The New York Observer's Michael Miller checked out the new Body by Calvin Klein Jeans, which have a "body-defining fit for an enhanced profile." In other words: A padded fly.
Bustles,
corsets, Wonderbras, that padded-booty underwear from Frederick's Of
Hollywood — women have been dealing with figure-enhancing apparel for
centuries. But the codpiece has come (heh) and gone. So it's interesting
that Calvin Klein is trying to appeal to a man's vanity — or insecurity — when that's usually territory marketers use on women.
Sometimes
stuff like this is like alcoholism: The first step is admitting you have
a problem. You have to be willing to be labeled as "that" kind of
person. It's easier with drugstore items like conditioner for "dry and
damaged" hair or cleanser for "oily" skin. You can march up to the
counter owning your issues, like, yeah, I'm dry and damaged and oily, so
what?
But some
men place so much importance on their junk, you've got to wonder if this
is enabling, in a way. Or telling: Wouldn't you automatically assume
there's a problem in that area?
Miller
spoke with Ray Lopez, a Macy's sales guy. "When I first tried them on,
it was like, ‘Whoa! Do other people notice this?'" Ray says. "You feel
more confident. You have people who wear the skinny jean, and the only
thing you see is the bulge. These work with the whole body." Miller, of
course, tried the jeans on:
They were a breakthrough! Such comfort, such support! And yes, my confidence was bigger! It looked bigger, at least.
Ah, yes: The illusion of change. Something push-up bra, Spanx and makeup-wearing women are quite familiar with. Welcome to our world.
