SpeedoForum.org

If you haven't seen this, it's worth watching. Here's the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_ZX5Z50rTo

Great documentary on the male underwear and swimwear catalog from the 70s mid-2000s that was likely many men's first glimpse into erotic and sexy clothing for men at a time when being gay was mostly on the down-low. I definitely remember picking this up a few times, and I ordered a few things too... long before online shopping was a thing.

Curious if anyone ever bought anything from them, love to hear about your experiences with International Male...

The movie is titled "All Man: The International Male Story" You can rent it on Tubi for free, or rent on Amazon Prime, YouTube Video and other places.

Never bought anything from them that I recall, but I do remember seeing the catalogs when I was a grad student at Kent State in 1977-1978. Thanks for sharing the movie link.

I got a lot of my first swim briefs from them. My favorite was the Bunz swim brief. Countoured rear panel to show off your ass mounds. Looking back, I don't know how I got the bravery to wear it to my gym pool.

The documentary is interesting. A lot of it focuses on the business end of things. They do talk about the models some too. For example, there was a rule for a while, no black models.

I used to wear their French cotton contour underwear all the time. I bought some other types for "special occasions" as well.

I ordered just about every color of their Greek bikini swim brief. They were about the best cut bikini I've ever had. I also ordered a few thongs from them, and some shorts. Still have some of them.

speedostud wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 26, 2024 8:09 am

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If you haven't seen this, it's worth watching. Here's the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_ZX5Z50rTo

Great documentary on the male underwear and swimwear catalog from the 70s mid-2000s that was likely many men's first glimpse into erotic and sexy clothing for men at a time when being gay was mostly on the down-low. I definitely remember picking this up a few times, and I ordered a few things too... long before online shopping was a thing.

Curious if anyone ever bought anything from them, love to hear about your experiences with International Male...

Interesting trailer.

I had a catalog. Not sure how I got it. Were they on news stands? Never bought from them. It was easy to buy speedos from a local sporting goods store.

There were several, similar companies. One was "Parr of Arizona." Another was "Ah Men." They advertised in the back of magazines like Better Homes and Gardens. I guess they figured gay men had a domestic side.

Here's an Ah Men/Houston ad.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ah_Men#/m ... a_1975.jpg

I visited the Ah Men store in West Hollywood in the early seventies.

Here's a Parr of Arizona ad. They're gone, but you can buy their stuff as vintage.

https://img.newspapers.com/img/img?user ... rotation=0

You can buy a vintage Parr catalog on ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/116167818493?v ... 98e475e9a0

International Male lives on as Undergear.

Yes, I remember seeing them on magazine racks...

speedostud wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 4:56 pm

Yes, I remember seeing them on magazine racks...

As I'm thinking back, I probably bought it at a news stand in Harvard Square that had everything. It was next to the entrance to the Red Line subway.

I also sent to France for a catalog. HOM I think.

There was a sporting goods store in Harvard Square that sold Speedo and other brands (Dolphin, Kiefer). When I was learning to row, I bought a pair of rowing shorts that were really short, sunga-ish, and made of a sort of pre-lycra knit material. Gave a good sense of your manhood in front. I left mine in the locker room, and they were gone when I went back to get them. The cleaning crew likely just threw them away.

I will confess to having some self pleasure moments, reading those catalogues, imagining being on a beach surrounded by guys in strings etc.

Thom wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 8:15 pm

speedostud wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 4:56 pm

Yes, I remember seeing them on magazine racks...

I also sent to France for a catalog. HOM I think.

I wonder if HOM was the same as this site... they make the most comfy underwear, and I have bought a few of their swimsuits as well which were great....

https://us.hom.com/products/trouville-s ... 8827588976

speedostud wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 30, 2024 9:09 am

Thom wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 29, 2024 8:15 pm

I also sent to France for a catalog. HOM I think.

I wonder if HOM was the same as this site... they make the most comfy underwear, and I have bought a few of their swimsuits as well which were great....

https://us.hom.com/products/trouville-s ... 8827588976

Yes, I'm positive it's the same company. Their site says the company began in 1968, so they would definitely have been around when I ordered the catalog.

I sure remember the brand, but never had the catalog - hot guys though!

Until the mid-90's, speedos weren't uncommon. I bought a brown Adidas at a regular men's store in Wis in the late 70's, and Jantzens at a sporting goods store in Mich in the early 80's. Had a lot of fun with girlfriends, wearing a teal/purple/fuchsia striped 3/4" sides Jantzen into the early 90's! They all wanted inside it! And most made it!

Then I found the Speedoboard & this site & Aussiebums! But sure wish that striped Jantzen hadn't aged out!

oldspeedo wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 28, 2024 7:37 am

I used to wear their French cotton contour underwear all the time. I bought some other types for "special occasions" as well.

'UnderGear' , 'Xtreme' and 'International Male' branded. Those were very comfortable. The waffle knit and rib knit cotton briefs especially so. The special occasion types were very interesting.

Still have several.