Men's Fashion - Debenhams Jeff Banks Pink Pants
Who said pink was only for girls? Not us. Long standing designer at Debenhams, Jeff Banks, has designed a pair of pink pants to show his support and raise money for Debenhams' ‘Think Pink’ breast cancer initiative.
Refresh your underwear selection with Jeff Banks pink boxer briefs. Made from soft stretch-cotton, this pair adds colour and comfort to your underwear collection. Ideal for everyday wear, while you show your support for the women in your life.
Debenhams is a passionate supporter of the race to cure breast cancer and is encouraging all of its male customers to 'Think Pink'. 'Think Pink' is Debenhams’ own breast cancer initiative, all profits raised from the sale of Jeff Banks Pink Pants is donated to three breast cancer charities; Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Campaign and the Pink Ribbon Foundation.
Debenhams aim is to not only raise money for ‘Think Pink,’ but also help spread the word about the impact breast cancer has on men. Each year 400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Jeff Banks says, “Breast cancer is not something that just affects women. When someone is diagnosed it affects the whole family, and everyone in that person’s life. I am delighted to be launching the Jeff Banks Pink Pants to support Debenhams’ ‘Think Pink’ initiative that helps all those affected by breast cancer.
“Breast cancer and its prevention is something that is close to our hearts. Hopefully, by wearing our Jeff Bank pink pants gents across the country, as well as looking good, can clearly sport their support for the women in their life.”
£10 - 100% of profits going to ‘Think Pink’, available in all Debenhams stores nationwide and online.
Selfridges Relaunches Bodywear
No longer simply 'underwear', Selfridges unveils its new giant 'Bodywear' department. Basically meaning underwear, swimwear and every onesie inbetween, Selfridges says their vision is 'to offer a totally unique Bodywear destination defined chiefly by its breadth of offer, showcasing brands from entry-level price points to international designer labels'.
Left - Follow the label! - Exclusive underwear brand Under
Inclusive of underwear, swimwear, sleepwear and socks, the concept compliments the store's fashion collections - typified by their democratic offer - and ranges from pairs of socks from Happy Socks at £8 to £915 silk dressing gowns from Derek Rose.
With the department expanding by twenty per cent to 8,500 square feet on the store's first floor, the new concept sees Selfridges' capacity and investment into the category increase by over thirty per cent.
A dedicated space for pop-up initiatives, exclusive collaborations and the most exciting new brands ensures a year-round programme of retail innovation. Anita Barr, Director of Menswear at Selfridges, says "At the core of our strategy is an intent to take real ownership of specific categories - and to create spaces and experiences with real authority. In the new Bodywear concept, we're working with some of the most recognisable fashion brands in the world - which is an integral part of the Selfridges experience - but have worked hard to source some of the most exciting new labels to counteract that core offer with something more unexpected."
The focal point of the underwear space is a 28m curved wall which, holding over 9,000 units across the biggest premium luxury brands, is the longest underwear wall in Europe - with sales projections of 335 pairs to be sold every day. New brands to store for launch are contemporary brand Under (UK exclusive), Versace (department store exclusive), Dior, Scheisser, MEN and Max Holliday.
Right - Ready to rumble? Versace
New swimwear brands for SS13 include Dior, Franks, Sundek and Versace. With 350 swimwear options available at any one time and prices range from £30 (Aussiebum) to £375 (Vilebrequin).
Selfridges' nightwear offer is housed together in one easy-to-shop location for the first time. Prices range from £40 (Hugo Boss) to £915 (Derek Rose) across 250 options available at any one time. Over 550 options of socks are available too.
TheChicGeek says "This is another example of how big the men's bodywear market has become. Underwear and swimwear has become a major category in men's fashion and even if nobody sees it, guys know that nice underwear makes them feel good. The choice and options just keep growing and while men continue to become more body conscious, the rise and expansion of the bodywear market is mirroring this."
The Figleaves 'Days of the Week'
Somebody needs to do a study on a man's underwear choice and the correlation with his mood. A PhD thesis looking into the existence of 'lucky pants'.
Well, Figleaves, the online underwear retailer, has unveiled its 'Days of the Week' men's underwear box. No, these don't have the days of the week on them, but, are a selection of 7 boxers to briefs to fit around your lifestyle.
Brands include Armani, Calvin Klein, HOM, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren and Figleaves.
Gift Box - £99
Christmas Gift Ideas - GAP Snowflake Boxers - £8
Novelty is a dangerous area in fashion and usually to air on the side of safety, best to be avoided. Christmas though is the exception when anything goes; tacky jumpers, paper hats and these really cute snowflake boxer shorts from GAP.
As Good As Skinny Feels!
It was Kate Moss who once said "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels". Well, take it from us, nothing feels as cold as skinny. Long-johns have become kinda cool and bonus, they also keep you warm. Along with the 'onesie' trend, skinny trousers and calling everything 'base layers' or 'loungewear', long-johns have, somehow, gone from granddad clothing to funky undergarment. Here are TheChicGeek's favourites of what's out there right now
David Beckham - Long-Johns - £19.99
Uniqlo - Stripe Long-Johns - £12.90
Under - Irving Long John Striped Waffle - £50
Topman - Navy Polka Dot Long John - £16
Sunspel - Thermal Long John - £45
American Apparel - Baby Rib Long Underwear - £24
Label to Know - SYNDICUT
Works of art are usually meant to be seen. But, in the case of underwear, it's probably best left to the imagination.
New underwear brand, SYNDICUT's journey began above a cloth shop on Portobello Road, Notting Hill. Frustrated that such an important, intimate item of clothing might forever remain an “afterthought” by labels and wearers alike, the collective decided to bring together a talented bunch of passionate people to create a truly great, eclectic range of woven boxers to dazzle and inspire.
Co-founder Alice Begg along with designers George Lewin, Rupert Newman and Louis Hudson have just launched their first collection. Made from 100% woven cotton poplin sourced for its soft feel, the shorts have a classic tailored cut, dual-embossed buttons, and covered seams for greater comfort. Colour-matched stitching and logo embroidery for added detail will certainly brighten up your bedroom floor!
Left - 'Jazzy Jays' by Louis Hudson - Patterned Boxers - £24.99
Diesel UnderDenim
Want to know what to wear under your jeans? UnderDenim of course. The new underwear from Diesel is made in soft stretch cotton and reproduces the same features of a real denim through selvage detailing, 3-stitch denim look and a blue denim wash colour palette.
Available in boxers and briefs, the collection starts from £20. Exclusive to Selfridges now.
D.Hedral Underwear
TheChicGeek is always interested in the latest innovation in men's underwear and what they are going to come up with next. Italian brand D.Hedral say they have been working on these beauties for the last 3 years.
Made in Italy from Italian fabric, D.Hedral is taken from the word Dihedral (the angle between two planes). The underwear incorporates patented 'Angle Fit' technology and according to the type of arse you have - slim, average, round, - it lifts to enhance its natural roundness with the reverse Y-Front design.
TheChicGeek says - We were sent a plain pair of navy without the obvious Y on the back; a tasteful looking piece of underwear in a quality material and branding. These are definitely small, which could be the Italian cut. The 'Angle Fit' lift isn't obvious, there is a slight lift but nothing too conscious or uncomfortable. They are basically tight, skimpy pants, which seems to be the fashion at the moment, and what's the harm with a slight lift in the derriere area.
32-39 Euros
See what happened when TheChicGeek tried some other bum enhancing pants - here
Bonsoir Pops Up At Selfridges
British underwear brand Bonsoir brings its Somerset made underwear and pyjamas to London's Selfridges with a 10 day pop-up. Established in 1926, the company sells a wide selection of items including dressing gowns, pyjamas, nightshirts, slippers, boxers, pyjama trousers and other gifts and accessories. All the nightwear is made from the highest quality cottons, cashmere and wool available.
Bonsoir offers a monogramming service for select items that are made bespoke in their Somerset factory, including silk and two-fold cotton and cashmere & lambswool dressing gowns. Committed to British manufacturing, they source their suede & lambswool slippers from Glastonbury, wool woven in Yorkshire, sumptuous cashmere from the Scottish Borders and soft wool blankets from Ireland. The elegant silk and retro boxer short designs are printed specially for Bonsoir in a little mill at the edge of the Peak District.
Did you know? French President Charles De Gaulle used to wear Bonsoir pyjamas.
7th - 17th June 2012
Above - Boxer Shorts - £22
Control Freak - Shapewear for Men
Body or shape wear for men is the latest in our quest for the perfect physique. Enhancing or should that be minimising ourselves is the new way to go. We’ve had the pants that make us look bigger downstairs and our arses more pert. The Wonderjock from Aussiebum and the Low-sling from C-in2 both enhanced the size and shape of our packages but now launching exclusively at Selfridges this week from Australian brand Equmen is a new range of underwear which shapes and contours the body, control pants for men if you will.
Mithun Ramanandi, Selfridges’ Men’s Formal Wear and Accessories Buyer, describes where this new trend has come from “It’s been evolving for a few years. Men generally care more about the way they look, gym memberships have increased and we’ve seen a rise in sales of Men’s Health magazine. They also want to look like they care, there’s now an ideal male shape. Woman have had brands like Spanx for years so it was only a matter of time before it entered the men’s market.”
Selfridges have been selling Equmen’s Core Precision Undershirts for the past six months. Equmen’s range of tanks, tees and long sleeve shirts feature a proprietary Helix-Mapping System which combines the cross-hatch taping technique physical therapists use to improve postural alignment with the core muscle muscle support. Prices are £49 for a singlet, £59 for a v-neck and £69 for a long sleeve vest.
Ramanandi says “Sales have been fantastic, really good. Not only does it slim it also helps with posture, support and core alignment.”
These type of products have been available for years in the sporting and medical markets but now people are seeing the aesthetic benefits.
Sculptees is a recently launched line of men's performance underwear. Based in Houston, Texas, they sell tanks and T-shirts with body sculpting compression properties. The tanks and t-shirts can be worn under clothes or on their own with jeans. These products are modern, high-tech and nothing like the old days of "mirdles" and "mantyhose".
Designer/creator Stephanie Thibeaux says, “Men want to look good but they definitely don’t want to feel like they’re wearing a girdle. I knew if I could create a line of underwear in familiar styles, like ribbed tanks and boxer briefs, that offered smoothing properties and a ‘just back from the gym’ look, guys would really respond. Men are more interested in sculpting the body than slimming it. Guys get hung up on calling it shapewear, so we call it sculptwear. That’s where the name Sculptees came from. We want to give guys a smooth, sleek look not an hour glass figure”.
Another lady who has seen the potential of this underwear for men is Heather Thomson, creator and designer of women's shapewear brand Yummie Tummie. She has recently launched Ript Fusion, her first style of shapewear designed for men. "Ript Fusion was designed to shape men's bodies while visibly improving their physique," explains Thomson, "Using a patent pending design and dual fabric technology, the mid panel sucks in the belly and creates core consciousness while the chest and sweep of the shirt are a lightweight, soft cotton perfect for wearing under all types of clothes. Furthermore, the T looks just like a white T-shirt so no one will ever know how he got so 'ripped'. What guy doesn't want to look better and feel more secure in his clothes?"
This new type of underwear offers enhancement but not miracles, don’t expect to lose the beer belly overnight but what it does do is offer a firmer and more toned look.
One we've tried is the Equmen vest. Once it is on it is very comfortable, you feel very supported and no I didn’t look like my nephew in his Superman or Buzz Lightyear outfit, it just allowed me to breathe in my Dior Homme suit.
One word of warning. This isn't the sexiest look if you're meeting somebody for the first time and can be a bit difficult to remove in a hurry.
Images - [Top] - Equmen - [Above] - 'Pex' by Sculptees