MEN UNZIPPED: THE SECRET HIS UNDIE REVEAL.(Brief Article)

We decided to fly south this winter to visit our favorite hot spot--the male nether regions. Here, Cosmo deconstructs the meaning behind guys' underwear selections to give you the long and short of what your stud's Skivvies say about him.

Yes, it's true: There are secrets lurking behind your guy's fly--and no, we're not talking about that! Believe it or not, the seemingly simple choice your man makes when he stocks up on undershorts can tell you a ton about him--his inner workings, his emotional makeup, even his boyfriend potential. To supply you with this essential info, we consulted the experts and turned our penetrating X-ray gaze below the belt. Pay attention to our underwear expose and, the next time you travel down that treasure trail, you'll be able to uncover the (almost) naked truth about your man's deepest desires.

BRIEFS

There's a certain charm to a guy who's not in a huge hurry to grow up. The tighty-whities wearer is a simple hunk with a simple philosophy: If it isn't broken, why fix it? "These are the default option," says Jeff Stone, coauthor of Chic Simple Men's Wardrobe (Knopf, 1998). "This guy isn't looking to be innovative because he's content, more or less, with the status quo."

Guys who prefer briefs are also endlessly adolescent--playing football on the weekends to have fun, not to fine-tune their bods. Another draw to these drawers: According to Stone, they offer a little more, um, support. That snug factor is a big plus during those aforementioned scrimmages. But ladies beware: Since the brief-lovin' lug may be loath to settle down and get serious at this moment, you may not be with the inside scoop on what he sports south of the border.

BOXERS

Admit it. There's Something swoon-worthy about a steadfast stud who doesn't shun tradition. And a man who picks boxers, the most conservative Skivvie selection, is likely to be a solid long-term romantic investment, says Stone. It's also, he says, a subtle assertion of a guy's transition to manhood.