posted Aug 20, 2010 in Dress & Image / by Terry Pithers / 5 comments

Shapewear for Men - “It’s not a girdle, it’s a guy-dle”

Spanx for Men

Men have discovered a secret that women have known for years; shapewear makes you look better. Sales of shapewear for men has been going through the roof. And why not, it's a liberated world and if discrete garments that hide bulges and sags are good enough for women... they're good enough for men.

Man Spanx

Spanxs and other manufacturers of women's shape garments are developing new products aimed at this growing male market. Click here to see video of Man Spanx tested on the Today Show, (near the end a stout cameraman tries it on and it works)

It's okay guys... sports celebrities are wearing them

Equmen, an Australian manufacturer understands the male reluctance to wear anything that's not seen as "manly". They call theirs compression wear and they've got a list of jocks including football celebrity Josh Bidwell to wear them and give their tips and blessing.

Good for your back

Equmen boasts that their product is also good for those suffering from back problems. That advice supplies a great excuse that you can use if someone discovers that you're wearing shape wear "I only wear it for my back pain."

Good for backside problems too

Guys, these products can make you look svelte, camouflaging love handles, beer bellies, man boobs (or moobs). Equmen also has power briefs and Spanx is soon releasing shapewear underpants for men to help lift a sagging derrière. Equmen products available online and through Saks, Nordstrom in the states and Holt-Renfew in Canada. Man Spanx products also available online and at major department stores in the US and more limited in Canada.

The Hollywood stars have been doing it for years

Muscular body suits have been used in action movies for years by the likes of Michael Keaton in Batman, and rumor has it, even milquetoast Adrien Brody in the new Predators film. Now it's gone mainstream.  While shapewear isn’t cheap, you don’t have to be a movie star to afford it. T-shirts range from $49-$109. But it's cheaper than going to the gym or at least a lot easier.

A real growth industry

This is a booming demand especially with the recent  men's fashion trend to more fitted garments. With more of us reaching an age where we're putting on extra pounds, it's a good tip to try. This is definitely a growth industry. (pun intended) Expect to see new male shapewear boutiques like...  Victor’s Secret poping up everywhere.

As an image consultant, I might even try one and let you know in another post, how it works and feels. But I'm not the best test subject because I don't really need shapewear.

Posted by Terry Pithers