“My timeline is purely rompers and Russia,” Chrissy Teigen, America’s fairy godmother and foremost cultural critic, tweeted this Tuesday. As you well know, the former half of Teigen’s statement refers to Kickstarter-campaign-turned-internet-sensation RompHim. This week, RompHim’s star product, a male romper featuring an adjustable waistband and built-in zip fly — which is, in our opinion, cheating — launched a fierce, mostly silly debate about who, apart from Hannah Horvath circa season one of Girls, could wear rompers.
The answer, of course, is everyone. Rick Owens knows it; Zara knows it. Reebok kind of knows it. Today, the sportswear brand announced the launch of its own short jumpsuit for males. Dubbed the “ReeRomp,” the one-piece is made with Reebok’s signature ACTIVChill technology, a lightweight, breathable fabric that helps athletes stay cool and dry during workouts.
Set to launch within the next 30 days, the $89 ReeRomp comes in two distinct styles. According to the brand’s e-commerce site, each style “combines the benefits of an active life and effortless style.” In designing the one-pieces, Reebok’s Eun Jung Park sought to create a fashion-forward alternative to the RompHim. “One-piece styles work for men and women. The current design that’s trending leans toward a preppy side with collars and buttons. I designed ours to be really simple and sleek,” stated Park.
And that they are. Fans of the athleisure movement will appreciate their anorak-like uppers. (One style comes with a reflective hood and outsize front pockets, the other’s a mock-neck with a reflective half-zipper.) Still, we object to the wording of Reebok’s product description. “Built for bros, the ReeRomp will keep you cool in more ways than one,” it reads. Why the hyper-masculine pronoun? It seems desperate, an attempt to convince traditionalists that it’s OK for men to wear rompers. The company should’ve let its designs speak for themselves. Reebok’s not taking a progressive stance — it’s attempting to capitalize on a trend.
[ via Allure ]
