Piperlime Ad Tells Sweatpants-Wearing Women They'll Send Men Running

Attention Single Women: If you're wearing anything resembling sweatpants, strip immediately -- or you'll be alone forever.

Today in cringe-worthy news, someone noticed that Piperlime, an online retailer owned by GAP that pretty clearly targets the female consumer -- the site's main image features an array of women's tanks, handbags, dresses and shoes -- has decided to issue a PSA-like advertisement. (Scroll down to see.)

Printed on coffee sleeves distributed to unsuspecting New Yorkers, this gem -- originally posted on Copyranter -- reads: "Every time you wear sweatpants in public, a single guy leaves New York." Just in case women weren't being told explicitly enough by advertisers that our outsides are really what count, Piperlime was kind enough to spell it out. Because as we all know, every time a woman dons anything other than her finest and dares to walk down the street, men run screaming in the other direction. (Jezebel's Margaret Hartmann points out that these jersey-knit-phobic males probably make a beeline for Courtney Stodden's house.)

As a woman in her twenties living in New York City, I wanted to determine whether or not my male peers were in fact deeply scared of my sweatpants collection. Not wanting my guy friends to suddenly up and move due to a wardrobe misstep, I conducted an unofficial poll. The majority of responses went something like this: "Um ... I'm pretty sure I find girls in sweatpants attractive" and "Is that for real?"

Unfortunately, it is.

Image courtesy of Copyranter

 

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Comments

[littlechanges]

06:06 PM on 12/30/2011

There are a lot of humans walking around who offend. Women in sweatpants is f-a-r down the list, especially not so that a ridiculously expensive retailer can gorge itself on more consumer credit card debt.

[John Carvalho]

10:02 PM on 12/29/2011

maybe i'm missing something here, but i was always taught that every time you step out the door, you take exquisite care about your appearance because the way you dress was a reflection on yourself and your family, and that furthermore, you never know when you need to make a good first impression.

the fact that less guys may ADHERE to this less than women i would think just reflects badly on the guys. when i see guys wearing sweatpants i don't think they're enjoying some sort of male privilege that enables them to step out of the house in them, i think they look like morons.

why is it not okay to suggest the same thing for women?

[achantforwinter]

01:14 AM on 12/24/2011

Dude, I'll wear sweatpants when I want. Even if I'm not exercising. Who cares?

[Molly Maheras]

01:13 AM on 12/23/2011

Stop it. This is hilarious. Good work, copywriter in question. Stop wearing sweatpants in public (while not actively involved in athletic activities).

[french queen13]

07:40 PM on 12/22/2011

Answer to that ad: "Another judgmental, appearance-fixated man leaves New York? Good, it worked."

[Bor Zoi]

07:34 PM on 12/22/2011

This is an homage to the Domokun meme "Every time you masturbate, God kills a kitten".

[bethnovick]

04:41 PM on 12/22/2011

Just one more "clever" advertisement encouraging women to question their self-worth by how they look.

[JubalTHarshaw]

03:56 PM on 12/22/2011

How many people of either gender are attracted to people in sweats? Not counting the Wal-Martians of course...

[Vanessa Ta]

02:21 PM on 12/22/2011

It's true that the ad is unfortunate, but honestly, sweat pants are not outdoor attire if you're not running or doing something that you need to wear sweat pants for. "Trendy" sweat pants are an epidemic in colleges and it comes down to the fact that people don't take leaving their houses and interacting with other people as seriously as they used to. We've lost all etiquette.

[Corey Jeffrey]

02:53 PM on 12/26/2011

etiquette is a respectable idea for those willing to participate but it often comes down to an arbitrary set of rules. There is nothing inherently different between a pair of sweat pants and a pair of khakis aside from how much they cost and how they look. If all you are worried about is the money others are spending on their clothes and/or their physical appearance you are ignoring that fact that etiquette stems from courtesy, and such objectification of wealth and physical image is NOT courteous.

[macky83]

01:40 PM on 12/22/2011

Men who are so concerned with appearances and believe women should always dress for them could not be considered a great catch (so to speak). Why would any woman with self-esteem care that any man would go running anywhere simply because of her wardrobe?

Please, look around you. How many males do you see in like attire? How many males do you see with their stomach hanging over their belts?

Just another example of the double standard relating to gender issues.

[pankate]

10:44 PM on 12/26/2011

I really don't see this as a double standard. I see guys wearing sweatpants in public and with stomachs hanging over their belts. I also generally find them to be far less attractive than a guy who is better dressed. I don't see how this is any different than saying that, all else being equal, a woman wearing sweatpants is not as attractive as a woman wearing real pants.

That being said, both women and men are completely free to wear sweatpants in public. They just shouldn't complain when the opposite gender doesn't find them as attractive as they otherwise might have.

[Ellieshay88]

01:21 PM on 12/22/2011

Honestly though, don’t wear sweatpants in public if you aren’t already married with kids - there is no excuse. just like if a guy has a shirt with any hole or sweat stain and wants to get a girl throw the shirt out. Look your best people, you are on the market and when you don’t present yourself nice it makes you have a 20% off sticker on your 'price'

[irrenmann]

01:10 PM on 12/22/2011

"Just in case women weren't being told explicitly enough by advertisers that our outsides are really what count, Piperlime was kind enough to spell it out."

Just in case you weren't aware that an ad for a clothing company cannot possibly be effective at addressing "our insides" and would have no reason whatsoever to even try, I'll be kind enough to spell it out.

Find something else to be OUTRAGED! about.

[economystc]

04:50 PM on 12/22/2011

Right! It is what is inside that counts. What is inside yours?

[Robyn Singleton]

01:01 PM on 12/22/2011

What's wrong with it?? Lol.. If your single at least make an effort when you leave the house, leave the sweatpants for lounging at home

[Corey Jeffrey]

02:57 PM on 12/26/2011

Surely you're not suggesting that the only endeavor worth 'effort' is attracting the opposite/same sex when you're single? Finding a special someone is important but just because you're not dressed to impress doesn't mean you've given up on the things that actually matter.

[limstillme]

12:42 PM on 12/22/2011

" jersey-knit-phobic males"? That's a misnomer. Unattractive clothes doesn't scare us, they just turn us off, kind of like tattoos and excessive piercings.

[Thaag Tidestalker]

05:36 PM on 12/26/2011

Because all men are attracted to exactly the same thing only in different colors.
**nods sagely**

[saythisword]

12:34 AM on 12/28/2011

Yes, I've always noticed how my friends with tattoos and piercings are repulsive to their husbands and partners. Oh, wait...

[limstillme]

08:52 AM on 12/28/2011

Saythis, you're right, there are all kinds of people in this world with all kinds of taste. The fact is though, tats are pretty much permanent. I've heard both men and women say they regret getting them after the new wore off. Permanent regret is a fairly high price to pay for a short time benefit of blending in with the crowd.

[Bethanese]

12:41 PM on 12/22/2011

It's not what you wear, it's how you wear it.