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What is it with men who have an attachment to their holey tees and holey underwear? It always seems to be a topic of conversation for every couple it seems. The men want to keep their scraps they call “clothing” and the women are always trying to throw them out.

It being the season of gift giving. I’m sure there are plenty of men that have received new tees and boxers this year. But honestly, they prefer to wear those old, worn out ones instead. Maybe we should just be wrapping up the old ratty ones, and they’ll be just as happy. Better yet go to second hand store and buy them for a portion of the price!

I have been hanging out with my family over the holiday and have been quite amazed to see my brother-in-law in a different holey tee each day. Yesterday he wore a dark gray one that was covered in holes all over the back and shoulders, of course with matching frayed edges. (I’m sure my sister has tried to toss it quite a few times and has not yet succeeded.)

To be honest, it actually looked like it could be a trend. It was so beautifully torn you may even consider for a moment that one may buy it this way. This is quite common. Personally, I can’t think of one man I have dated that didn’t have a least one tee covered in holes that he just loved to wear all the time. So what’s up with the attachment?

The first conclusion I come to is comfort. I’m sure a tee that has gotten to the holey state has been washed a million times, which means it is incredibly soft. But these days you can buy organic cotton or hemp tees that have that quality.

2nd conclusion… sentimental value. Men can be just as sentimental with certain things as women can. Maybe the tee was given to him by his first love, or those holey boxers he wore the first time he got laid. Who knows?

My thought was confirmed in Amelia McDonell-Parry’s article “Why Do Men Keep Their Old, Holey, Rotting Boxers?“. (This is the most hilarious article a “must-read”) A guy says “For a long time I did keep a pair of glow in the dark teddy bear boxers. They were the first boxers I ever owned, and they were a gift from my high school girlfriend. I loved those things. I kept them long after the glow in the darkness no longer functioned.”

A guy I once dated, wore a pair of briefs that literally had a safety pin on one side, holding them up. He said he didn’t have the money for new ones. He drives a BMW, has a Rolex and the latest Mac available. So men will spend their money on expensive cars and electronic gadgets but not what’s protecting their most important “gems”? Makes no sense to me.

Personally, I am fine with a guy in a holey tee, lets me know he is comfortable enough with me to wear it. But just as long as he knows the difference of when its not appropriate to wear. Now holey underwear is a completely different story. Not acceptable in my book. Pure laziness. I would rather he go “commando” than wear holey underwear.