Marks & Spencer To Sell 'Bum Lift' & 'Frontal Enhancement' Underwear (PHOTOS, POLL)

Last we heard, shapewear for men was really taking off...for guy's top-halves. The New York Times ran an article in May about the popularity of slimming undershirts for men. But what about power panties...for dudes?

British department store Marks & Spencer is all over it. The chain has created "bum lift" underwear and "frontal enhancement" pants that will hit shelves October 15 priced at $15 to $25. True, they're not the first products of their kind, but they seem to be the first ones backed by a major chain.

The head of Marks & Spencer men's underwear Dave Binns told the Daily Mail, "Our technologists have worked hard to engineer two styles that are comfortable to wear and that give real results. These pants provide a real confidence boost for men and we think they will prove popular with our customers."

Marks & Spencer posted promotional pics on its Facebook account. From left to right: a guy in regular underwear, a guy in "frontal enhancement" pants and a guy in "bum lift" underwear.

The brand also came up with several handy diagrams to explain how the undergarments work:

What do you think?

Quick Poll

Marks & Spencer's new underwear is:

A true innovation -- much-needed for men.

Ridiculous -- I wouldn't go near it.

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

Comments

[zelduh]

01:48 PM on 10/11/2010

When I was young, I remember my two brothers complaining that padded bras were false advertising, and that the girls that wore them (they called 'em "falsies") were a big disappointment.

So, these men's undies are the male version of "Falsies!"

[blueballs]

09:50 AM on 10/08/2010

This has gotta be sourced from the Weekly World News, doesn't it?

[Connie Markley Boppre]

12:08 AM on 10/07/2010

hahahahahahahahaha

[tbirdjim]

08:50 PM on 10/06/2010

They used to call 'em codpieces. What goes around comes around. No pun intended...

[cestpasvrai]

03:42 PM on 10/06/2010

Maybe it's just me, but I rarely look at a man's package when he's clothed. This whole idea seems superfluous.

[right Alice]

05:15 PM on 10/06/2010

You might not be able to help it now if there's
a silhouette the size of a spaghetti squash
that sashays past you.

[mssreader]

07:10 PM on 10/07/2010

That's funny!

[CMB1969]

03:34 PM on 10/06/2010

Basically a pair of fairly good quality boxer briefs with some padding

[Heauxbeaux]

02:53 PM on 10/06/2010

Okay, the bum lift I can understand - kinda like an underwire bra, it enhances what is naturally there. But the frontal enhancement is like stuffing a bra with toilet paper, and the disappointment is going to be just as palpable when discovered.

[Mitzy]

02:21 PM on 10/06/2010

One of the least known but rapidly emerging and highly lucrative segments of the fashion industry is cross-dressing. It's called Transversal Style. These "packed" underpants (a longtime staple among gayboys) will be a big seller in the drag king and butch community, and it won't be long until straight girls are "packing" for fashion and women will be borrowing their boyfriends' skirts and dresses. Get ready.

[cestpasvrai]

03:43 PM on 10/06/2010

Didn't think about that, but so true! Drag Kings are gonna love it!

[mssreader]

07:13 PM on 10/07/2010

Mitzy, Herb Cain, this goes back a ways, told a story in his column in the SF Chron about the doctors in ER who had to cut the pants off this guy who had just been brought in and found an Italian salami taped to the inside of this guys leg. Don't ask why I still remember this story.

[blueballs]

09:56 AM on 10/08/2010

I remember that too. As I recall, that was a Strange De Jim story. And it was Herb Caen, btw. You can read more of such comments here

http://www.strangebillions.com/herb/

[sigh-ence]

01:55 PM on 10/06/2010

Uh...well...alright. I guess it looks better, but how tight are the jeans you gotta wear so these undies have any effect?

[hang319]

01:53 PM on 10/06/2010

I can't wait for the day they start surgically enhancing the area.

[right Alice]

05:34 PM on 10/06/2010

H o - tox.

[Exene]

01:11 PM on 10/06/2010

Is this what feminists have fought and died for all those years?

But seriously, if it makes you feel better about yourself, why not? I won't leave the house without an underwire bra.

[tombollocks]

01:04 PM on 10/06/2010

But will they shrink in cold water? :D

[pinkindie]

12:07 PM on 10/06/2010

That's hilarious! I have to say, I always laugh when I can see the package through the pants. I don't know why ... it's kinda like the camel toe, no?

[justbenice]

11:34 AM on 10/06/2010

Hmmm, I can't imagine that any of the men I know would go near this stuff. It's really no different than push-up bras but for some reason this just seems silly and quite ridiculous.

[Lex10]

11:17 AM on 10/06/2010

won't this cramp my already massive unit?

[johnnybic]

04:37 PM on 10/07/2010

Is that what the "10" refers to?