Black Briefs – The Wardrobe's Basic Colour

Short answer: Black briefs are the most useful base colour in the underwear drawer. They are discreet under dark clothing, tolerate frequent washing without looking worn and go with almost everything. In soft bamboo viscose you also get comfort to match the colour's practical advantages.

Why black is the safe base colour

Black hides wear and discolouration better than pale colours and is invisible under dark and patterned clothing. Those are three practical arguments rather than a fashion one. That is why black briefs are a sensible foundation you can supplement with other colours. See the black models in bamboo briefs.

When black is not the right choice

Under white and very pale clothing, black briefs show through clearly, and there a skin toned model is better. The same goes under thin, pale summer fabric. Black solves many situations but not that one, which is why every drawer should also hold a few skin toned pairs.

Black ages differently from pale

A pale pair collects discolouration from sweat, detergent and ordinary wear, and that ends as a yellowish cast. A black pair instead fades slowly and evenly, without patches that catch the eye. That is why a black pair usually lasts several years longer than a pale pair bought on the same day.

How many black pairs to own

A workable rule is enough pairs for two weeks, so you can wash once a week without running short. If more than half are black, you can take a pair at random in the morning without thinking about it, and that makes the choice easier on a busy day.

How to keep the black pairs black

Wash at 30 degrees inside out, so the inside takes the friction in the machine. Skip the tumble dryer, because the heat pulls colour out and wears on the elastic. Wash black on its own or with other dark items, so no pale lint settles into the fabric.

Fabric softener gives a grey cast

Softener lays a film on the fibres that closes off the moisture transport, and on black that film can produce a greyish cast over time. Bamboo viscose is soft already. If you want a gentler wash, use less detergent and fill the machine less rather than adding anything.

Think about the top as well

A black brief under a pale bra is no problem, but two different shades of black under thin white fabric is. See bamboo bra without underwire in the same colour if the set should read as one. See also bamboo underwear for women.

When a black pair has to go

A black pair can look fine in the drawer long after it stopped sitting properly. Pull the edge out and let go: if it does not snap straight back, the pair is finished however black it still is. The colour says nothing about the state of the elastic. See also washing guide for bamboo clothing.