The Pants Prenup: A commitment to not let underwear standards slip

The early stages of a relationship are often the most blissful, filled with tender glances and lingering looks. But as the early stage dopamine fades and domesticity sets in, so does comfort. The once regular rotation of sultry nightwear and underwear gives way to your oldest, threadbare favourites.

At Pour Moi, our new research indicates that our underwear becomes a key casualty as relationships mature. In fact, over two-thirds (68%) of us admit to putting more effort into our underwear choices in the early stages of a relationship compared to the latter. 

As our relationships begin to mature, it’s not uncommon to feel liberated from the restraints of our most pristine pieces in favour of our weathered, comfier pants. 

And it’s hard not to get your knickers in a twist when you notice your partner’s underwear choices slipping in quality, but let’s be honest, we’ve all held onto underwear well past its prime…

According to our research, millions across the nation are silently suffering from their partners’ underwear catastrophes, with two-fifths (40%) of people not speaking up if they don’t like their pants. 

Some are even going to extreme secret measures, as two-fifths (41%) secretly throw out their partner’s offending underpants. 

To free a nation of lovebirds from the tyranny of tired undies, we’ve created the ‘Pants Prenup’, a downloadable pledge for couples to commit to keeping their pants in top form.

Because nobody should have to suffer from overworn underwear in silence. 

For better, for worse, but never for threadbare. 

Download the Pants Prenup today

With a 19% annual uptick** in the number of Brits searching online for prenuptial agreements, and YouGov data showing that 42% of UK adults think they’re a good idea, we consulted with Aasha Choudhary, head of family law at Shakespeare Martineau, to help create a Pants Prenup that could stand up in a court of lingerie law.

Despite common belief, prenups aren’t just about finances, with Aasha explaining: “Ultimately, a prenup is an agreement between two people, and couples can have whatever they want in there, as long as they both agree.

“People can put anything at all in them. Date nights, division of chores, preferred living arrangements – the list is endless. 

“As a couple, if you’ve discussed it, you can put it in a prenup.”

Continuing, Aasha confirms: “If both parties have signed a prenup which sets underwear expectations, and the consequences of not meeting them, then enforcing it could be quite simple.

“The court will take the prenup document as a whole agreement into account when deciding the financial settlement. However, providing adequate proof that pants haven’t been to the correct standard may be difficult.” 

In short, if you’re outlawing discoloured boxers or threadbare thongs, just make sure your partner signs the dotted (panty) line.

If you or your partner habitually wears underwear that has holes – fear not, you’re not alone. 

Our new research found that 4 in 5 (79%) adults admit to regularly sporting underwear with various elements of wear and tear. Despite this, the majority of us (57%) say we find it unattractive when a partner wears old or worn-out underwear. 

The most common damage Brits experience to their pants is discolouration, with around two-fifths (37%) admitting to wearing underwear with this issue.

Another 1 in 3 (32%) Brits have pants with stretched-out fabric, and more than 1 in 4 (27%) wear pants with holes in them:

But it’s not just the quality of our underwear that bothers our partners, Brits also seem to dislike certain styles. Despite 1 in 10 (10%) of us admitting to wearing novelty undies, almost half (48%) of the nation thinks they’re a ‘turn-off’ when our partner does. 

And much like children hold onto ratty toys past their sell-by dates, nearly half (46%) of adults say they won’t throw away a piece of damaged underwear if they love it. 

The underwear magic in relationships isn’t completely dead, though, as 7 in 10 (69%) say they put more effort into their underwear if they’re going on a date.

And if the quality of our partner’s underwear wasn’t enough to raise a few eyebrows, our research shows some Brits don’t necessarily have the best underwear hygiene habits either. 

Our survey shows that 3 in 10 (29%) British adults say they often wear the same pair of pants more than once without washing them - that’s the equivalent of over 13.8 MILLION adults* walking around in, ahem, less-than-clean undies on at any given time.

Men are more than twice as likely to commit this underwear crime as women, with 40% of men admitting to it versus 19% of women. 

So, how often should you wash your underwear? It’s simple. One wear = one wash. 

Want to know how often to wash your bra? Our bra care guide has all the answers.

Our research shows that the average age of the oldest pair of pants that people still wear in the UK is two years and seven months old. However, one in six (16%) still wear underwear that is over five years old. 

Because your underwear is in close contact with intimate areas for prolonged periods, it can harbour a lot of dead skin and bacteria from those areas, so for most people, wearing underwear that is almost three years old isn’t recommended. 

Even if you regularly wash your old pants, they might not be as clean as you think, and our washing machines can’t always get completely rid of bacteria. As a general rule of thumb, we recommend replacing your underwear every six to 12 months.

Our ‘Pants Prenup’ expresses the explicit need to replace your offending pair if your partner issues you with a PPP (Pants Probation Programme). 

That said, buying your partner pants or lingerie as a gift doesn’t always need to be through such extreme measures. In fact, it’s surprisingly common. Our survey shows that three in four people (76%) have bought underwear for a partner, and nearly a third (29%) say their partner buys most of theirs.

However, men are 15% more likely to say their partner buys most of their pants than women (37% vs 22%). 

Buying underwear for your partner doesn’t have to be a means of desperation to improve the quality. It can be a genuinely romantic gesture. It shows you know them deeply, not just their size, but what makes them feel confident, sexy, and seen. 

It’s a nod to the intimacy you share, and a playful way to spark intimate connections without spelling everything out.

While gifting undies, particularly sexy lingerie, can be a cheeky (no pun intended) gesture, it’s ultimately about connection, attention, and keeping the spark between you alive.

Partner already a lingerie fan? Our lingerie lover gift guide is full of irresistible picks.

Survey conducted between the 7th and 11th of June 2025 amongst 1,500 UK adults (aged 18+) via 3Gem. 

*(13,842,135.87) Based on 2022 ONS figures that there are 47,731,503 18+ year olds in the UK.

**19% growth in people searching for ‘prenup’ in the past year, according to GoogleTrends data, accurate as of July 2025.