CHAPTER 61

The Brief on Briefs

“My manhood hid, only just, beneath briefs bought at Kmart not two hours before. The Sandman had put me through hell preparing for a contest, but had neglected to tell me not to wear underwear onstage.”

– Paul Dillett, IFBB champion, writing about his first contest.

Thirty or 40 years ago all a competitive bodybuilder had to do was haul on a pair of swim trunks and hit the posing dias. But times have changed. Posing trunks can make or break your appearance. There are numerous factors to consider when choosing your posing trunks. Everything from style and color to cost and availability will need to be evaluated before you stroll out onstage. It takes time to make a proper assessment, so don’t leave it until the last minute. For example, you may need to order your trunks online and you could wait weeks to receive them.

WITH STYLE

Probably the most important characteristic to consider when buying your posing trunks is their style or “cut.” You want to choose a style that complements your physique. The most important point in this regard is the length of your legs and torso. A bodybuilder with a long torso and legs can get away with low-cut trunks. A short bodybuilder will want to create the illusion of leg length and will need to wear high-cut trunks. The higher cut (i.e. the less material) will reveal more of the leg and will help a shorter bodybuilder look more balanced.

Besides leg and torso length, body type will also need to be considered. Those with slender builds can get away with smaller trunks while thicker bodybuilders will probably look better wearing fuller styles.

Another factor is the condition of your legs. If you’re in great shape and the separation in your thighs goes right up to your lower abs, you want to emphasize this to the judges. In this case a high cut pair of trunks will show more of your legs. You might also want to consider your glutes. If you’re ripped and have great glutes, you don’t want to hide them behind too full a cut. Show them off!

Photo of Tommi Thorvildsen by Irvin Gelb

Photo of Robby Robinson

Although the trend nowadays is to go for smaller trunks, most bodybuilding federations won’t allow trunks with less than one inch of material between the upper leg and lower waist. Anything less is considered G-string territory and while this may win you points with the ladies, it’s frowned upon by the judges. If there’s any doubt in your mind, contact your local bodybuilding federation.

COLOR

Besides style, the color of your posing trunks must be carefully considered. Most federations, including the IFBB, state that the trunks must be solid – no patterns, lines, or dots. They also must not be “too shiny.” While this one is a bit harder to define, stay away from metallic colors such as silver and gold. The color of your trunks should absorb most of the light and not reflect it back to the audience.

Try to stay with basic colors such as purple, red and blue. Black will work for Caucasian bodybuilders but African American bodybuilders will need to avoid black as it will blend in with their skin and give the illusion that they’re wearing nothing at all. Likewise, most bodybuilders of all racial backgrounds should avoid brown, as this is the color their skin will be. You should also avoid light colors including white, as lighter colors tend to make the waist look bigger than it actually is.

WHERE TO BUY

Those who live in larger centers may be able to buy posing trunks in a store that sells regular beach wear. If they don’t have actual bodybuilding trunks some of the smaller briefs may work. If you know someone who is handy with a needle and thread, maybe you can get a pair made by hand. Many gyms and health food stores sell bodybuilding clothes or have a member who sells them, so there’s another option. Finally, there are a number of reputable companies that sell posing trunks through ads in MuscleMag International. Perhaps the best known is former Mr. International Andreas Cahling’s line at www.andreascahling.com. The average pair of men’s posing trunks will set you back $40 to $50.

BRIEF POINTS

If you can afford it, buy two pairs of posing trunks and bring both with you to the show. Posing oils and quick tanning lotions can stain trunks and if you really make a mess of one pair, you have the other pair as a back up. You may even want to change colors between the prejudging and evening show. Finally, competitors have been known to play numerous tricks backstage (with Ken Waller stealing Mike Katz’s shirt in Pumping Iron being the most famous). There you are backstage getting ready for your weight class when you discover that some trickster has stolen your only pair of posing trunks. Do yourself a favor and keep an extra pair on hand.

Finally, you must consider the issue of size. You may fit comfortably into a size large two or three months out, but odds are you’ll drop to a medium or even small by contest time. If possible, check around with other competitive bodybuilders of your frame size to see what size briefs they wore on contest day. If you’re in doubt, either order two different sizes or order the smaller size. It’s better to put up with the discomfort of a pair of briefs that are too small than having to keep pulling up a pair that are too large.

Ultimately the style and color of your trunks is your decision. As with hairstyle, why not try a number of different styles and colors and take a few pictures. If you can’t obtain the genuine article, modern computer photo software will easily allow you to change the color of your trunks. Simply wear a pair, take a digital picture and open it up in Photoshop or some other photo editing program. With one or two clicks of the mouse you can change the color of the trunks. The bottom line is that your posing trunks should highlight your physique to its fullest. As the crusader knight said to Indiana Jones in The Search for the Holy Grail: “Choose wisely.”