Don't Say the 'G-Word'

The Wall Street Journal takes notice of sales of bodyshaping underwear for men, like those pictured above from Undergear.

"Saks Fifth Avenue in January started carrying a new line from 2(X)ist featuring spandex briefs and tank tops designed to have a trimming effect. In the fall, Los Angeles underwear brand Go Softwear will roll out a men's "Waist Eliminator," which has a waistband that extends up to mid-torso in order to hold the tummy in. Last month, Andrew Christian, a men's underwear line sold in boutiques such as Fred Segal in Los Angeles, introduced the Flashback Butt Lifting Technology Boxer -- a stretchy bodyshaping brief with a built-in elastic sling to lift and perk up the back side by "up to an inch."

The Wall Street Journal goes on to say that young men are more willing than their fathers to wear such underwear products.  "Many men in their 20s and 30s put a greater emphasis on grooming and appearance today and are requesting body-hugging underwear specifically for slimming purposes."

And as we know here at UndiesDrawer, men's underwear sales have been on the up swing.  The WSJ reports that last year, "sales of men's underwear in the U.S. rose 7.8% from 2005 to reach 1.1 billion units, according to market-researcher NPD Group. By comparison, women's intimate-apparel unit sales rose 2.3% to reach 1.5 billion in the same period."