Pantyhose for men: test

by Geraden

Isn't the Internet wonderful sometimes? I was reading recent posts in LAUF, where Magicnylon had posted a link to a three-minute video in German on the subject of tights for men.

Here is a synopsis:

Group of builders display and discuss their legwear. Business man explains that men and women are different shapes, therefore men need tights designed specially for them. Reporter goes to a shopping mall with her hands full of Activskin and Evona, and tries to interest sundry men in trying them. After several refusals, interviewer engages a young man and his girlfriend for nearly 20 minutes (not all shown, of course). Eventually interviewer wears the man down and he agrees to try some on. She measures him and offers him some Activskin Opaques in size XL. He puts them on and agrees that they feel OK. Later another man tries on some sheers (over his boxer shorts!) but is less convinced. After another short scene with the builders, video closes with a Santa Claus putting on black opaques.

To get the best out of this, you really do need to understand German! Though I read the language quite well, I have had little practice in spoken German for the last 30+ years, so I enlisted the help of a friend. What follows is the translation he sent me.

Building site
Male Presenter: Real men go out in wind and weather – and sometimes they let their packaging down as they show tights and jeans – and they reveal the latest trend in the matter of fashion – men’s tights.

Builder: They are pleasant to wear because they do not ride up. We used to wear long johns – footless – and these have feet and cannot slide down.

Office
Presenter: The trend comes from America and Ernst Mender sells them on the Internet. This specialist knows how to differ them from ladies sheer tights.

Business Man: Woman are formed differently to men and we have room here for the most important part of the man.

Shopping mall
Presenter: More room for the real man. You can’t imagine them not being on building sites as protection against the cold anymore. But has this dress for the legs caught on in the fashion world? We went to a shopping centre on the hunt for men. Where are they, the brave trend setters?

Female Interviewer: These are tights for men.
Man 1: Yes
Interviewer: How do you find them?
Man 1: Erm … I find them practical as long as they are not sheers or one can’t see them.

Man 2: I can remember my mother made me wear a pair as a child when it was cold outside. And since then I hate them. They are not for men.

Interviewer: Would you like to try them on?
Man 3: No. I don’t want to try them because they look like sheers.

Presenter: This form of underwear does not seem to appeal to the men of the species, and as for wearing them? Oh well’ …sighs

Man 4: One doesn’t wear this type of underwear today.
Interviewer: Is that true?
Man 4: I think so.
5 minutes later
Interviewer: Would you just like to try them on in spite of that – just to see what they look like?
Man 4: No, I prefer not – I don’t think so.
11 minutes later
Interviewer: to the girl  Do you find them unmanly or do you think men just shouldn’t do it?
Girlfriend: Unmanly
16 minutes later
Interviewer: What have you got to lose? Come on.
17 minutes later
Man 4: OK, if you insist.

Presenter: At last a man that trusts himself. The right fit for the size and length is established. XL in opaques is what he is trying out. The girlfriend remains sceptical.

The lucky man goes to the changing room and puts on the black opaques.
Interviewer: How do you find them?
Man 4: Bad there are not. At least they are keeping me warm.

Presenter: Enthusiasm sounds differently. A second tester tries out the sheers for us. But that awakes bad memories.
Man 5: I can remember my teacher – she had hairy legs like me and that simply looks awful in sheers.
Interviewer: Can you imagine that you would ever buy a pair?
Man 5: No, to be honest no.

Building site
Presenter: Men just buy tights on the building site.

Santa's grotto
Presenter: But Father Christmas and men want lingerie. Would you earn brownie points by giving him a present of a pair of opaques for €24.99  – that is questionable?

Although my friend wishes to remain anonymous, I am very grateful for the effort he put in to give us this translation.

The video is on You Tube, and I looked up the link. I discovered that the man who posted it has a French website called Collants-mode. Following that link I found a promising 'tights for men' site with a blog, a forum and galleries.

Collants-mode seems very much to have the same ethos as Geraden's blog. I am hoping that we will be able to exchange links.