a meditation on why Dockers are a blight upon mankind

I've a new piece on Filthy Gorgeous Things, and in it I undress men with my eyes. And then I dress them with my words. And then I undress them just because I can. And then I hold outfits up and go, "hm," thoughtfully. And let them stand around naked, fidgeting.

It's a piece on male dressing for FGT's ornament issue and it begins thusly:

I once fucked a man solely because I saw him changing from his civvies into his bartending clothes and caught a quick and dashing sight of him in his purple low-rise bikini underwear. It was 1984, and at 21, I had never seen a man in anything but either my previous boyfriends’ white Jockeys or my dad’s frighteningly ugly flappy boxers. That bartender’s provocative grape bikini undies got him laid, if only that once.

And yet even as these grape bikini manties held a magical power over my jejune erotic imagination, they also neatly represent a paradox, and that is this: It’s simply easier to be half-naked and hot as a woman than it is to be half-naked and hot as a man.

If you want to read the rest--and I strongly suggest that you do--go here and continue. Then come back here and leave a comment because I care what you think. I also like it when you follow me on Twitter because sometimes all that stands between me and total meltdown is how many followers I have. 

(Photo is of Milan designer Isabel Mastache's now infamous penis pants. I found the photo here, but it's all over the Web.)

Comments

[Pete]

CG,
A very interesting piece. As a man, I can agree that women have infinitely more choices in adorning their bodies. As you point out, males have been socialized to be relatively bland in their appearance. I can only guess that this is so that we do not out shine our woman.
Pete

[Lady Dragonfly]

You know, I think this is why I think cuff links are so hot. I see a man's wrist adorned with a creative piece of specifically male jewelry, and I think there has got to be more there...

[Adam]

I love wearing cufflinks. I have a pair that my lover purchased for me for christmas. Burnished steel, they are the insides of lady's watches with rubies inlaid. Elegant yet masculine, I like the exposed gears and cogs on them. In my mind I imagine they say that I am a man of methodical patience and discipline yet underneath that clockwork veil is a fiery passion, red like rubies.

I love how style can imply so much, I miss the days of men's fashion from the '20s, I'd love to see that come back.

[Ivy]

I never thought about it, but you are right. It is much easier to be undressed and hot as a woman (perhaps this comes from the fact that men will generally fuck anything with legs and women are a bit more selective). Power to us.

[Little Panda]

The mushroomy scent of cocks?

*shudders*

And now I must read DH Lawrence. :)

[Ava]

I wrote you a personal email to tell you that I adore your writing. I think putting it out there publicly is also important.
I follow your blog. It's one of the few I really enjoy and will think back to. More is more. So write more!

[Allison]

o'kay Sean Jean might have something to say about men's fashion, but I love guys wearing stuff showing off their bodies instead of exagerating themselves. Something covering & exposing a guy's body is, I know, like seeing a bit of ankle in the 19th century, but I like subtelty. A big, black opened wool coat showing off a tight jean jacket underneath (open optional) or a buffolo-plaid jacket with a hoddie underneath usually gets my blush. Guys have to have straight pants 'cuz that's the way they're made. They have no hips & that makes them a straight-cut pants wearing guy, but more colour variety might be nice... .

[HB]

I love this discussion - wonderful piece on Ornament.

I can't help but think that there is something very compelling to contrast - and that contrasts of cultural meaning and/or of the clothing structure to the form it adorns. Mr Newton explores this a lot in his images, of course (links for gazing pleasure): http://thephotobook.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/the-best-of-helmut-newton/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Smoking
Thinking back to Frank-n-furter or Victor/Victoria, there is something titillating about the contrast, aesthetically, between the Mr Curry's muscles and fishnets or Ms. Andrews' lithe bone structure and her sharply formal suit. Dandies were exactly that contrast...only rarely seen these days, alas.