First off I want to thank Chat H. in the Facebook page for posting this. This is an ad that 2(x)ist wanted to run in various magazines. They included Details and Men’s Health. But they two magazines rejected the ad for being too racy. How ever the ad has run in the June/July of Out Magazine.
This brings me to something that has been going through my mind. Why is it men’s underwear ads are a lot more conservative then women’s. There is a TV Commercial about bra and how it fits plus sized women, Victoria Secret models wearing thongs and the list goes on. While the world of men’s underwear advertising is basically non existent in the main stream media. The only place I have seen magazine ads have been in the gay publications, Out, Advocate, and Instinct.
This has not always been the case thought, back in the 80’s, Baseball Hall of Fame player, Jim Palmer often graced the pages of People, Time and others in his bikini briefs. Let’s hope we get some mainstream media exposure for the brands we cover!
What do you think? Do you think there is a double standard when it comes to mens’ underwear ads? (I hope this makes since, still sick but trying to be coherent )
3 Comments
Some magazines in Australia carry advertising for mens underwear – included buff models showing them at their best. I have seen aussieBum in airline flight mags, as well as other brands in retails mags and even the glossy free magazines in some of the “better” newspapers.
What you don't see, however, are pics like the one above – two men close together in their (very brief) underwear probably pushes the potential conservative backlash just a little bit too far.
I absolutely think there's a double standard within mainstream media today! And I agree with your point, Tim. Female underwear ads can go far further than their male counterparts. I think it's sad that fashion and health magazines are so narrow minded. But I guess that's also part of the reason that today's fashion blogs, including niche underwear blogs like yours and mine, are attracting larger and larger audiences. Even larger than some magazines. We and our readers (which most likely include quite a few Men's Health and Details readers) are fascinated by all the different underwear styles out there, not just briefs and boxer briefs.
And in terms of the actual photo used for the ad, I think it's pretty clear that it's the same guy showing the front and back of the underwear…:)
I absolutely think there's a double standard within mainstream media today! And I agree with your point, Tim. Female underwear ads can go far further than their male counterparts. I think it's sad that fashion and health magazines are so narrow minded. But I guess that's also part of the reason that today's fashion blogs, including niche underwear blogs like yours and mine, are attracting larger and larger audiences. Even larger than some magazines. We and our readers (which most likely include quite a few Men's Health and Details readers) are fascinated by all the different underwear styles out there, not just briefs and boxer briefs.
And in terms of the actual photo used for the ad, I think it's pretty clear that it's the same guy showing the front and back of the underwear…:)