxer shorts will be able to give me some tips on what would feel comfortable for my daughter. Thanks.
When I looked into the matter, I immediately became confused by the fact that panty sizes apparently refer to hips, while boxer short sizes refer to waists, and I know the hip:waist ratio varies considerably between men and women. So what I'm hoping is that those of you who are women who like to wear boxer shorts will be able to give me some tips on what would feel comfortable for my daughter. Thanks.
Might she be interested in TomboyX? They're boy-style underwear for ladies.
posted by youcancallmeal at 2:44 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by youcancallmeal at 2:44 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Boxers are rather roomy. So go by the waist size on a small pack, see how she likes 'em. Adjust accordingly.
Or, go up one size, roll down the waistband.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 2:46 PM on March 20, 2016
Or, go up one size, roll down the waistband.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 2:46 PM on March 20, 2016
Best answer: At a size 7 panty, she's probably a medium men's boxer, but the best way to find out (without buying anything) would be to try on some men's pants, since they are also sized by waist size.
posted by capricorn at 2:47 PM on March 20, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by capricorn at 2:47 PM on March 20, 2016 [4 favorites]
I'm about that size and smalls are very comfortable for me. Is she has a strong hourglass shape she may need to adjust but I'd start there.
posted by tchemgrrl at 3:33 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by tchemgrrl at 3:33 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
You might want to ask her if she wants boxers or boxer briefs--I'm a female who often wears boxer briefs, because boxers bunch terrible under women's clothing, even things like jeans. Boxer briefs often hit the sweet spot.
And re: sizing: if she has capital-H hips, I'd get her a medium, otherwise, I'd start with a small.
posted by mishafletch at 3:41 PM on March 20, 2016 [6 favorites]
And re: sizing: if she has capital-H hips, I'd get her a medium, otherwise, I'd start with a small.
posted by mishafletch at 3:41 PM on March 20, 2016 [6 favorites]
If she is very curvy, she may do better with women's boxers - you can get ones that look essentially identical to men's boxers but have a narrower waist. Searching for things like "women's flannel boxers" will find them.
Otherwise I'd start with a single size small and step up to medium if it's too tight anywhere. If she wants to try men's boxer briefs, definitely start with a medium.
posted by Candleman at 4:17 PM on March 20, 2016
Otherwise I'd start with a single size small and step up to medium if it's too tight anywhere. If she wants to try men's boxer briefs, definitely start with a medium.
posted by Candleman at 4:17 PM on March 20, 2016
Perhaps your daughter might consider Uniqlo boy shorts? They are like boxer briefs, but sized and shaped for women, and I've found them especially comfortable under jeans or trousers.
posted by needled at 5:00 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by needled at 5:00 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Former men's-boxers-wearing 14-year-old girl here. My quick and dirty rule for buying men's clothes is to get one letter size down from my women's size. So if she generally wears a women's L, try a men's M.
I agree with capricorn's idea to try on some men's pants to get an idea. Pajama pants, sweatpants, running shorts, most elastic-waist stuff will be in the ballpark.
posted by Metroid Baby at 5:11 PM on March 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
I agree with capricorn's idea to try on some men's pants to get an idea. Pajama pants, sweatpants, running shorts, most elastic-waist stuff will be in the ballpark.
posted by Metroid Baby at 5:11 PM on March 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
I really like Uniqlo men's boxer briefs, the stretchy synthetic ones not the loose cotton ones. They have a fly, in case you need a spot to hold two plums and a pen knife, and they come in nice patterns. They're effectively gender neutral in a way that's attractive and flattering for all genders who wear 'em.
posted by tapir-whorf at 5:28 PM on March 20, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by tapir-whorf at 5:28 PM on March 20, 2016 [6 favorites]
The Hanes jersey boxer briefs in a small may change her life.
(I mostly wear the Ibex boxer briefs in small and medium now, but they are very spendy. Hanes are great for the price)
posted by hollyholly at 5:38 PM on March 20, 2016
(I mostly wear the Ibex boxer briefs in small and medium now, but they are very spendy. Hanes are great for the price)
posted by hollyholly at 5:38 PM on March 20, 2016
To state the obvious, boxers or boxer briefs made for men have space in front for a penis and testicles. So when people without that set of genitalia wear them, that extra fabric tends to bunch up uncomfortably in the nether regions, and the legs tend to ride up because nothing is weighting the underwear downwards.
I'm a trans guy so I put something in that space to make them fit right. Assuming your child doesn't want to do that, I recommend boxer briefs/boyshorts made for women. I can't recommend a brand because I don't wear underwear intended for women but looks like the other commenters have that covered. One more thing I don't have direct knowledge of, but to consider - If she uses menstrual pads they might fit really weird in men's underwear since they're cut differently.
If she really does want to wear boxers intended for men then I'd check out some boys underwear, which doesn't have as much extra fabric in front for obvious reasons. Size 18-20 might work. You can get like 3 pair for $5 at Target so we're not talking about a huge investment.
posted by desjardins at 5:52 PM on March 20, 2016 [8 favorites]
I'm a trans guy so I put something in that space to make them fit right. Assuming your child doesn't want to do that, I recommend boxer briefs/boyshorts made for women. I can't recommend a brand because I don't wear underwear intended for women but looks like the other commenters have that covered. One more thing I don't have direct knowledge of, but to consider - If she uses menstrual pads they might fit really weird in men's underwear since they're cut differently.
If she really does want to wear boxers intended for men then I'd check out some boys underwear, which doesn't have as much extra fabric in front for obvious reasons. Size 18-20 might work. You can get like 3 pair for $5 at Target so we're not talking about a huge investment.
posted by desjardins at 5:52 PM on March 20, 2016 [8 favorites]
I am a lady who is a size 6 or 7 ladies underpants, depending on the style (12-14ish women's pants), and I am either a medium or large in men's boxers, which I like to wear to sleep. She is unlikely to fit in a small. I can't even get them over my hips.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 6:48 PM on March 20, 2016
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 6:48 PM on March 20, 2016
That women's underwear sizes are different than pants sizes comes as a revelation to me may lend more credibility to my claims about the best boxer briefs, ha.
posted by hollyholly at 7:13 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by hollyholly at 7:13 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
I wear (wore) a size 5 in women's underwear, size small in men's and boy's L or XL, so adjust upward accordingly. Men's S is slightly baggy on me, boy's L are pretty snug.
posted by desjardins at 7:24 PM on March 20, 2016
posted by desjardins at 7:24 PM on March 20, 2016
I'm not picky and buy ladies Hanes packaged undies from Target. They also have ladies boxers and boxer briefs.
posted by smashface at 7:35 PM on March 20, 2016
posted by smashface at 7:35 PM on March 20, 2016
Nthing that boxers are not actually very comfortable.
Boxer briefs rock, and I have no weird fit issues with the mens version despite my total lack of penis or testicles. I wear about a size 5 in women's underwear and size S in men's.
posted by desuetude at 8:34 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Boxer briefs rock, and I have no weird fit issues with the mens version despite my total lack of penis or testicles. I wear about a size 5 in women's underwear and size S in men's.
posted by desuetude at 8:34 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Pads work okay with tight boxer briefs if you don't get wings. But it's worth keeping a pair or two of regular briefs or boyshorts around in case.
posted by Iteki at 11:46 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Iteki at 11:46 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yup, size medium boxers should work. I wear the same size women's underwear and sometimes wear my husband's medium boxers to sleep in, and they fit. But packs of boxers are cheap, so if medium doesn't work, it's no big deal to try a different size. I'd grab a pack of medium and a pack of large and she can try both.
As a cis woman I prefer the fit of women's boxers (Comfort Choice makes both nylon and flannel ones, available on Amazon). But if this is a gender identity/presentation thing, the women's boxers are definitely femme, which may not be what your kid is looking for. (I find them practical to wear under skirts and dresses, as essentially slips that prevent thigh chafing, so to me they are definitely femme items.)
posted by snowmentality at 4:34 AM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
As a cis woman I prefer the fit of women's boxers (Comfort Choice makes both nylon and flannel ones, available on Amazon). But if this is a gender identity/presentation thing, the women's boxers are definitely femme, which may not be what your kid is looking for. (I find them practical to wear under skirts and dresses, as essentially slips that prevent thigh chafing, so to me they are definitely femme items.)
posted by snowmentality at 4:34 AM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm (mostly) a cis woman, have no penis or testicles as far as I know, and I'm curvy. I wear cheap men's boxer briefs and they're very comfortable to me.
I have no recommendations on brands or sizes, since you probably can't get over there what I can get here. But for the record, the cheap ones that I wear are mostly cotton but also stretch a bit, and have so little of a penis pouch that it's hardly visible when they're off, and completely gone when they're on. There's not enough fabric to bunch up.
posted by Too-Ticky at 4:38 AM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I have no recommendations on brands or sizes, since you probably can't get over there what I can get here. But for the record, the cheap ones that I wear are mostly cotton but also stretch a bit, and have so little of a penis pouch that it's hardly visible when they're off, and completely gone when they're on. There's not enough fabric to bunch up.
posted by Too-Ticky at 4:38 AM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
My slightly genderbending partner wore a woman's size 7/large and had no problem wearing my size medium boxerbriefs, boxers, and briefs but she had really minimal hips.
The crotch pouch was never really a big issue. There was a little slack but not enough that she felt compelled to stuff or anything.
posted by Candleman at 8:48 AM on March 21, 2016
The crotch pouch was never really a big issue. There was a little slack but not enough that she felt compelled to stuff or anything.
posted by Candleman at 8:48 AM on March 21, 2016
I wore boxers when I was a teenager, which was a long time before women's boxer briefs were a thing. Assuming she wants to wear them on her hips, just pick a waist size a few inches smaller than her hip size. Boxers are elasticated, they are pretty forgiving.
posted by tinkletown at 3:45 PM on March 21, 2016
posted by tinkletown at 3:45 PM on March 21, 2016
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