BOKISSONTHRONE: Men in their American Eagle Outfitters underwear push for body acceptance

Monday, April 4, 2016

Men in their American Eagle Outfitters underwear push for body acceptance

The video features real men, including Matt, who says he doesn’t mind not being photoshopped. The video is intended to be funny, but with an underlying serious message about body acceptance.

Paunchy or buff, the real you is sexy.

So says American Eagle Outfitters, pushing its underwear line in a video slyly promoting its philosophy with models who have that real men look.

None of them look as if they just left a gym. Some look as if they have never left a gym.

Four very different men pose in a variety of underpants. No one is photoshopped.

American Eagle Outfitters, which has played around with videos on April Fool’s before — the Skinny Skinny Jean of 2013 and American Beagle Outfitters of 2014 — posted a video of the guys.

Though done in fun, there’s a serious message underlying it: accept who you are.

The four men featured in American Eagle Outfitters’ underwear video.

American Eagle Outfitters donated $25,000 to the National Eating Disorders Association.

The AerieMan video ties in with its campaign, announced Friday, that it will no longer retouch male models in bathing suit and underwear ads. This will take effect with the 2016 holiday season.

To raise awarness that different body types are sexy, the video presents these four men who apparently have a very full wardrobe of skivvies — but little else.

There’s Devon, with a wild beard and long hair, who dances in his boxer briefs with the marijuana leaf print.

And there’s Matt, who says, “I don’t mind that I won’t be retouched. I feel that everyone should be comfortable in their own skin.”

Exactly what could be retouched to improve upon this chiseled man remains a mystery.

Kelvin ponders great style, which to him, “is when anyone feels comfortable in what they wear.”

And if anyone understands style, it is Kelvin, who wears a hat in his bubble bath.

Doug, who is absolutely fine, would not be an underwear model under other circumstances. He poses in briefs on a couch, perched on a tree branch and in bed, reading “The Meat Free Monday” cookbook.

“I have always liked being in my underwear,” he says. “It makes me feel more free. I feel I am myself.”

Kelvin wears his hat all the time, even in the bubble bath, and he accepts himself.

All of the men talk about how important confidence is.

Doug does a stretch for the camera, his tightie whities filling the screen in an image which ensures this video will not soon be forgotten, regardless of how hard you might try.

“Healthy body image to me is loving who you are,” Doug says.

All of the guys reiterate: “The real you is sexy.”