A couple of months ago, we bore witness to a vintage Spanx for men ad and had a good old laugh about it. But don’t be surprised when I tell you that the modern-day equivalent has now arrived. Introducing the Core Precision undershirt, a body-shaping undergarment designed for men. The “man-girdle,” as it has been colloquially referred to, will sell for about $90 to $98 and is designed to create a sleek and slender male form, taking inches off the waistline. Now, if men want to jump on board the body-slimming-garment bandwagon, who am I to stop them? But, really, why the hell would they want to? This is where some handy marketing comes into play.
Strangely (and yet not surprisingly), while the Core Precision undershirt and Spanx (the designed-for-women kind) were created for similar purposes (i.e., to squeeze the body into a smaller size and different shape than it actually is), the two products are marketed quite differently. The male version promises to “improve posture, support core muscles, visibly streamline and slim, control body temperature, and promote circulation.” This description appeals to one’s sense of logic and the desire to improve one’s form in a good-for-your-body kind of way. Improves posture and promotes circulation? Sign me up! On the other hand, women’s Spanx claims to “shape problem areas, accentuate your waistline, minimize your tummy and thighs, lift your rear, and make inches seem to disappear.” The focus here is on aesthetics, implying that women are actually concerned only with appearance and can’t be bothered to contemplate more practical matters such as core muscles.
Of course, women have a long history of wearing undergarments that slim down (and sometimes harm) the body. (Corsets, anyone?) And the fact that these types of products continue to sell well (I’m assuming the Spanx people make a pretty penny), means that the marketing they use must work. However, when a similar shape-adjusting product is created for men, it needs to be advertised as actually improving one’s physical form and health. (And people say sexism is dead. Ha!)
Good for the body or not, the one thing that the Core Precision undershirt and Spanx do have in common is their ability to cause discomfort. However, as a male journalist for the Times Online describes after his one-day test of the Core Precision undershirt, although the garment is rather restrictive, it does still render the wearer capable of breathing. And I’m sure many women who have squeezed themselves into corsets, Spanx, control-top pantyhose, and other body-smooshing undergarments have used the ability to breathe as a basic criterion for wearability.
Hell, if manufacturers of body shapers are looking for an advertising hook, why not go with this one: “Allows you to slim down while still retaining the ability to take shallow breaths.” But I guess this is why I never went into advertising.
Tagged as:
advertising,
fashion,
menfolk,
the body
Before you answer the question that looms at the top of this post, I have a small confession to make. Even before I read about nose waxing (a.k.a. the New York nose wax) as the newest beauty trend, I’d already given my own nose hair some consideration. One day, as I looked into the mirror in one of those examine-every-inch-of-my-face kind of moments, I noticed (gasp!) my nose hair. And I wondered: “Do other women remove their nose hair? Have I unknowingly become a nose hair freak?”
For those of you who are as new to the concept of nose waxing as I am, this new trend entails waxing the hairs in the lower part of your nostrils. Some will say these are pesky hairs that need eliminating; I say they’re probably not something you need to worry about. But, heck, considering I just realized yesterday that some women are waxing these hairs away, maybe I’m just completely out of the loop.
I’m not quite sure whether nose waxing is necessarily a women’s issue or even feminist one. I mean, tons of men trim their nose and ear hair, although I think these tasks are often reserved for the excessively hairy. To me, it seems like the kind of task undertaken by men who are getting on in their years. However, when it comes to women waxing their nose hairs–and not to pass judgment here–uh, isn’t it just a teeny bit excessive? And painful? I mean, how much nose hair does the typical woman have? Is it interfering with everyday functioning?
To sate my morbid curiosity, I am posing the following question: are you a nose waxer? Please post a comment (an anonymous one, if you wish). I really, really want to know how much of a trend this is becoming. Apparently, it started in the U.S. and has crossed the pond and become the new thing to do in the U.K.
As for my own nose hair, I think I’ll leave it as is. My nostrils probably work hard enough. And, frankly, I’m not ready to wage an unnecessary battle with a part of my body that facilitates breathing. I’m too afraid of bad karma.
Tagged as:
the body
Just when I thought I’d heard about every weight loss gimmick short of sewing your lips shut, I’ve had the misfortune of reading about a new product that encourages women to keep their mouths shut and pass on the spring rolls and prosciutto-wrapped bread sticks. Introducing Huge Lips Skinny Hips, a lip gloss that creator Karen Robinovitz of Purple Lab claims will help women avoid “eating mindlessly,” thus aiding in the shedding of pounds.
Now, before I go into my official feminist rant about this sexist and potentially anorexia-inducing product, I have to tell you a little story. On occasion, I wear makeup. ‘Cause I like it. A lot. The thing is, I have more of an affinity for eye makeup than lip makeup. Know why? ‘Cause I LOVE eating. So, when I’m off to a dinner or some other food-a-licious function, I take one of two actions: a) I either don’t bother wearing lipstick because I know it’ll disappear anyway, or, b) I wear lipstick or lip gloss and then don’t worry about it because food trumps glossy lips. (Note: I’m also not one to sneak into the bathroom and reapply; I’m usually having too much fun to remember that my lips are naked. I know–I’m shameless.)
Sadly, however, Huge Lips Skinny Hips banks on the fact that women DO care about naked or messed up lips and that they’ll choose perfect lips over the tray of canapés that is making its way around the room. But, as advertised, that’s not the only reason why the product works. Huge Lips Skinny Hips also contains extracts from hoodia, a cactus-like African succulent, touted to be an appetite suppressant. So glob on the lip gloss and say goodbye to hunger. Or so the product promises.
Want more? Huge Lips Skinny Hips also professes to have ingredients that aid in plumping up your lips and reducing fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth. Huzzah! The answer to all of the world’s problems!
I have no interest in debating whether hoodia is an effective appetite suppressant, whether the lip gloss contains enough hoodia to suppress your appetite, whether your lips will become fuller after application of this product, or even whether the lip gloss is adequately silky or shiny. My real concern is that women are making products for women based on the assumption that we hate our bodies. I’m more than fed up with the endless policing of every aspect of women’s bodies: thin lips, wrinkles, fine lines, fat thighs, thick ankles, uneven breasts, flabby arms, imperfect skin, unkempt pubic hair, etc., etc., etc.
And, what enrages me even more is that many beauty products are increasingly being advertised under the guise of not oppressing women. Purple Lab’s website claims: “Huge Lips Skinny Hips is not promoting that you starve or even stop eating.” Right. You’re just telling women that we need to obsess over every square inch of our bodies. With all of that pressure, no wonder women are reaching for the nearest bag of potato chips.
What worries me most is the message we’re sending to young girls and teenagers. While I’m aware that lip gloss is not specifically targeted at teen girls (especially now that glossy lips are in), I do know that if teenagers are going to experiment with makeup, parents may consider lip gloss to be an innocuous item that they will permit their kids to play with. But Huge Lips Skinny Hips ain’t no Bonne Bell Lipsmackers, and if girls start choosing this appetite-suppressing gloss to add a little shine to their lips, then we’ve got a serious problem on our hands.
Tagged as:
eating disorders,
makeup,
the body,
weight loss
Move over G.I. Joe: there’s a new kid in town, and her name is Michelle Obama. According to The Guardian, two Michelle Obama action figures are now on the market. (And, yes, of course, there’s a Barack one, too.) Michelle comes in two styles: in the first, she dons a yellow dress similar to the one she wore during her visit to Europe during the G20 London Summit; in the second, she wears a black dress that mirrors the one she wore in her official portrait.
Okay, so let’s be realistic here. The creation of a Michelle Obama action figure is not some sort of revolutionary move by the manufacturers, HeroBuilders.com. Undoubtedly, they’re in it for the profit. And, given that the same company also makes a Sarah Palin School Girl action figure, which I find strangely disturbing and sexist, we’re not talking about a company that’s trying to advance the feminist cause.
However, I do think the Michelle Obama action figures provide an interesting perspective on how America’s First Lady is being represented. As their name suggests, action figures are about action. They’re figures who do things; they possess a heroic capacity. In my mind, Michelle Obama has presented herself as a woman who acts. In particular, I was impressed by her recent development of a vegetable garden on the White House grounds, which proves how Obama is not only talking the sustainable living talk but is also setting an example for her daughters, American citizens, and the rest of the world.
It is quite heartening to see that a Michelle Obama action figure has been created, rather than a Michelle Obama Barbie doll (although I’m sure there’s one of those on the way, too). I mean, what does Barbie do, anyway, other than ride around in her pink Corvette? Go shopping? Change into cute outfits?
Also contrary to Barbie, the Michelle Obama action figure’s form is not a stereotypical, unreasonable representation of women’s bodies. She’s got the robust figure associated with action figures of either gender. And the lady’s got pipes, which, as we’ve previously noted here on Confabulous, makes the figure a somewhat accurate representation of Obama’s flesh-and-blood body.
So, while I don’t necessarily think we need to celebrate the commodification of Michelle Obama’s image, I do think that if she’s going to be packaged up and sold to the public, the action figure route is the way to go. Barbie, eat your heart out.
Tagged as:
Michelle Obama,
the body
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