Spanx For Men's Jadideah Yarbrough: "Our Consumers Range From Tugboat Captains All The Way to Executives and Celebrities"

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For some guys, it's all about what's underneath. Underwear is a game, and navigating through the plethora of brands, fits, styles, fabrics, and colors is the challenge. Here, Racked investigates what differentiates a boxer from a brief, a slouch to a pouch, and what fit works best for what personality—directly from the source.

Sure, women have been wearing Spanx for years now, but have the guys? Well, according to Jadideah Yarbrough, director of research & development for Spanx for Men (or Manx, as we like to call them), you'd be surprised how many guys are rocking body-part-hugging undergarments beneath their pants and sweaters. Yarbrough is here to dispel the male-centered stigma associated with what women for years have been calling their "greatest wardrobe secret."

What makes your product range unique?
The shaping power of Spanx in the perfect undershirt. Plus, our variety of T-shirt weight bottoms that make guys feel great and our commitment to the best fit, fabrics, and cuts.

Who would you say is your target demographic? What are their interests? Where do they live? Etc?
Every man at every size. Spanx is unique in that we cross over multiple demographics. And our consumers range from tugboat captains all the way to executives and celebrities.

What is your role on a day-to-day basis?
I develop new innovations and design features, then communicate to factories worldwide to develop them. We sample multiple prototypes to get the best fit with the most unique functions and we don't approve anything until it's perfect. I don't like doing what everyone else does so it's always a fun challenge to come up with the next greatest thing.

If you had to recommend one product from your line that every man should own, what would it be and why?
The boxer brief: super comfortable waistband. No shaping (it's not intimidating to guys who are worried about wearing Spanx) and an innovative, Spanx-designed, 3D pouch for support, enhanced profile and no chaffing. Plus, fabric that hugs the legs so the boxers don't ride up when a guy puts his pants on.

What do you think men are looking for when they purchase underwear?
Fit, comfort and products that aren't "too scary."

Where do you seek inspiration for your designs?
Our husbands, boyfriends, fathers, brothers, friends and consumers. We always hear from men who are looking for solutions to their physique problems (just like women!) and who want comfortable, flattering underwear.

What are you working on now? What can we expect next from the brand?
We have two exciting spring launches: Core Control shirts for Assets by Sara Blakely (a Spanx brand)—this will be the first men's product from Assets—and a lighter weight collection of Spanx for Men shirts called Cotton Control.
· Spanx For Men [Official Site]
· All Below the Belt Posts [Racked]