Reprinted from: Compression Stockings and More
Why Don’t Men Need Compression Stockings?
By Gregory
Because Guy’s legs…
■ Don’t get tired or achy from standing or sitting for long periods of time
■ Don’t swell (edema)
■ Don’t get varicose veins or spider veins
■ Don’t have any risk of deep vein thrombosis (blood clots)
■ Don’t have any risk of venous issues
■ Don’t get circulation problems in the veins
This all sounds pretty silly doesn’t it? Nevertheless... it is of course all not true. Wouldn’t it be awesome if this was actually all true and we could always be a beacon of health and have strength like Superman?
Unfortunately for many of us things don’t go that way. Men and women alike may have to deal with some or all of the above stated conditions and discomforts at some time of their life. It is also pretty clear that the longer one ignores seemingly minor symptoms like achiness, tiredness, mild swelling or smaller varicose veins the worse things may become as time marches on.
Many men try to be real “Macho” when they get an ache or pain and just suck it up. However, with some things just sucking it up or dealing with it may not be the best course of action. When it comes to venous issues preventative care and treatment measures for more minor symptoms and conditions could really make a difference. Taking action early on could prevent more serious and agonizing problems that may likely occur down the road if things are left unattended.
The point I am trying to get to here is that men can benefit from wearing compression and support hosiery just as much as women. Men definitely need to pay attention to their leg health too. We only get one pair and they have to last us a life time. Most of us make sure our cars get regular care and maintenance but many men tend to neglect caring for their legs and in particular their leg veins.
Before you think about shopping for compression stockings or support pantyhose you do need to discuss your symptoms with your physician. He will also be able to help you determine which level of graduated compression or support hosiery you will need. Before you can purchase compression hosiery you will have to accurately measure your legs for proper sizing and fit of your compression stockings.
For additional information please also read our posts…
Can Real Men Wear Compression Stockings?
NYLON GENE NOTE: I really enjoyed the author's little bit of facetiousness in pointing out the inconsistencies in we men's outlook on wearing something that could have such a huge beneficial impact on our health.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Men Don’t Need Compression Stockings and Support Hose or Do They? | Compression Stockings & More
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Venous Disease Called Silent Killer | ScrippsNews
Venous Disease Called Silent Killer | ScrippsNews
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Twitter User Walks (more than) A Mile in Pantyhose As Challenge to Women
One of the fascinating aspects of this story is that Mr. Opinionated--the pseudonym used on @stuckinhose's Twitter account--did not take on this mission out of a desire to promulgate the male legwear trend, with which faithful Nylon Gene readers have long been well-acquainted. According to Twitter conversations with him, this arose not from a desire to wear hosiery, but instead to encourage more women to do so. He wanted to prove that their complaints about the discomforts and annoyances of pantyhose are a gross exaggeration.
Over the course of time since he began wearing pantyhose to work, Mr. Opionated began tweeting his thoughts on pantyhose to anyone willing to engage in debate with him. As of this writing, he's posted more than 5,200 tweets. They run the gamut from curious coworkers to far-off strangers who've heard of his situation and are curious to learn more about him or his motivations. He has sent 140-character missives to many a female celebrity to compliment them on their choice of legwear, or chastize those who swear by the bare-legged hose-haters party platform.
Since then, his Twitter followers have grown by leaps and bounds, from a handful of insiders to about 250 in less than a week. His profile reads, "I have been challenged by a female friend to wear hose to work under my pants..looking for females who want to help/have ideas/find it funny/etc."
As I've not had the opportunity to interview him directly and get more details, my observations are based on recent Twitter correspondence and review of his public Twitter timeline of previous conversations with other followers, as well as the spate of recent news items that have popped up. It appears the original agreement between Mr. Opionated and a female coworker dates back at least to September 2010. He agreed to wear pantyhose under his trousers each day to work for 90 days, ostensibly to prove that they're not nearly as bad as women make them sound.
Assuming a 5-day work week (18 weeks), StuckInHose would've ended his 'nylon captivity' sometime around New Year's Day. Yet here it is almost March, and he's still going strong--even going out to buy a $50 pair of Wolford hosiery in recognition of the brand Kelly wore the day she introduced his saga to her national TV audience. It seems that there have been quite a few 'side bets', etc. that have added the occasional 5 extra days here and there (Geez, I hate it when that happens), which is why he's still got at least quite a few days to go before being 'set free' from being a 'hostage to hosiery'.
While Mr. Opinionated insists he has no interest in the men's legwear trend, it's hard to avoid a couple of questions that spring to mind with respect to this story. First, for a guy who isn't at all interested in the idea of men wearing pantyhose, or 'mantyhose', he seems to have taken on this 'chore' of demonstrating the hollowness of female complaints against hosiery with little resistance.
Add this to how readily he was required to add days and weeks to his original 90-day ordeal, and the picture that emerges hearkens back to that old Shakespeare line, "Methinks he dost protest too much."
This should not be taken as criticism, though. If anyone should appreciate how wearing of hosiery out of necessity for any length of time tends to cause one to discover a whole range of beneficial aspects, it would be me. It was only after wearing support-style hosiery at a doctor's suggestion for relief from poor leg circulation that I discovered how several secondary benefits and how energized they make ones legs feel.
Although he could be reluctant to admit it, for fear of the reaction of friends or family, Mr. Opinionated shouldn't fear the public fallout were he to acknowledge that he's learned to like the idea of wearing pantyhose during the past six months. He would be among the very good company of thousands of 'regular guys' across the country who have made the same discovery. Secondly, even if he truly remains fully committed only to promoting more frequent wearing of pantyhose by women, his exploits and the publicity surrounding it have the unavoidable consequence of furthering the public acceptance of sheer legwear as a male, or more properly a unisex, garment. Each time a man who is by all appearances an otherwise average, ordinary guy--lacking effeminate or 'odd' personality traits--comes into the public eye while unapologetically wearing tights or pantyhose, it continues the erosion of those outdated misconceptions once held in the public perception. That was the idea behind my work in developing this blog, and previous work as a public spokesman in support of this emerging trend.
Consequently, the old notions associating men and nylon legwear with sexual deviations, etc. have all but disappeared. I can't tell you how many people who have noticed my hosiery have commented that they assumed I must be wearing them for medical reasons, etc. That seems to have become the new default assumption when it comes to a man wearing pantyhose.
I wish Mr. Opinionated luck with the remainder of his time "stuck in hose." It will be interesting to see whether he ever reaches the end of his 90 days.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Does Your Man Wear Tights? (TightsPlease.co.uk)
The vast majority of TightsPlease readers are women, so the article and accompanying survey are primarily directed at guaging the attitude of the female customers towards the 'mantyhose' trend. However, it's also evident from the article that they have a great many male customers, and they ask the question, "what are your men buying tights for?"
I hope that some TightsPlease readers have made their way here to The Nylon Gene, where we can certainly shed some light on that question...
Having spent some time as director of marketing for the original seller of tights/pantyhose made especially for men (http://www.activskin.com/), I am very familiar with the reasons men are buying tights (BTW, 'tights' in British usage is synonomous with what we in the U.S. refer to as pantyhose, as well as opaque tights). First, one needs to answer why men are buying so many pairs of tights/pantyhose from a website that sells women's tights/pantyhose? The simple answer is that there are a great many men who wear them for mainstream, legitimate reasons (see below) who aren't aware that there are readily available brands of hosiery made especially for men--and what the differences from women's hosiery are. This is most true when talking about mail-order hosiery, since there is no difference from ordering from ActivSkin or a website selling only women's hosiery. Even the question of overseas shipping becomes moot, because there are British-based distributors of male tights such as Legwear4Men, and several European-based companies. As awareness of existence of these companies has increased over the past 5-10 years, sales have also grown rapidly. This trend will continue away from women's tights to men's as awareness continues to grow.
There will continue to be a certain percentage of male tights wearers who stick with those brands they've become accustomed to and loyal. There are also a good deal of men who prefer to buy their legwear at retail outlets instead of mail-order. Male legwear has not become pervasive enough yet to enter the retail market, so these men must either buy women's brands or spend the postage money and order from the web. I mentioned the differences between men's and women's hosiery above. These include sizing according to male body proportions, somewhat more durable material (men aren't tolerant of the wispy-thin styles that run/tear at the drop of a hat), etc. However, those men who have not tried any of the men's brands before may not realize what they're missing by settling for women's brands. They may think there's no real difference because they've never worn anything else.
So what ARE the primary reasons men are buying tights (aka, mantyhose) in the first place? They can be summed up in a few categories:
Leg support: Women have known for years of the benefits of support hosiery when they're bothered by the subtle effects of poor leg circulation. One need not have gnarled up knots of varicose veins to benefit from a good pair of support pantyhose. They mildly massage the legs and help move blood through the veins to keep it from pooling during the day when on your feet for extended periods or being sedentary for hours on end. Somehow, 50% of the population has been left out when it comes to providing relief. Men are as likely as women to suffer from this complaint. A woman can wear a pair of sheer hose that keeps her legs feeling good at the end of the day and no one thinks a thing of it. It's now becoming more acceptable and commonplace for men to recognize the value of support hosiery. And, they need not wear thick black opaque tights--under long trousers--that are too hot in spring/summer, either. As men's legwear becomes more commonplace in the public perception, men are wearing them with shorts when the weather permits.
Warmth-Without-Bulk: In colder settings, hosiery provides a thin base layer under outer clothing that is much more comfortable than the long johns that were traditionally the only option available to men. Thin tights trap a layer of air next to the skin that adds insulation. When wind is blocked by an outer layer, hosiery is very effective at adding additional warmth without constricting movement. This is usefule for hunters and fishermen, construction workers, and even office workers. How many desk jockeys complain that their employer can't seem to find a way to regulate the climate control and sit shivering throughout the day?
This benefit is also valuable to outdoor athletes. For instance, runners or cyclists who exercise or comete on chilly mornings need to keep the chill off their legs to avoid cramping. Hosiery provides just enough insulation to do that. Yet, since most types of athletic tights are thicker than sheer pantyhose, they tend to cause the athlete to feel overheated after body temperature rises during exertion. Some cycling tights have zip off legs, which is good, but zippers add expense and you still have to stop to remove them and find someplace to store them.
Performance Enhancement: It's fairly well known in athletic circles that muscle compression helps improve stamina/endurance by holding the muscles in place better and minimizing bouncing against each other. Support hosiery provides that same sort of muscle compression. So in addition to the aforementioned warmth-without-bulk benefit mentioned above, they can also enhance a runner or cyclists ability to stay the course longer. Also, since sheer hosiery wicks perspiration it's insulating effect transforms to cooling when this moisture evaporates from the legs. Thus, they can also be worn in warmer weather if the benefit being sought is performance enhancement.
Anti-chafing: When worn under trousers, tights or pantyhose are a great means of preventing chafing of the inner thighs in many circumstances. It's been an open secret for many years that horsemen often wear women's pantyhose while riding to avoid 'saddle sores'. Likewise, this same benefit applied for hikers on long marches. An added benefit is protection against ticks. They can't get attached to your legs when you're wearing nylon against your skin. That's also why the military have used them overseas to help ward off sand fleas, etc.
I've posted the text from the TightsPlease blog, along with a few inline comments that I think will help clarify a few misconceptions inherent in the article:
Does your man wear tights?
It’s come to our attention that more and more men are choosing to wear our tights!
They’re being worn for whole host of purposes, from meeting a basic need like our boys in Afghanistan – wearing tights to protect their legs from desert flies, or wearing tights to make a bold statement, like our cross dressing shoppers, who get a lot of enjoyment from wearing stylish, women’s tights! [As men become more comfortable with the idea of wearing tights, they will add them to their wardrobe for aesthetic, as well as practical, reasons. However, cross dressing is a very small proportion of the number of guys wearing tights.]
Traditionally, men wearing tights has always been a taboo subject. The only time men in tights is acceptable, is at the pantomime or on our favourite superhero! With the sheer volume of male shoppers that we’ve seen visit the site, it’s unlikely that they’re all shopping for either of these purposes. [As I've detailed above, men wearing tights is fast losing any of the former taboo. They're wearing them for very practical reasons, and the public is recognizing that fact by taking the sight of a guy wearing hosiery very much in stride]
So what are your men buying tights for? We’d like to find out more! For 5% discount off your next purchase with Tightsplease, fill in our Men In Tights survey now! We’d love to hear your views!! [Nylon Gene readers: Make sure to visit the blog or follow this link, and offer your input for the survey]
Lauren x
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Polls Closed: It's 'Miller Time!'... (Mantyhose at the Booth)
 |
After 16 hrs. on my feet, it's time to hoist a pint and celebrate 'democracy in action'. |
Turnout was 'moderate' in Ohio, as they said on the news. For us, that meant about 1,000 voters in our precinct. I served as a machine judge, meaning that I was one of those people who lead you to your electronic voting machine and prepare it to accept votes.
As such, virtually all the voters who came through the precinct had a chance to see the emerging men's legwear trend firsthand. Many hardly even seemed to notice anything out of the ordinary, while many others took a glance or two at my considerably darker tan legwear and proceeded on with their business, or our conversation, with hardly a sign of anything they considered radically out of the norm.
Many friends and acquaintances came through the precinct, too. However, at least half or more of those have become aware of men's legwear through past conversations or news media activities of mine. So, they wouldn't be expected to behave as if there were anything out of the norm anyways.
As regular readers will recall, this is far from the first time I've worked the polls on Election Day, nor is this the most noticeable style of legwear I've worn while working. Last fall (November 2009) saw me wearing black legwear with black shorts--with nearly the same lack of concern over it from the public who were in attendance. (See previoius Nylon Gene posting for details).
My reason for recounting my experience here is to further encourage those guys who have been wearing legwear for some time, but are still trying to work up the nerve to wear it more openly. As evidenced by this experience and others like it, no one is going to chastise you for wearing legwear with your outfit. As long as you stick to well matched clothing that is otherwise masculine in appearance, you'll be more than fine if you decide to give it a try.
Let us know here about your experiences... good? bad? indifferent?...
Thursday, June 10, 2010
A New Adventure Awaits...
Beginning in July, I will begin working for the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) in the District Office located near Newark, OH. I will be working with traffic, safety studies and public involvement, among other things. This is a bittersweet turn of events. I am eagerly looking forward to my new employment and getting to know what seems to be a great group of people, and it is a mixture of the engineering-related background for which I was educated (see my Sept. 16, 2009 article: A Very Unique Career Transition) and some of the things I've been engaged in during my past year as Director of Marketing for ActivSkin. That is, engaging the public, writing, working collaboratively with others, etc.
On the other hand, I've thoroughly enjoyed being so deeply involved in bringing ActivSkin, and the men's legwear trend, more visibly into the public eye, and raising awareness of the many benefits that men have been missing out on all this time. I believe we've made considerable strides in persuading the public that sheer and opaque hosiery have legitimate applications for men complaining of achy, tired legs or wanting warmth-without-bulk for athletic and cold weather outdoor activities--and many others.
Since this effort began, the word 'mantyhose' has begun to enter the public lexicon. Yes, it may sometimes be used derisively, but the same was once true of male earrings, too. More often than not however, it has come to be used in a generally neutral context--if not actually positive in some cases. I believe we can take some credit for that.
Now, before any loyal Nylon Gene readers get ready to go out and hang themselves using a pair of ActivSkin A677 mantyhose out of despair--fear not. I won't be shutting down the blog. It has served us well for the past 15 months, and I see no reason it shouldn't continue. I will still post the occasional article as time permits. It will just be as a peripheral effort rather than a central focus, and of course occur outside of my normal day-to-day activities. I'll still be an active proponent of men's legwear and it's benefits. My new colleagues will certainly learn of whom my former employer was, if not already aware. Of course, my resume included ActivSkin/GLS Hosiery at the very top, though it didn't come up during the interview. Who knows, maybe some will be reading these words I'm typing right now. Being in a traditional office environment, I'll have to become accustomed to long trousers once again. One thing I'll miss is having my work attire include shorts most every day. Ah well... can't have everything, can we?
Finally, I'd like to thank all the thousands of people who have read this blog regularly since it began, or just occasionally stopped in to see what's new. Keep coming back, as I'll try to still provide new content as time permits. Keep the comments coming and feel free to email me as well.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Mantyhose: What It's NOT--What It IS...
I posted a comment on an article on "Men In Tights" on Mancouch.com (a blog about stuff guys like) today. With all the buzz going on these days about the topic of men's legwear, I thought my comments might be useful to repost here on The Nylon Gene. They may prove useful in helping those who read superficial treatments of the men's legwear trend get past some of the misconceptions out there...
We generally fear, or mock, that which we don't understand. So let's take a look at what 'mantyhose' IS and what it's NOT (generally speaking):
In general, it's NOT what's pictured on the guy standing in front of the Eiffel Tower, pictured at right. That's definitely something that's pretty far out there on the fringe of things. It doesn't represent what the vast majority of guys who wear legwear want to wear.
It's also NOT a gay thing. From what I've read on a variety of blogs and forums, gay men for the most part feel about the same way about pantyhose as the stereotypical woman does. They don't like them and don't want to wear them.
It's NOT an attempt to revert back to fashions of the 1700s. If it's sometimes pointed out that men were the ones who wore the tights in the Middle Ages, it's only to illustrate that they're NOT exclusively a female garment.
It's NOT a secret desire to cross dress, either. Guys who are wearing the male hosiery on the market today (which does come with a fly, BTW) aren't typically combining it with other female items to start dressing as a woman.
It IS a recognition that men are as likely as women to have tired, achy legs due to poor circulation, and that support hosiery provides relief if worn consistently. Sometimes they're worn under jeans or other pants--sometimes they're worn with shorts. Sometimes they're in virtually invisible colors that closely matches skintone--sometimes they're worn in more visible colors like black or dark grey.
It IS a way to attain added warmth beneath outer clothing without the added bulk of long johns or sweatpants. Some guys can live with long johns, others prefer the thin fabric that moves with them.
It IS a way for athletes (especially runners and cyclists) to keep the chill off the legs when they first go outside--yet avoid overheating after their body temperature rises with exercise.
It IS also a way for those athletes to enhance stamina somewhat with the moderate muscle compression provided by support styles of hosiery.
It IS a garment worn for fashion in some cases, in that guys are recognizing they can successfully add them to a masculine outfit if properly coordinated (i.e., not as shown in the photo above, by the Eiffel Tower).
However, for the most part, it IS something generally worn for more functional purposes. For my part, I initially started wearing tights or sheer hose for leg support. But after a few years I recognized I didn't want to give up wearing shorts for good, just because I needed to wear support-style hosiery to keep my legs from aching. I've been wearing them openly among friends and colleages for years now, and nobody questions my manhood because of it.
If you're a basically masculine guy in the first place, wearing legwear doesn't detract from it. Yet, if you're an effeminate guy it doesn't matter if you wear a Rambo outfit--you'll STILL look like a girly-man. (anybody here old enough to remember Michael Dukakis wearing the tank commander helmet during the 1988 presidential campaign?)
As with most everything, there are no absolutes. The foregoing statements represent the bulk of men who wear legwear today. Yes, there will be a few who will wear ostentacious patterns and colors out in public with shorts. Yes, there are gay men who wear pantyhose and like them. Yes, there are certainly cross dressers who wear pantyhose with their outfits, too. But, by and large those are NOT representative of the majority of men wearing nylon legwear--and on behalf of them I hope to shed a bit of light on the subject. Hopefully, this will cause more writers to stop and take a more reasoned approach to the "mantyhose question".
Friday, November 13, 2009
Men's Legwear: Library of Articles
I've written a number of articles, in press release form, over the past nine months or so, with the intent of having them published to a wider audience. However, I thought Nylon Gene readers may appreciate having access to them here on the blog. The links will take you to my Google Docs storage location, where you can read or download these documents. I would encourage you all to share them with acquaintances, colleagues or family members who might benefit from the many and varied practical benefits of legwear...
Click on links below to be taken to a downloadable PDF document. [NOTE: The list is not yet complete. Check back frequently, as I will post the remainder of the documents soon]
Men's Hosiery: A Little Background
Leg Circulation Problems Know No Gender Boundaries
For Runners, Mantyhose Fends Off Chill, Energizes Legs
For Cyclists, Mantyhose Fends Off Chill, Energizes Legs - July 20, 2009
Hunters Turn to Mantyhose for Relief From the Elements
Mantyhose: Golfers' Latest Weapon Against Weather, Fatigue
Ladies, Does Your Guy Wear Pantyhose? Maybe He Should.
Civil Engineer to Mantyhose Marketer: A Very Unusual Career Transition
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Election Day...
Once again, your fearless blogger helped keep America safe for democracy by working the polls. The fact is, once the County Board of Elections gets you on their list, they never let you forget Election Day is approaching and it's time to get trained again. In all honesty though, even though it's a LONG day (5:30am to 8:30pm), it's also pretty enjoyable--especially since the turnout in my area was better than expected.
What's all this have to do with The Nylon Gene? Well, as in previous elections, my pollworker 'uniform' included ACTIVSKIN legwear worn with shorts--this time in black, as pictured at right (ACTIVSKIN A575 in case you're wondering). The more obvious legwear provided a good opportunity to observe reactions of a large number of people who may not have otherwise been acquainted with this emerging trend. Read on for a synopsis...
I have to preface my observations by noting that by now most of my friends and acquaintenances are well aware of my work in marketing and publicizing the men's legwear trend, and thus take it completely in stride. Working a precinct close to my home meant I encountered a good many of these today. There were some whom I hadn't seen in awhile, so we had an opportunity to chat and catch up on things. Without exception, they expressed interest and support for my (somewhat) new career direction in marketing men's legwear.
During the course of the day, I alternated between sitting at the provisional voter table, guiding voters to machines or just walking around talking to people when there were no voters needing paper ballots. This gave me a good opportunity to watch people unobtrusively and guage their reactions to the 'mantyhose.' In past elections, I've worn tan colored hosiery that, while still fairly noticeable, was possible to overlook if one was not paying close attention. Today, it was impossible to miss the black legwear. More than 800 voters came through during the course of the day.
The overwhelming majority took little or no detectable notice. While they may indeed have wondered, "why's that guy wearing pantyhose?" they gave every appearance of giving it no more concern than one would over the color of one's shirt. This could be an indication of having been already aware of the existence of men's legwear, and thus there being no novelty factor to it. There were probably 4 or 5 who did double-takes and may have been unfavorably disposed to it. Another dozen or two could be seen glancing out of the corner of their eye while waiting in line, or otherwise looking when they thought I was not noticing them. These could fall into either the positive or negative category, as their facial expression betrayed little. Looking can't be equated with disapproval, however. As I've written elsewhere, when we are confronted with something new and/or unexpected, we all tend to linger in our gaze because of the novelty factor.
I also engaged in several conversations about the legwear with voters who asked questions or expressed interest. There were several women who had family members who were runners; have leg circulation issues; or similar, as well as a few men who expressed interest for similar reasons. After they finished voting, we chatted briefly about the various benefits and reasons for wearing legwear and I gave them one of my cards. If you are one of these and are reading this blog as a result, "welcome, and enjoy..." The high school girls' cross-country/track coach with whom I recently made acquaintance at the MMOC stopped to chat briefly and wished me luck with my work.
As a final note, the folks I worked with were without exception great people, and, this time I was joined by my 18-year old daughter, who was one of three high school girls assigned as part of the "Youth At The Booth" program. One of them, a family friend, has seen my TV appearances and thought it was 'pretty cool'. My fellow pollworkers, by the way, took the legwear in stride too. A couple of us have worked together before, so it was nothing new for them.
The bottom line in all this: while a guy wearing sheer black legwear is still highly unusual to be sure, it's not something that will draw the condemnation of the average person as one might once have intuitively expected. When done in the context of masculine attire such as this, by one who conveys confidence in oneself, there's no reason for it to draw ridicule or mocking. Furthermore, those who have reason to wear it, but do so in a less noticeable manner (under long pants, or in skintone-matching colors) certainly should be able to do so without concern over anyone questioning their masculinity. It's been my experience that if there's no reason to do that in the first place, the addition of legwear should not change the equation.
Monday, September 14, 2009
He's Got Legs! - Santa Barbara News-Press
He’s got legs!
It takes a real man to test the latest fashion ‘trend’—shapewear for guys. Pete Johnson, co-owner of The Brewhouse, is just the man to do it.
read on for the text from the Santa Barbara News-Press article that featured ActivSkin Legwear...
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2009
By DAVE MASON
NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
It happens to women all the time, and now it's happening to a big guy who likes to make beer.
“Oops,” Pete Johnson says from behind a bedroom door at his Santa Barbara house. “I've got a run in them already. They're like pantyhose.”
He had just leaped into “mantyhose.”
Things are now so quiet at his home that you can hear the birds softly chirping outside and the tick, tick, tick of a nearby living room clock.
Mr. Johnson, 54, is thinking.
“Hmmm,” he says, after finding out that putting on the ActivSkin Legwear for Men isn't like throwing on a pair of jeans.
Softly grunting, he tries bunching up the hose. Now he's got it!
He puts shorts on over the leg wear and a T-shirt over a Core Precision undershirt. A few minutes ago, he was wearing the shirt backwards before figuring out which side is the front. It's tagless.
“I feel skinnier already,” Mr. Johnson had said after correctly getting into the shirt, part of men's shapewear. At the News-Press' request, Mr. Johnson agreed to wear a special undershirt and men's leg wear to see their impact on appearance and comfort. The newspaper picked him because he's a fairly big guy at 5 foot 8 and 210 pounds. He admits he has a beer gut. And he's a good sport with a good sense of humor.
In other words, he's the right man for this job.
Now fully dressed, a smiling Mr. Johnson walks proudly out of his bedroom. He doesn't seem to mind the panty– er, mantyhose. “It almost looks like a good tan. I can almost get by; people will think it's just my legs.”
Wearing shorts, a T-shirt and short boots, he walks out to his driveway and puts a tape measure around his waist: 42 inches.
“I lost 2 inches from my belly,” says Mr. Johnson, who already had lost 10 pounds during the past month of dieting and swimming.
Looking again at his legs, he notes, “It doesn't look too bad.
“Actually, it's pretty comfortable,” he says, looking up again. “They're not hot. My clothes go over them pretty easily. It feels fairly normal. It's not grinding. It seems to move naturally.
“I'm going to a Dodgers game,” he says, adding that he might keep them on for that.
His shorts cover the run he had put in the stocking's left leg. “I didn't realize how tight it would be in my leg. I guess it's a skill putting on pantyhose.” He explains he learned quickly to bundle them up.
Did he have any hesitation about trying them on?
“A little bit, but it sounded silly and fun,” Mr. Johnson says. “I make beer for a living; how serious is that?”
Still, “I've never been a fashion model before,” he says with a slight grin. “It did seem kind of strange.”
But not only does he put on the special garments; he keeps them on for most of the day and keeps an informal log about it.
“... 9:35 (a.m.) Sitting, eating is no problem. Still pretty comfortable,” he writes a few minutes after the News-Press leaves him to his adventure.
“ ... 9:55. Clothes slide over these things easily. In fact, my shorts keep falling down. I'm forced to punch a new hole in my belt to keep them up.
“ ... 10:15. I show my wife (at her office at Vista del Monte, a retirement community). Jean (Johnson) doesn't see much change.” (After this, Mr. Johnson drives to The Brewhouse, which he co-owns.)
“ ... 10:55. Starting to itch around my armpits.
“ ... 11:02. I need to use the restroom. Those of who drink beer regularly would appreciate a fly in these things.” (Well, there are some styles with that special feature, Steve Newman, ActivSkin marketing director, later tells the News-Press.)
The News-Press catches up again with Mr. Johnson at a table in the Brewhouse at 2 p.m., just after he talked about the special leg wear with customers. Still wearing the undergarments, he says no one noticed his stockings until he pointed them out. He had talked to three women and four men, a mix of his customers and employees, about it.
“You'd think that would make a visible difference,” he says about being suddenly slimmer. “People diet for a year to lose 2 inches.”
But a bartender expresses surprise as the News-Press tells her Mr. Johnson is wearing hosiery.
“Oh, wow, I didn't notice,” says Amy Roarty, 29, of Santa Barbara, with a genuine look of surprise. “I think it's awesome.”
She adds she doesn't think it makes Mr. Johnson less manly. “Not in this age.”
In fact, a customer, Sheri Benninghoven of Santa Barbara, sitting at a nearby table, compliments Mr. Johnson. “He looks fabulous,” she says, then immediately adds, “He makes quite good beer.”
Terren Braen, the wife of Mr. Johnson's brewery assistant Paul Nichols, is sitting at the bar and says Mr. Johnson had told her that he would be wearing the undergarments.
“I thought he looked pretty good, but if he hadn't pointed it out, I wouldn't have noticed,” she says. “He looks pretty relaxed.”
Not that she's surprised he would wear the garments. “Pete? No, he'll try anything.
“I was teasing him that he should wear it (the manty hose) under lederhosen,” she says, chuckling.
She adds she could imagine other men, including those going to their 20-year high school reunion, wearing the shapewear to look slimmer.
As Mrs. Braen talks, Mr. Johnson doesn't seem embarrassed about wearing the garments.
“I'm fairly secure about my masculinity,” he says, now sitting at a table with a manly drink, a mug of dark beer. “A man does what he pleases and doesn't worry about what anyone else thinks.”
Now there's a little twinkle in his eye. His voice gets a bit softer.
“As long my wife doesn't mind, of course.”
His smile grows bigger.
But Mr. Johnson has changed his mind about one thing: He's not wearing the manty hose to the Dodgers' game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. For one thing, he says, it would be awkward to go into the stadium restroom in Los Angeles.
For another, “I would feel silly sitting there (and watching the game) in pantyhose,” he says.
After getting photographed by the News-Press in his brewery, Mr. Johnson walks toward a rear bathroom to take off the underwear.
He's a little more experienced. Taking off the shirt requires a technique.
“Instead of pulling it over your head, you drop your shoulders and pull your arms out,” he says just before walking into the restroom.
As a few customers chat away in the background, Mr. Johnson quietly removes the mantyhose and shirt. This time he doesn't put a run in it.
“The hose comes off really easily,” he says from behind the bathroom door.
And on that note, with the undergarments now a memory, he leaves for the Dodgers game.
A few days later, Mr. Johnson, who still has the mantyhose and the special shirt, hasn't put them on again. “You know, I'd be surprised if I wore them,” he says by phone. “If I were young and trying to impress women, I'd be likely to, but the main reason I'm attempting to lose weight is to feel better and be healthier. I'm past the time of trying to impress people with my appearance.
“My wife already knows what I look like, and she's the only one I'm trying to impress,” he says.
On the other hand, the undershirt did take 2 inches off his waist. “It's easier than giving up beer,” he says.
And, Mr. Johnson says, the undergarments aren't uncomfortable. “But I'm not wearing high heels.”
Would he, if the News-Press asked him?
“Probably not,” he says with a big smile.
This man will go only so far.
e-mail: dmason@newspress.com
COPYRIGHT ©2009
SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS
FOR MEN'S LEGS
Wearing “mantyhose” makes the legs feel better.
So said Steve Newman, 49. Mr. Newman started wearing ActivSkin Legwear for Men before he became the marketing director in March for Granville, Ohio-based GLS Hosiery, which has manufactured the leg wear since 1999.
He said the mantyhose has helped his and other men's legs to feel more comfortable during workouts such as long bike rides. He credited the leg wear for reducing aches and cramps, improving circulation in the legs and compressing the leg muscles so they don't bounce during a workout.
He noted football players like wearing the hosiery for games in cold climates and that he likes to wear them during his runs on cold mornings. In addition, he said, horse riders like the hosiery because it prevents chafing.
The ActivSkin line began when Steve Katz, a friend of Mr. Newman, started GLS Hosiery to provide a product for men who had, for various comfort-related reasons, been wearing pantyhose.
Sales have grown consistently and are up 20 percent from last year, Mr. Newman said. But he noted many men haven't wanted their friends and family to know they're wearing the leg wear. “They were afraid of being teased about mantyhose. But that has started to change. We've heard from our customers that a lot of them are wearing them more openly.”
As more men wear the product, the stigma has decreased, he said. Today, about 40 percent of ActivSkin customers are men ages 45 to 55 and 35 percent are between 35 and 45.
Not sold in stores, ActivSkin Legwear for Men is available at www.activskin.com. Prices vary from $6.99 to $17.99.
Customers ordering at the site can get a 10 percent discount by typing in the code word, GNRA22.
Styles are both sheer and opaque, and colors are tan, black and beige. Some of the opaque hosiery is footless.
For more information, read Mr. Newman's blog at http://www.nylongene.com/.
SPECIAL UNDERSHIRT FOR MEN
Men have seen their waist reduced by as much as 3 inches after putting on Core Precision undershirts, according to Corie Chung, Ecumen co-founder and marketing director.
And the shirt compresses flab elsewhere and makes everything firmer, Miss Chung said by phone from New York City.
Core Precision undershirts are being sold at www.ecumen.com and www.Saks.com. The nearest Saks Fifth Avenue store that sells them is in Beverly Hills.
Ecumen, which manufactures the shirts through a plant in Israel, is headquartered in Sydney, Australia.
Prices are $89 for tank tops, $99 for short-sleeved shirts and $109 for long-sleeved tops.
Customers have credited the shirts with improving their posture, Miss Chung said. She added the shirts may help customers relieve their back pain. She said her company worked with a physical therapist in designing it.
The specially designed Lycra-polyester shirts compress “love handles” and other flab by pulling back on the shoulders, she said. The focus, she explained, is on the body core, which includes the waist area and the back behind it.
“It adjusts your body mass to all the right places,” she said.
The shirts, which are similar to gym workout tops, pulls moisture away from the body, she said. “The fabric is very breathable. “It actually makes you feel thinner,” she said. “It's shaped like the body you'd like to have, and you can use it to get the body you'd like to have during workouts.”
She said sales have grown as more men have become aware of the shirts. “We don't use the word ‘shapewear.’ We call it precision wear, fitness wear. ‘Shapewear’ is more of a female term.”
Men, she said, are concerned about having a sculptured, muscular look.
“It does show off your muscles,” she said, but added, “It's not faking; there's no padding.”
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
ACTIVSKIN Introduces New Style
ACTIVSKIN is pleased to introduce another new product and a totally new concept in men's legwear. Style A560 is now available for immediate shipment. A560 is like no other legwear we know of, and we've sampled a lot of hose in the past 10 years! They are somewhere between opaque tights and sheer pantyhose. The fabric is less transparent than typical pantyhose, yet much more sheer than opaque tights. These are full-support legwear and feel great as they massage your legs all day. When we first tried the prototype shipment, I was very pleased with how well they energized my legs, and I'm sure you'll be glad you tried them as well. You won't want to take them off!The most noteworthy feature is they're sheer to the waist (STW). Typically, STW pantyhose do not provide good leg support, tear or run easily, and tend to slide down throughout the day*. These are very durable, provide good leg compression, and stay up as well as any control-top legwear. They also have a wide, comfortable waistband and sheer toe (known as 'sandal foot' in women's pantyhose). With such robust fabric, the A560s don't need reinforced toes. I don't think I would be exaggerating at all if I said this is one of our best products yet!
The A560 fabric has only a moderate degree of shine. Because of the opaqueness of the material over the skin, the Tan-colored variety appears darker than our more sheer products when you put them on. They feature a crotch gusset (a diamond-shaped piece of material to avoid stress concentrations) for strength and longer life. Although STW, the hip and waist area still provides comfortable control to hold up the abs and minimize the flab. A560 comes in five sizes (M, L, XL, XXL, and T) and three colors (TAN, BEIGE, BLACK). The photo at right shows how they'll look in black if you wear them with shorts. It's a sharp look for autmn, as we start to get into those first few chilly mornings.Best of all is the economical price. Despite generous amount of costly spandex, these are priced at only $11.99. There's no telling how long the introductory price will remain, so hurry and order a few pairs today. You won't regret it. As with all our products, ACTIVSKIN offers a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, meaning if you purchase and do not like the product it can be returned for a full refund of purchase price within 10 days.
You can check it out at: http://www.comfilon.com/catalogsheerpantyhose.asp [SCROLL DOWN TO A560]
TWITTER DISCOUNT: Attention all Twitter users! I've been posting Tweets announcing the new Style A560. Get on Twitter and follow me at 'newmansa' and look for one of my posts. I'm offering an Offer Code that's good for a 10% discount (until Aug. 31st) on any order of three or more products that includes at least one pair of A560.*NOTE: Tights and pantyhose tend to slide down because the material is stretched when you pull them up to your waist and they want to contract back to their original shape. STW legwear provides very little (beside the waistband) to prevent this. Control-top (CT) pantyhose do more than hold in your stomach. They also squeeze your hips and waist and tend to resist that sliding down tendency. Although they are STW, ACTIVSKIN A560 tights resist sliding down because they fit so snugly against the body.
Monday, August 10, 2009
New Packaging Idea for ActivSkin???...
A little Monday fun: Here's the latest packaging idea for ActivSkin. We'll put them in vending machines in all those businesses where people are on their feet all day long. We'll make a fortune! Yeah, that's the ticket...
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
How Can YOU Make a Difference?
I've had the question raised by men who are already wearing legwear, 'what we can do to help?...' with efforts of those like myself who are at the forefront of publicizing and advocating for men's legwear as it moves inexorably closer to the mainstream. The question has given me pause for thought, so I wanted to share those thoughts with my readers here on The Nylon Gene...
Below, I've listed six major areas where men who are so inclined can help. Women are certainly welcome, too. We need your thoughts and support as well. Try to draw on your collective unconsious and remember the struggles your mothers or older sisters had to overcome before wearing pants was considered to be as much a woman's outfit as a man's...
As part of my role with ACTIVSKIN, I have become, by default, one of the primary voices in support of the idea that support tights or sheer hose ought to be as well suited for men as for women. There are others like myself who are also on the leading edge of things, such as Chan Kraemer of e-MANcipate.net, Steve Katz the founder of our company, and many others of whom you may not recognize the names.
However, for every one of us, there are many others who are wearing their legwear and going about their daily lives--promoting/advocating simply by their presence with others, who can then see this trend is more than just the pet project of a few guys who like wearing nylon legwear. And, for each of them there are probably hundreds more who wear legwear, but aren't comfortable with others knowing of it, and so wear it only beneath trousers and socks. As our publicity work at ACTIVSKIN continues to educate and inform the public through media attention, more of these men are setting aside their fear of teasing or ridicule and letting it be known to friends, family and colleagues that they too wear this new unisex garment. And, as I can personally atest, those responses of friends and colleagues are generally overwhelmingly positive. So, with no more ado I've listed below the things that YOU can do to help us continue towards our goals:1. Although our sales data tells us there are many of you guys out there wearing our legwear, we would like to let others, especially our media contacts, know there are more of you out there. We have a few of our contacts who have indicated a willingness to be identified in an article or interview as a man who wears legwear, but we can use many more. One of our customers was set to come to Columbus to participate on the 3rd Daytime Columbus appearance, but business travel plans negated that at the last minute.
As I continue to act as the de facto spokesman for men's legwear in the U.S., I would like to have other voices at my disposal as well. When opportunities for interviews for publications or TV interviews arise, it is valuable to have a group of guys who are willing to participate on short notice, to provide quotes, be photographed, etc. If you are willing to do so please contact me through my email (see link near top of right-hand blog column). Send me your contact info and a message indicating your willingness to do ______ (be quoted, be photographed, appear on TV, etc.) Don't worry about the details of having to travel somewhere, etc. All that's really important right now is knowing I have a ready resource for finding guys willing to step forward and be heard or seen. We'll work out whether it is logistically viable on a case-by-case basis. Also, it would be helpful if you included a brief bio on who, where, how long you've worn legwear, for what reasons, etc. (also a photo would be helpful). I'll keep it on file for future use.
2. Keep doing what many of you are already doing. That is, wear legwear visibly and confidently as you go about your daily activities--especially while there are still many days of warm weather before winter. Try to wear shades that will be noticeable, too. It doesn't do much good if you wear it, "and no one even noticed." Of course, that's fine if that's all you want to do--no one's criticizing--but it won't do much to advance the mainstreaming of men's legwear if no one realizes you have it on.
3. While wearing hosiery in noticeable shades, strike up conversation with others when appropriate. It doesn't have to be immediately about your legwear. Don't shy away from people paying attention to what you have on your legs. It's still a fairly new trend, so you would expect people who first notice you're wearing nylon legwear to scrutinize closely--if for no other reason than to confirm they're really seeing what they think they are. Most won't take the next step and approach you to ask why you're wearing legwear. If you happen to be engaged in a conversation with them, it may provide the opportunity to address their curiosity. So, be prepared to share your reason for wearing them--whether it be for leg health, occupational factors, sports/recreation, or you just plain like the comfort they provide.
4. Wear your legwear in settings where you will be interacting with people who already know you well (friends, family, co-workers, teammates, etc.). One of the hardest things for men when they first begin wearing legwear out in the open is to do so around those who know them well, but it's also one of the best ways to share a favorable impression of men's legwear with others. If they already know, like and respect you, they're less likely to leap to unfavorable conclusions about men's legwear or reasons you're wearing it. Keep in mind that, if your status is high in their eyes, that will tend to ELEVATE their perception of men's legwear--rather than the converse, which is that your wearing of legwear will LOWER their perceptions of you. Since I've become Director of Marketing for ACTIVSKIN, my reputation among acquaintences has tended to positively influence the perception of those around me regarding men's legwear. But, it requires a certain willingness to risk.
To be an ambassador for men's legwear, you have to become comfortable with wearing it anywhere and being prepared to give reasoned responses to the question of, "Why?" Of course, workplace dress codes often preclude wearing shorts to the office, but there are functions away from work like golf outings, etc. where you can certainly wear legwear and take advantage of opportunities to share with colleagues why this trend is growing the way it is.
Become comfortable responding to critical comments without becoming nervous or agitated. If a buddy says something like, "Tell me more about it, although it does seem a little gay." (This was an actual comment I received from a friend), don't respond defensively. In this example, I just casually shrugged it off and proceeded to tell him about the various reasons men are wearing hose these days. As I suspected, it was just good-natured ribbing, like guys do to each other. I responded appropriately and he's since helped me on occasion with publicity advice.
5. Comment on articles or blogsites that make reference to men's legwear, 'mantyhose', etc. They're easy to find by setting up Google Alerts or similar tools. Make sure not to sound 'shrill' if/when you need to take them to task for something they've written. Have a sense of humor. Also, make sure to sound reasonable and don't write things that will make you sound like a fringe-dweller when defending/advocating for men's legwear. I've been doing this for quite a few years now, and I can say that a key thing about this is to be willing to provide your actual name. Comments and posts carry much more credibility when the author is willing to be identified by name. (HINT TO COMMENTERS HERE ON THE NYLON GENE...) Therefore, you have to be willing to accept the possibility of your friends and colleagues seeing your name out there somewhere, in support of legwear. But, that shouldn't trouble you, as it may well give you the opportunity to cover Item #4 above.
6. And lastly, the seemingly self-serving suggestion to buy only from companies that cater to the men's legwear market. Yes, I know that pretty well excludes everyone but ACTIVSKIN when referring to U.S. companies, but I would make the same comment if there were several companies in this country selling hosiery exclusively for men. Our sales have grown steadily over the years--especially since the beginning of 2008--and that provides: a) the evidence that the men's legwear trend is a legitimate market force that's continually moving toward social norming, and b) the resources to pursue publicity campaigns we have been working on or wish to launch in the future.
We are aware that a certain segment of the men's legwear market still purchases much of their legwear from women's hosiery companies. This could be because they first started wearing legwear before we came on the scene and they're reluctant to change, it could be price (remember, you get what you pay for), or a dislike of mail order or ordering over the internet (we do take phone orders), or various and sundry other reasons. However, buying from these companies only reinforces delusions that there is not a viable market for men's legwear.
We at ACTIVSKIN will continue to view our role as more than simply a provider of a product. We perceive a responsibility to our clientele to advocate an environment where all men who wear our product can do so with absolutely no qualms whatsoever about how their choice of legwear is perceived by those around them. To accomplish that goal we must remain economically viable in the long run (oops, I should avoid words like that).
Men's legwear has moved much closer to what we would call the mainstream. It's being mentioned more frequently on blogs and in the media, to the point where it's less 'remarkable' than it once was, since many (possibily most) have at least heard that there is such a thing. We welcome and encourage the help of you readers to augment our efforts. Please feel free to contact me directly if you would like to discuss more specific items.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Spanx for Men
This week's TIME Magazine includes an article on Spanx for Men. As the tagline for the article reads, "Who says girdles are for girls? A fancy new undershirt sucks in your beer gut so you don't have to."
The backstory on this is that ACTIVSKIN was initially intended to be included as part of the print version of this article also . We provided product photos for use in the story, and were in contact with the editors working on the story.
However, layout issues arose following the death of Michael Jackson last week--meaning that most of the magazine is taken up by the coverage of his death and funeral. We were sorry to hear of his untimely death, and yes, I'll admit it, we were also disappointed to learn of our relegation to the online version. But, that is the way it goes, so we just roll with it.
At present, the online story on 'Spanx for Men' includes a link at the bottom that reads, "To see some manny hose and other items, go to time.com/manscaping" However, at present the link doesn't seem to be working. Keep checking it though...
As for the main subject of the article, the Equmen bodyshaping undershirt, we've been reading about these for several months now, and they appear to be ready for a U.S. rollout soon (they're currently available in Europe). We at ACTIVSKIN believe the same trends that support a product like Equmen are present for support hosiery such as ACTIVSKIN. Men have traditionally shied away from form-shaping garments until very recently, for fear of being perceived as 'vain'. However, those misgivings are evaporating as men seek to look their best--especially in the ultra-competitive job market in which we're currently living.
As unemployment statistics rise, nobody wants to risk overlooking the 'little things' that might make the difference if the department manager is given the task of choosing 15% of the staff to let go. A similar dynamic feeds the trend towards using support hosiery in occupations that place a strain on leg health, so you're not the one who's seen as not able to keep up with everyone else.
Monday, June 22, 2009
ActivSkin Legwear on NBC-TV, June 22, 2009 (2nd Time)
As readers of this blog should already know, there are many occupations that contribute to problems with leg health, and men are every bit as affected by it as women. Therefore, ACTIVSKIN support legwear can provide relief of discomfort associated with extended periods of uninterrupted standing, as well as problems presented with sedentary professions that keep people seated motionless for hours on end. Some examples of the former are: surgeons, cooks/chefs, retail clerks, and many more. Similary, truck drivers, pilots, and office clerical staff are among the many who sit for hours on end without relief. We've received mail noting many other professions that can benefit from our full support hosiery. Just recently, it was brought to our attention how many hours symphony musicians spend sitting while they practice their art. Video From ActivSkin TV Appearance In either of these situations, blood tends to pool in the lower legs because leg muscles are mostly inactive. In the absence of other venous problems in the legs, periodic contraction of leg muscles during movement helps force blood upwards through the legs as it returns to the heart. So, even though men (and women) in these professions may not initially have venous insufficiency or varicose veins, the constant pooling of the blood in the lower legs places added strain on the blood vessel walls and the one-way valves. Eventually, this added strain causes weakening of the walls and valves and backflow begins to occur and leads to further problems with leg circulation. Use of support hosiery helps to counteract the pooling and backflow, especially if employed before problems worsen to the stage where more invasive treatment methods are the only option. We at ACTIVSKIN want to promote a more open-minded approach to men's legwear, so that those who are most at-risk because of their occupation can wear it with confidence. Formerly, men avoided use of support hosiery because the only non-medical grade products on the market were made for women. Some have tried using medical grade compression hosiery, only to have them sit unused in a drawer because they are too hot and difficult to put on. Unless specifically prescribed by a physician, something less constrictive than medical compression hosiery can generally provide relief at a much lower cost with much more comfort. If you missed the broadcast in the Columbus viewing area, or live outside Channel Four's signal range, you can go to the following web address to watch the online video: http://www.nbc4i.com/cmh/online/daytime/daytime/#guestvideo (scroll down the list of video segments on the "NBC4i Video" list). AN UPDATE FROM 6/08/09: Feedback from the first appearance has been very positive. I'm told that our video segment for that week was by far the most viewed on the NBC4 website. Normally, Daytime Columbus show segments get about 60 views per week, while the ACTIVSKIN segment received over 1200 hits for the week (it received 572 hits on the first day). This is in addition to the 600 or so views per week of the YouTube version that I posted as well, plus those who viewed the video through The Nylon Gene. Stay tuned, for next month's appearance on July 23rd...
[THE VIDEO'S HERE... SEE BELOW] The second in the series of appearances featuring ACTIVSKIN took place this morning, where I was a guest on "Daytime Columbus" again (the local NBC affiliate, WCMH-TV). The segment, which aired live, went smoothly and I discussed occupational aspects of men's legwear with Ms. Gail Hogan, the host of the show. The following paragraphs provide some more in-depth backgroun discussion on the issues that I discussed on-air with Gail.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Using LinkedIn - Building Your Network
I've maintained a profile on LinkedIn for several months, now--ever since a colleague of mine sent me an invitation to 'join his professional network'. Although I signed on and created the profile, I have only gradually begun to learn how best to use this latest version of the social media networks that are sweeping the online landscape lately. This past Wednesday that changed when I attended a workshop to learn, "The Essentials You Need to Use LinkedIn"...
The workshop, sponsored by the local (Hilliard, OH) Chamber of Commerce and led by Sandy Blanquera of Social Boomerang, was very informative. It was held in a technical institute training site, with computers available for all participants, so we could modify our profiles as we listened to Ms. Blanquera's recommendations. I brought my laptop, as you can see above. And no, I wasn't the only male in the room. It just looks that way from the perspective of the photo above. As you can see from the other one, there were other men in attendance. 
As a result of what I learned, I've updated my profile to better represent what I currently do or specialize in. I've also been working diligently on expanding my network of connections. One of the important things about that is that it enables members to respond to one another's needs for infomation, etc. The more you offer to help someone in your network, the more likely they are to remember this some day when you are searching for infomation, or someone who can help you with what you are trying to achieve.
For me, since the success of ActivSkin rests a great deal on spreading the word about the benefits of this new trend in men's wear, and publicizing the fact that so many men are beginning to embrace it, this sort of networking is very helpful in getting the word out to various media representatives looking for content for their newspapers, magazines, TV shows and blogs. LinkedIn can be used in conjunction with Twitter to make a wider number of people aware of the existence of The Nylon Gene blog. The more people who are aware of it, the more who have the opportunity to receive unadulterated information--uncluttered by some of the baggage that obscures relevant conversation about men's legwear. In the absence of thoughtful, in-depth information, media attention can instead turn in the direction of superficial and inane. The best way to prevent this is to make our information as widely available as possible.
Yesterday's post talks about the Bit.Ly URL shortener for use in conjunction with Twitter, and encourages my readers to engage in frequent conversations on Twitter about our topics. I've also added a toolbar at the upper righthand corner of the page with a link to my LinkedIn profile. I would encourage you to visit it, and don't be bashful about sending me a request to join your network. It doesn't matter that we've not met personally, just mention in the accompanying message that you know me from The Nylon Gene.
See you on LinkedIn!...
The lady to my left in the last picture can be seen looking at my legs. Some men who are not confident in themselves may become uncomfortable with this. But you should keep in mind that any time someone wears an out-of-the-ordinary style, people will look. Looking is not equivalent to disapproval. Think about how you react when you see something out of the ordinary. You tend to look a little longer, to check it out. Then you move on. The same is to be expected when someone wears dark colored legwear. However, I've become accustomed to the fact that it is generally just curiosity, and use the opportunity to engage them in conversation if possible.
View Steve Newman's profile
[Include "Nylon Gene" in any invitations to connect.]
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