Rise up

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, the holiest of Christian holidays, even for recovering Catholics like me. The 40 days of Lent leading up to it have been embedded in my brain since childhood. My mother made sure we remembered Jesus’ sacrifice and love for all people, and, of course, the Resurrection.

We always fasted on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. During Lent, we didn’t eat meat on Fridays and “gave up” something important to us. A sacrifice that would be difficult and make us a better person. Like not cursing. I failed miserably. The shape of things to come, perhaps.

A religious scholar I am not. But if you’re talking about Easter baskets and whether it’s a sacrilege to bite off a chocolate bunny’s ears before sinking your teeth into its hollow body, here’s my opinion: Yes, even though 78 percent of consumers eat the ears first. Others, including me, eat the bunnies’ feet first. The rest are probably gorging on jelly beans they gave up for Lent!

But I digress.

This afternoon, while watching LSU’s Sweet 16 win over UCLA (boo) in the NCAA Women’s Basketball tournament, I wondered how some of these college kids would feel about a New York Times article I had read this morning.

The headline, “The best women’s underwear,” caught my eye for no apparent reason, other than I sometimes find their Wirecutter feature amusing. They recommend stuff. The best this, the best that. Products you need to live a better life, or so they say.

Today’s mission was to find the most comfortable, breathable pairs of women’s underwear. In the piece, two young women wrote about panties with such passion. Like how your whole day can be derailed by bad underwear. Or how a terrible pair can pinch, pull, tug and end up in all the wrong places.

They tested dozens of styles and found five options – which they deemed “excellent” – including a French high-cut vintage brief, a pair of playful, lacy “boy” shorts, a Tommy John (no relation) “air” brief that disappears under clothes and a comfort stretch “best everyday thong.”

It will come as no shock to most of you that I didn’t agree with a word of it.

What I didn’t see on their best list were these: boxers for women.

I’m not talking about dog breeds or fight club fans. I’m referring to the latest and greatest invention of this century: “Woxers. Boxers made for women by women.”

I’ve always hated underwear shopping. Tough to find the right fit, even when I was thin. In my 20s, I wore cotton briefs during workouts because they didn’t cut my crotch or give me a wedgie. Style schmyle. Granny panties ruled. 

Forty-some years later, I work out less and need comfort more. Soft cotton sweats, relaxed-fit tees, slip-in/on Skechers.

Remember when “a woman in flat shoes” was a bad thing and fashionistas teased you for being less feminine (at best) than those who wore high heels? The fact is, in medieval times ballet flats were popular with both men and women. I’ll bet no one disparaged them and lived to tell about it.

Again, I digress.

Honestly, I feel as if this blog is all over the place, don’t you? But it’s my post, and I’ll stray if want to. Must be withdrawal from the lack of carbs that I gave up for Lent. (Epic fail.)

Back to the boxers. Our dear friend Sharon McD told us about Woxers last year. She tried them and loved the fact that she could wear them in Florida under her shorts while fishing.

My initial reaction? How nice for you. I don’t fish, and I’m definitely not wearing anything resembling “boy” shorts.

But Rebecca, who is much more daring than me, was intrigued and wanted to try Woxers. So, last fall she ordered a pair or three online. She loved them. And they come in so many bright colors and prints, she said!

Just before Christmas, that other holiest of holidays, I tried on a pair of her Woxers. One of the perks of being with a woman who loves flat shoes, if you get my drift.

What can I say? Woxers. Are. Wonderful.

Now we argue over who last wore the tie-dye print pair and hid them in her drawer never to be shared … again.

In 2019, Alexandra Fuente of Miami founded the Woxer brand. As the company’s CEO, she says they’re empowering, comfortable and made for “people of all genders who were dissatisfied with their underwear options.”

Growing up, Fuente also dreaded underwear shopping. The bows and little lace details she found on pairs in the store didn’t feel true to her, and she hated those annoying panty lines. After attending an LGBTQ+ Pride event, Fuente came up with creating boxer briefs for women.

Unable to link the event with her innovative idea, I’ll assume it had something to do with a plethora of thongs as evidenced by this direct quote from Fuente: “If you want to be comfortable, if you want to wear boxer briefs, then you come to us. Otherwise, you go to the other brands because we are the only underwear brand that does not make thongs.”

Now we argue over who last wore the tie-dye print pair (of Woxers) and hid them in her drawer never to be shared … again.

Woxers come in multiple styles, with names to empower those who wear them, and also because of Fuente’s basketball background. There’s Baller, the signature 5-inch inseam brief, the 3-inch length Star, and Biker, at 9 inches the longest inseam. Woxers aren’t cheap, but you can find them in multi-packs on sale.

It’s time to rise up, ladies. Wear Woxers. Boxers for women. Made by women. Truth be told, these aren’t for men, and that’s the point. (As in, no front flap. Sorry, guys.)

Made from Modal, a lightweight, breathable and sustainable fabric, Woxers won’t end up in a landfill for eternity. Which makes me wonder if I should add Woxers to my will.

Nah, that’s seems as wrong as a thong.