Over on Lemondrop, I shared my thoughts on Spanx, those body-shaping undergarments that are sweeping the nation. Apparently, men are also jumping on the Spanx bandwagon, wearing man-girdles (Mirdles) under their clothing. Right now, your guy friends and coworkers could be wearing Mirdles and you'd never know it!
Take a look at my thoughts on Spanx and Mirdles below, then head over to Lemondrop to read what other guys have to say about this new look-thin-quick fashion trend.
Do men care if you wear Spanx?
Men don't really care whether you're wearing Spanx, pantyhose or an old-timey girdle like Joan from Mad Men. Spanx are no different than padded bras, hair plugs, shoe lifts, cucumbers in your underwear (like Patrick Dempsey in Meatballs 3) or any of the other quick-fix methods that men and women use to improve their self-image.
As a fan of curvy women, I kind of hate Spanx. They hide the soft, natural parts of a woman that make life worth living. Who wants to look like Spanx fan (and real-life Skeletor) Gwyneth Paltrow? Shapely hips are sexy. Bellies are sexy. I long for the day when women rise up and burn their Spanx, their wonderful curves free for all the world (me) to see.
As for the male Spanx (Manx?), I would agree with Jezebel's assessment that any guy who says they're strapping on a man-girdle strictly for lower-back-pain relief and not to hold in his gut, is kidding himself. So if some d-bag judges you for wearing Spanx, chances are he's holding in his beer-and-cheese belly with a Mirdle or some other device he purchased on late-night TV.
If wearing Spanx makes you feel sexy and confident, go forth, I say. Guys, if you're wearing a Mirdle for therapeutic reasons, I won't judge you. If you're wearing it solely to hold in your gut and "manhandles," I'm gonna judge you. Sorry, them's the breaks. For the record, I would never, ever wear one. Okay, maybe if I was in a movie and Michael Bay (I'm assuming he's directing) demands that I wear one for my makeout scene with Christina Hendricks (Joan from Mad Men) so that I'll look like Jake Gyllenhaal in Prince of Persia with a shirt on, then I suppose I would wear one. But only under those conditions.
Lastly, do we have to call them "Spanx"? It's one of those dumb buzzwords (like "Snuggie" or "bromance") that are kind of cute the first time you hear them but grow increasingly more annoying with time. Once Courteney Cox throws out her pair and quips "Spanx for the memories!" on Cougar Town, the trend will officially be over.
I'm always wary of things like spanx.. Like push-up bras and lots and lots of makeup. I'd feel like a liar wearing any of those.
However, i guess the exception would be if it's for something really fancy, but if women are wearing them everyday, it just isn't worth it :P
I couldn't do it.
I always consider what if the hottie pottotie next to me and I are going to be doing the horizontal polka later tonight (because let's face it I'm awesome and who wouldn't want to?) and he rips my spanx off just to see me in all my glory and be horrified?! Okay maybe not horrified but gravely misled!
It's a lie I tell ya! A DAMN LIE! Keep it real in all your awesomeness and no guy worth his kahonas is gonna care if you got a little love handle here or there!
I was actually having this conversation with some guy friend a few weeks ago at the bar. Me and a girlfriend of mine were both wearing them and the guys didn't understand. I wear them bc it makes me feel better about myself, not to try to get some guy to bring me home. I'm not a skinny girl. I love my curves. But I carry a lot of my weight in my stomach. I only wear them when I'm wearing something a little more form fitting and I want my clothes to lay right on my body. Or my old favorite pair of jeans that are just a tiny bit tight now. Spanx aren't like push-up bras. They aren't going to make my size 14 body look like a size 6. They just keep things from jiggling so I don't have to worry and can focus on having fun. I don't think they are a lie. I don't wear them to impress anyone else, I wear them for me.
i bet a lot of people want to look like Gwyneth Paltrow - she IS good looking and she takes care of her body- that is attractive in itself!
I think Gwyneth Paltrow is kinda cute in her own way.
Like anything, that Spanx stuff is a personal choice. We love you Nick, but not all guys like curvy women with a bit of a tummy. I hate girdles myself and I probably wouldn't wear one unless I had to. As for a guy wearing one, that's way too metrosexual for me!
eh...they're kind of unsexy. there is plenty of cuter more attractive underwear. i mean there are even thongs with a panel that holds your stomach in. spanx just seem kind of ugly to me.
eh...they're kind of unsexy. there is plenty of cuter more attractive underwear. i mean there are even thongs with a panel that holds your stomach in. spanx just seem kind of ugly to me.
I think those man girdle artificial ab things are offensive!!! Don't lie to me you jerk! You have no six pack :(. Now I dont particularly care for thin men, but I do like to know what I am getting and get what I am expecting. That's also why I dont wear make-up and Bombshell's; I am all for accurate advertisement.
I would seriously be down for implants tho, cause those babies are attached even after the clothing comes off.
I only wear slimming underwear (Not Spanx!) if its a special occasion and I'm wearing a special dress. Sometimes its worth the extra effort to feel extra glamorous.