The testosterone-tourniquet trend isn’t confined to the nether regions of the male physique. Stretchy second-skin shirts and fitted narrow-waist jackets are also being designed for those with swimmer’s builds. ““It’s up to each man which part of his masculinity he chooses to show,’’ says Terence McFarland, fashion director of Details. But show it he must. ““The time is right for men to be considered sex objects.''
All this gender specificity – a style flavored with equal parts ’70s gigolo and ’50s prep – is a backlash against sexless sack suits and Dockers dorkdom. Overtly sexy, covertly homoerotic, its roots really are in the gym, and the Spandex activewear favored by well-toned muscleheads. Fat-free fashion is best worn by those young men whose idea of a three-course meal is a Powerbar, an Evian and a multivitamin. Not everyone should squeeze into this look.
There is hope for the big-boned and the bulgy. When the clothes get to the stores, they won’t be quite as scuba-snug as they were on the runways. But make no mistake, clothes will definitely be tighter next summer. As McFarland says, ““It’s time to become best friends with your tailor.’’ With any luck, he’ll know a good dietitian.
