[Torchwatch]

In Britain pants are underwear whether briefs or square cuts, but boxer shorts (boxers) are the same the world over.
In Europe, American style boxer shorts started arriving in the late 80's, until then they had been considered a joke. Amateur soccer players would turn up in exciting short shiny nylon shorts with a couple of inches of frumpy cotton hanging from the leg holes; shorts got longer to cover the boxers and longer still. Leisure swimmers started wearing white shorts with black swim suits underneath, then the shorts got longer and thicker and the swim suits were dropped.
Since then each spring we have hoped for the return of swim suits as mainstream pool and beachwear, but each autumn we have been disappointed.
Something has been changing though, the boxer shorts have become tighter, evolving into square cut pants, and some young guys are even choosing to wear briefs. These new pants are in bright colours and patterns, boasting logos and legends. They are meant to be seen, not hidden having come through an era of low cut jeans.
The guys wearing the new pants are also choosing drainpipe jeans and trousers again. Maybe they won't be happy putting on long baggy shorts in the summer and will want something shorter and neater for the hot weather. Maybe they will strip off on the beach and show their designer pants, but if they go in the water the cotton fabric will go all soggy. If you don't want soggy pants it's time to return to swim suits, but will the shops have the colours, designs and legends the new crowd will demand?