Men Trade Crunches for Corsets

Undergarments that tuck the tummy and boost the butt are enjoying a surge in sales—and not just in the women's department. The male "shapewear" industry is growing by leaps and bounds as men discover that they don't have to lunge and crunch to get that taut shape. Say hello to "support boxers" and "compression shorts." Just don't use the "G-word," the Wall Street Journal warns.

Some say the new body-shaping creations are part of a men's liberation movement; others maintain that girdles are for grandmothers. Either way, more and more men are jumping into sculpting garments like the "Waist Eliminator" and "Flashback Butt Lifting Technology Boxer." The current trend toward leaner, more tailored looks demands "a much more fitted silhouette," explains a fashion director. (More men stories.)