You saw them. I saw them. We all saw them. This past weekend, a pair of $315 denim panties promptly swept across the internet, leaving a trail of bewilderment, exasperation and straight-up outrage in its wake.
I’d normally announce a trigger warning before exposing readers to such a polarizing image — one that has brought the internet, and therefore, the world, to the brink of its breaking point — but I know the damage has already been done, so behold:
Despite being panties, the brand’s website explains, “These ‘brief-style shorts’ can be worn under or over pants, meaning they’re far more versatile than what you’d traditionally expect from a pair of briefs.” So I guess you can wear them over some very tight pants or tights?
Versatile or otherwise, there are admittedly a few people who support the janties, so to speak. (Tobias Fünke would be among them, I imagine.)
You will either love these or hate them! Which one is it? Personally, I NEED these @yproject_official jorts in my life! I seriously would rock these so hard!!! https://t.co/9txDRZyCFF pic.twitter.com/pJgoDBKhgl
— Perez (@ThePerezHilton) March 29, 2019
Everyone else, though, seems to agree that denim panties are (1) completely uncalled for and (2) a whole lot of chafing just waiting to happen. There’s also the fact that you can find a similar pair of denim panties for only $14 on Amazon, or you can upgrade to a stretchy pair with a nice strap around the back for only $64 on International Jock.
[arriving in hell]
me: i didn't know i'd have to wear what i died in forever
satan: where did you even find denim underwear
— shen the bird (@Shen_the_Bird) March 30, 2019
HOW do i feel about $300 denim panties, you ask? well i’ll tell you how i feel. utterly and thoroughly chafed pic.twitter.com/YYQ9v5dZ6b
— Safiya Nygaard (@safiyajn) March 29, 2019
For women, chafing is certainly something to be concerned about with any denim underwear — as one Bustle article explains, “If your underwear is being replaced by the crotch of a pair of jeans [or in this case, jean panties] or anything else that’s moving across the vulva without protection, it may cause more irritation than it solves.”
While I’m not sure that these undies are made for men, chafing would also obviously be an issue, although likely the lesser of several evils. The tightness of these panties, if they can even contain your balls, would likely result in a lower sperm count. Although, when I ask Alex Shteynshlyuger, director of urology at the New York Urology Specialists, how he thinks these panties might affect your junk, he says it’s hard to say without giving them a try. “There are some jeans that don’t feel like traditional jeans — they’re very soft,” he explains. “If these are rough like my old Wrangler jeans, though, that may not be the most comfortable feeling when they rub against your genitals.”
Sounds like there’s only one way to find out…
*calls bank to tell them not cancel my card when they see a $315 charge for denim panties*