When it comes to style, guys are starting to have way more fun: donning skirts, braiding their hair and even applying lipstick and highlighter to their faces.
But there is one trend even the most adventurous dudes have yet to fully embrace: lingerie.
One line is trying to change that. Menagerié — we would have gone with “Mangerié” — offers silky boxers, lace pajamas and other fancy unmentionables just for guys. But if you’re imagining flouncy pink Victoria’s Secret rip-offs, you’ve got the wrong idea.
“[We want] to bring more adornment and beauty to men’s fashion, but still remind people that it is a brand for men,” Menagerié founder Roman Sipe tells lifestyle Web site Refinery29. Hence the noir palette, clean lines and not-too-skimpy shapes.
And incredibly, the two-year-old concept seems to be catching on: Menagerié’s Chantilly lace-accented low-rise brief, which retails from $59 to $69, is currently sold out, while its black-lace elastic “biker short” ($89) is nearly so. Even a torturous-looking waist trainer ($89 to $99) is sold out in some sizes, meaning that at least a few guys have bought these fancy Spanx-for-men.
But while the response has been positive, Sipe realizes the idea of manly lingerie is a tough sell. “Most [straight guys] don’t think they need it, or couldn’t see themselves actually buying a pair of lace underwear,” he tells Refinery29.
“However, there are a few who find it intriguing and simply ask things like, ‘Well, are they comfortable?’ ” And while some ladies may find the idea of a man in lace panties disturbing, maybe seeing a guy putting in a bit of effort in the boudoir would be nice for once.