Photo Meme: Rompers R Us (Still)
Theresa Hegel, the Executive Editor of Digital Content at the Advertising Specialty Institute, asked on Twitter for comments on comparing the newly launched men's bathing trunk, The Brokini, with the RompHim.
But shortly before the pandemic, there came the death knell for that recent fashion trend.
"RompHim, the brand that made rompers 'for him,' is set to shutter after nearly three years in business," wrote CNN Style in February.
Rompers became a fashion trend in 2017 after a Kickstarter campaign by the company's four founders (Alex Neuman, Daniel Webster-Clark, Chip Longenecker, and Elaine Chen) "raised over $350,000 from Kickstarter, and the colorful onesies became a sort-of-ironic-but-sort-of-not male fashion fad that summer, particularly in the LGBTQ community," wrote BuzzFeed News in February.
"Other competitors soon popped up, but the RompHim became the generic term for any male romper.
"Still, the novelty clothing item's popularity dipped off pretty much as soon as the summer of 2017 ended," BuzzFeed News continued.
The graphic on the home page of the RompHim website.
Webster-Clark told BuzzFeed News he had "mixed emotions" about the end of his company, adding it had been an "incredible experience."
"He said he still sees people wearing the outfit — or "romping in the wild," as he called it. But the team seemed to anticipate that the fashion fad would not last forever."
The company's slick website remains fully operative, but all products appear to be sold out.
A screenshot of the product page on the RompHim website.
But while RompHim may be gone, Rompers live on.
Out Smart, Houston's LGBTQ publication, recently spoke with the gay apparel store Differio about what were the hot items being consumed by their customers during the pandemic. The answer? "Sexy gay fashion items," such as jockstraps, ball hygiene products and slim-fit male rompers.
"Differio is finding its customers ordering fashion-forward gay apparel that's both comfortable and going-out ready, especially sexy male rompers in slim-fit styles," Out Smart writes.
"Trendy men's rompers could be high in demand right now because it's an effortless streetwear item providing that happy medium of feeling comfortable at home while still looking presentable on Zoom or FaceTime. Apart from men's rompers, stylish one-pieces, in general, have been a top pandemic buy for their comfortable fit, including hooded bodysuits, animal onesies, and sport jumpsuit."
Here's a look at Rompers found on Instagram: