For a long time women have had the option to modify their body shape using their underwear. Well it was only a matter of time until this trend made it's way to men as well. Now men who are self conscious about their tummy can use their underwear to achieve that slim, toned stomach that they desire.
The first option out there comes from 2(x)
ist and is known as their Form collection. 2(x)
ist Form is designed to "make abs out of
lovehandles". This is accomplished by extending the elastic waistband six inches above the natural waist. While it may not look incredibly stylish, the 2(x)
ist does its job and can cut off up to two inches from your tummy. It comes in both brief (shown) and trunk styles in black and white (but more colors are coming soon). It's hard to tell how effective these undies are because the only photos show them on models who already have perfectly toned bodies and don't need the help that the Form collection offers. 2(x)
ist Form just came out this month so the availability is limited. But you can currently get it at
Skiviez for $26 and $22 for the
trunk and
brief respectively.
Men's Underwear Store also stocks it for a slightly cheaper rate at $18 and $24 for the
brief and
trunk respectively.
The next two options on the market are undershirts instead of bottoms. I think this option looks better because it could look a little strange to have
shapewear showing above one's pants; an undershirt is less noticeable. However, I feel like the underwear is more likely to stay in place because it is anchored at the bottom whereas an undershirt could ride up. So the effectiveness of these options remains to be seen.
The first undershirt comes from a company called
RIPT Fusion.
RIPT (pronounced "ripped tee") is designed by Heather Thomson who designed and created
Yummie Tummie - a women's
shapewear line. She saw the need for men to have
shapewear as well so she designed the
RIPT. The
RIPT is a body-sculpting undershirt designed to support your core. It works off the same principle as compression garments like those used in athletics, the only difference is that this is designed to be worn as everyday wear and not just for sports. The
RIPT has a patent-pending design that appears to use a compression panel across the midsection to help achieve the desired look. The chest and the sweep of the shirt are made of lightweight cotton that makes this perfect for wearing under any outfit - or even alone! The
RIPT only comes in classic white in either
crewneck or v-neck. It retails for $58 and can be purchased at
RIPT's site or at
RibbedTee. Once again it's hard to say just how effective this shirt is, but from the pictures it does appear to tighten the core a lot better than standard undershirts. Stay tuned for a review.
The final product is actually undershirts and underwear. It is from a fairly new company called
Equmen. Although it's not exactly designed to be
shapewear - it's more of a
performancewear brand - it does have similar capabilities.
Equmen uses both Core Technology and Helix-Mapping to achieve a supportive, body-enhancing garment. The Core Technology of the garment is basically all about getting the core aligned properly and ergonomically so that everything in the body is positioned in a comfortable manner that puts the least amount of stress on the body. It is also about temperature control of the body. The Helix-Mapping system is a little more complicated. It was designed in conjunction with physiotherapists, ergonomic consultants, and athletic engineers.
Basically it is a built in compression and ventilation system. But unlike other
compressionwear it targets specific areas for optimal support that works with the
bodies natural systems. I know the science is a little complicated but these things have been getting rave reviews. A lot of the reviews have been saying how much more confident it makes them feel. And so maybe that is the point of this
shapewear even if it doesn't alter your shape as much as you would like.
Shapewear can boost your confidence which in turn leads to better posture and makes you look better. Confidence is sexy. The
Equmen undershirts come in three styles:
long sleeve, v-neck, and singlet. The
underwear is available for
pre-order in briefs, trunks and long trunks. Everything is available in four colors: blue, grey, black and white. The shirts sell for about $100 a piece and the underwear goes for about $50 a piece (they will be shipping to the US at the end of the month). Stay tuned for a review of
Equmen and a more
thorough brand profile.
