Generation after generation of gents have worn and loved Y-Fronts ever since, says Deadgoodundies' Adam Davies: "To many men they are 'proper' underpants and many of our customers wouldn't dream of wearing anything else. They're made from breathable pure or stretch cotton, and the Y-Front works on anything from a midi or maxi brief for men to longer leg shapes we now call boxer briefs, all the way to traditional long johns." A BRIEF HISTORY Of course, Y-fronts still have their pros: they show off your bulge; they make you look like a superhero; their Y-fronting looks like a peace sign emblazoned between your legs; they offer support. Having said all that, if you do wish to indulge yourself in some, why not? Here are three of the more luxurious options for unleashing your inner Adonis. Launched in the depths of a freezing winter in Chicago, Y-Fronts were a new innovation, offering men briefer underwear with more support and 'hold'. These pants were first sold in the UK in Simpsons of Piccadilly in 1938, and in 1948 each member of the British Olympic team was presented with a pair of Y-Fronts. From day one they sold in their thousands and the rest, as they say, is history.

That’s not all: if you’re out of shape, they’re not very flattering; if you’re a flocculent chap, you may need a bikini wax of some sort; and let’s not forget, too-tight Y-fronts have been scientifically proven to decrease your sperm count. Over the years they’ve lost their cool, their inter-war bohemian wonder, and now they’re most associated with Homer Simpson eating donuts and drinking beer on the couch. These classic, practical, thoroughly comfortable male underpants have never strayed far from the original incorporating the famous Y – a reference to the front opening design which also provides additional support.Also there’s something sinister about the Y-front, something ungodly; think of Alan Partridge in his leather-posing pouch, lap-dancing for the commissioner of the BBC in a recurring nightmare. In the words of the Urban Dictionary, they are an undergarment characterised by “a ‘Y’ shaped penis-flap at the front, which allows easy access for BJs or golden showers”. It’s all rather seedy. Wearing them, well, you’re only one step away from a thong or, worse, the Towie demi-thong, which wraps gently around your crotch like a crescent moon hiding its dark side. In the world of men's underwear there is one design that has stood the test of time for nearly 85 years. Y-Fronts have outlasted fashion fads, outsold mimics and outlived critics. Not that there have been many. But they also come with so many cons. They’re just not that comfortable, and some of the more showy models actually offer too much support. One of my old colleagues at i-D magazine bought a pair of Dolce & Gabbana briefs that were moulded around the crotch, and instantly made him appear very well-endowed; however, when he walked out of the house he found they were far too tight, constantly grasping at his manhood like a waxy, cotton octopus. His day at work turned into a traumatic one.