This month's underwear Lust List is inspired by my visits to The Body Studio at Selfridges and the Undressed exhibition at the V&A, plus my many lunch time window shopping trips on London's famous Oxford Street (having a day job that's based at Oxford Circus can be dangerous!). I can't get enough of the wonderful... Continue Reading →
Last year's Lust List evolved from lingerie that I spotted and loved (even if there was no way I could afford or fit into it), into a more inclusive monthly list of interesting underwear, swimwear or nightwear that I had discovered. I was going to start this year with a list of interesting sale items,... Continue Reading →
Fashion is often still thought of as something that is only of interest to women. Despite centuries of astonishingly elaborate menswear before the Great Masculine Renunciation of the late 18th century, plus a recent resurgence of menswear, many people still believe that an interest in looking good is something rather feminine. The vast majority of... Continue Reading →
I don't understand the festive adverts for Figleaves. The posters I have seen on the tube feature a slender model in beautiful lingerie with the tag line "All I Want...", but who are they hoping to appeal to? If they're thinking that men with female partners will be attracted to the model and buy lingerie... Continue Reading →
No, I don't mean the rice variety at your local Thai or Chinese restaurant; I'm talking about testicles. Sticky testicles. And would you believe that there is nothing remotely sexual involved? Well, for me at least. Who am I? I'm a waxer. I wax both ladies and gentlemen and, yes, I wax those bits. Suddenly,... Continue Reading →
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, they say. Whoever 'they' are, I wouldn't listen to them if I were you. After all, this 'beholder' might be someone with completely different ideals of beauty to you. They might be someone who thinks that feminine beauty is all about a slender hairless body that appeals... Continue Reading →
Why do you need to know someone's gender? What the fuck difference does it make? Most of the time, it makes no difference whatsoever. It is possible to talk to someone and interact with them on a number of levels indefinitely without knowing their gender, but our society is set up in such a way... Continue Reading →
If there's a theme running through Boylexe's show, it's that of performance itself. Boylexe makes the act of performance - performing burlesque on stage, as they are; performing gender and masculinity in particular - stand apparent and revealed. "Look at me!" commands Randolph Hott in one act, inviting us to not just stare at his... Continue Reading →
It's a weeknight and it's late. Two women with brightly coloured hair stand on the eastbound Jubilee Line platform at Waterloo - one red, and one orange. The train arrives and they sit near each other. A man in smart work clothing gets on and sits near both of them. As soon as the train... Continue Reading →
Women are all over magazines. Open one up - whichever gender of adult it's aimed at - and you will most probably see far more images of women than you will of men. This means that we're analysed and judged far more often than men are in magazines, yet we still spend our money on... Continue Reading →