Gay men style
The Caftan Chronicles
Hi Caftaners. Ugh, it’s a cold and rainy day in NYC! (I wrote this on Saturday…it’s actually MLK Diurnal now.) And I have to move out in this mess later to see Pam Anderson in The Last Showgirl (postscript: I wasn’t crazy about it…didn’t think it was a fantastic script although Pam and Jamie Lee Curtis were great) and then to have a small twirl with friends at the move party Harder. I’m glad I slept in this morning! As for the inauguration, I am taking my cue from Michelle Obama and squinching my eyes tightly closed, sticking my fingers in my ears and going “La la la la la!” (postscript: I spent exactly 10 minutes reading The New York Times coverage of the inauguration…and moved on.)
Recently, having wanted to do a Caftan fashion post for a while, I started wondering if there were any experts or historians of gay men’s fashion, and a little Googling brought me to Shaun Cole, 58, an associate professor of fashion at the Winchester School of Art in the UK. He actually published in 2000 a book called (and how could it not be called this?) Don We Now Our Gay Apparel: Male lover Men’s Dress in the 20th Century .
He also more recently published a book about
Essential Style Guide for Forty-Something Homosexual Men
Wait, don’t panic just yet. Just because you’ve entered your 40s, it doesn’t mean you have to give up all those stylish and chick adolescent gay guy things. You can still rock whatever clothes you want, as long as you feel comfortable in them. However, if your old rags just don’t fit your style or body anymore, here’s a way guide for every 40 something gay in dire need of fashion advice:
Don’t be scared to mix patterns
Most straight men run from patterns like they are the devil himself, gays love patterns, even don’t hesitate to mix them. No matter if floral, stripes, dots or different kids on print, patterns will add some flare to your looks every time. And you don’t have to move with a flowery suit jacket and pants. A simple floral sweatshirt or a striped button-up will do the trick and always spice things up. And these are more than age-appropriate if that is something you’re worried about at all.
Go long and slim
Ever since our sweet little Olly from Years and Years started sporting tunics on stage and in videos, gay guys all over the world adopted this trend. And you’re never too old to try it out. Longline shirts for
Many gay men are recognizable for their impeccable manner, so it’s hard to be gay in today’s world and still be devoid of any fashion sense. If you take place to be cursed with the case of poor fashion sense, here are a few things you can do to develop your style and endure out from the crowd of straights and other gay men:
Don’t be scared to experiment with patterns
Guys who are completely fresh to fashion and yearn to start experimenting with their choices might initiate with patterns. Interesting shirt, sweater and cardigan patterns are a fashionable selection for all gays, while also being quite harmless. For instance, you can grab a statement vest or shirt with an interesting pattern and easily wear it with monochrome and neutral bottoms and shoes. This way, you’ll have a fool-proof combination that will look nice in any situation.
Give athleisure a try
If you’re a gym gay usually wearing only sporty clothing, or if you’re a business type obsessed with suits, give your style a little shake with athleisure. This is a design that definitely works astonishing on gay men, allowing everyone to enhance their closets in an straightforward way. It’s perfect for sporty gays who crave to look a minute more fit
Straight Copying: How Queer Fashion Goes Mainstream
When J. Crew debuted their Liquor Store ten years ago, they transformed an after-hours watering hole into a menswear-only boutique laden with 1960s-era references to traditional masculinity. Dimly lit rooms were covered in plush leather chairs, oriental rugs, and wood paneling. In the corner of one area, a bookshelf was stacked with Strand-issued classics — Kerouac, Hemingway, and Cheever among them. Plump cashmere cardigans were draped over Globetrotter suitcases; striped rep ties rolled into lowball glasses. In another area, J. Crew showcased their collection of Red Wing heritage operate boots. Once made for loggers, carpenters, and longshoreman, the preppy clothier has since helped mainstream these blue-collar styles into white-collar offices.
A few years ago, I had the chance to interview Frank Muytjens, then the head of menswear design at J. Crew. We talked about his design process, his love for vintage, and how he chooses which third-party brands get included in J. Crew’s much-revered “In Great Company” section, which is where many American men first get introduced to storied names such as Barbour a