Unisex underwear brand PLAY OUT continues to challenge gender norms in a conversation-starting campaign for Summer 2015. This body positive photo series features three bilaterally flat breast cancer survivors including Emily Jenson, Jodi Jaecks and Melanie Testa (who goes by “Melly”) who have undergone double mastectomies and purposefully chose to live without prostheses. Clad only in PLAY OUT underwear, the series challenges the normative assumptions of gender presentation, femininity and what it means to be “sexy.” The series is held in collaboration with FlatTopper Pride, a recently launched breast cancer support community dedicated to unilaterally and bilaterally flat LGBTQ individuals choosing not to undergo breast reconstruction or to wear prostheses.
Melly
Melanie Testa in PLAY OUT, photo credit Nomi Ellenson
“As a core mission since the brand’s debut in 2014, PLAY OUT wishes to push the boundaries and continue the conversation on gender norms. This mission is further presented in their SS15 campaign film, featuring androgynous model Rain Dove engaged in a gender-blurring kiss with female model Nora Sommerkamp. Open to viewer interpretation whether they’re seeing a male-female couple or a female-female couple, PLAY OUT asks viewers to re-evaluate how individuals are labeled and to embrace a landscape without gender borders.”
Credits
Film shot and directed by Thorsten Roth (www.thorstenroth.net)
“Melly” Photo Series shot by Nomi Ellenson (http://www.naomiellenson.com/
“Emily & Jodi” Photo Series shot by Candace Doyal (http://www.candacedoyal.com/)
About PLAY OUT Underwear
PLAY OUT is a line of boxer-brief-style and trunk-style underwear marked by a comfortable fit, high quality fabric, one-of-a-kind graphic prints and bold colorways – all made in the USA. Pointing to their androgynous and gender-inclusive styling, the brand has had people of all gender presentations and identifications wear both styles of underwear; the only difference is that the trunk style is slightly longer and has extra fabric in the front so that they are able to offer underwear for every body type. Dissatisfied with the styles and colors available on the market, the founders of Play Out Underwear wanted to create an alternative to the pastel, lacy and flowery panties and to make underwear with colors and graphics to appeal to all genders. They have received tremendous support from the lesbian, gay and transgender community and want to push the boundaries of the androgynous aesthetic – by bringing it into the mainstream underwear spotlight.
