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#Body shaming, or man’s best friend?

#Body shaming, or man’s best friend?

There’s a new style out there for men whose six-packs sit on a fridge shelf.

Clothing is now being marketed specifically to dudes with “dad bods,” the now socially acceptable term for any man — parent or not — who has a rounded gut mixed with some muscle tone.

Brands such as online retailer True Classic are cutting shirts to be tightly flattering on the torso and upper arms while looser around the midsection. The goal is to give a happy medium of fashion and comfort to men who — if their marketing is to be believed — could never simultaneously enjoy both before.

“It’s tight on the chest and shoulders and then loose on the front for people with dad bods . . . you’re a DILF,” an online ad for True Classic reads.

Those quick and zippy ads, which have found their way onto many a man’s social media feed, have been driving up the “dad bod” sales.

“I watched one of the ads once on Facebook and now they just keep showing up,” customer and 44-year-old father of four Christopher LeBlanc told The Post.

The difference in Christopher LeBlanc's appearance before (left) and after wearing a "dad bod" shirt.
The difference in Christopher LeBlanc’s appearance before (left) and after wearing a “dad bod” shirt.

LeBlanc, who admitted to previously emphasizing comfort over chic when it comes to sartorial matters, said his new array of muscle-flaunting True Classic T-shirts (sold in three packs for $54.99), plus a hoodie ($46.99), have inspired the government-logistics worker to pursue more stylish looks going forward.

“It’s looser on the ‘dad bod’ parts, but I’m not swimming in the shirt,” LeBlanc, who hails from Modesto, California, said.

The shirts, he added, also pass the “wash test” — meaning they didn’t “get too tight around the arms and across my body and become uncomfortable,” as has frequently happened in the past, he said.

“Clothing like this is long overdue. It’s about time there are more options for bigger guys to dress well.”

Other fashion-forward men, such as fashion YouTuber Zac Fobbs, 24, was also quick to praise the shirts for being “so unexpectedly perfect.”

Zac Fobbs said that True Classic (right) quickly became a favorite of his.
Zac Fobbs said that True Classic (right) quickly became a favorite of his.

“I’ve never actually seen a shirt fit me the way I thought it was going to. These clothes have a true-to-size feel and fall onto my body very nice. That isn’t common in the industry,” the content creator, who wears an XXL, said.

“Name brands will often upcharge for subpar quality when it comes to plus sizes.”

For Glenn Hillman, a 50-year-old father from Manalapan, New Jersey, “dad bod”-fit clothes are “possibly the greatest thing for an aging man.”

For New Jersey dad Glenn Hillman, "dad bod" cut shirts are revolutionary.
For New Jersey dad Glenn Hillman, “dad bod”-cut shirts (right) are revolutionary and much more flattering than normal tees.

“It’s not just a shirt, it’s an overall difference in your appearance,” Hillman said.

“As men get older, there’s less options to improve their looks. Having shirts that fit well and show off the good stuff certainly helps men with the aging process,” the store director of operations for Ashley Furniture said. He said he has received several compliments since donning the apparel, which better defines his chest and arms.

The compliments have come pouring in for Hillman since sporting "dad bod" shirts.
The compliments have come pouring in for Hillman since sporting “dad bod” shirts.
Stephen Yang

Still, some men — especially those who skew younger and are kid-free — aren’t thrilled by the new push to market styles to those with “dad bods.”

“I don’t have a problem with the term, but it doesn’t apply to me,” Fobbs said. “I don’t think there needs to be a [special] category for clothing that fits bigger guys.”

Others, such as XXL style influencer Ryan Dziadul, draw a hard line against the company’s advertising, which features punchlines such as, “So you are calling me fat? It’s nothing a True Classic can’t fix!”

“This product may be great – who knows? But the marketing is awful . . . Dad bod, rock hard — no one wants to be body-shamed. Has Jonah Hill not taught the True Classic team anything?” Dziadul said.

However, dads like LeBlanc have embraced the phrase for more wholesome reasons.

“Being a dad is the greatest thing in the world, and the phrase is something relatable… You’re not the young guy who can be in the gym all day anymore, but you can still look good!”

While fathers like Glenn Hillman enjoy the phrase "dad bod," there are some younger men, who aren't dads that don't appreciate the term.
While fathers such as Glenn Hillman enjoy the phrase “dad bod,” there are some younger men, who aren’t dads, that don’t appreciate the term.
Stephen Yang

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