05/18/2006
Swimsuits: Score One for Global Warming
New York's local glossy Next's swimsuit issue is out tomorrow and includes a Fire Island shoot by Gerardo Somoza, styled by Chad Thompson, from which they've kindly offered Towleroad this exclusive outtake that didn't make it into the magazine. Uh, this definitely kicks my opinion of Speedos up a notch.
The swimsuit articles are bulging out all over as we near Memorial Day Weekend. There is a shift toward shorter swim trunks in 2006 (slideshow), which according to New York Times scribe David Colman is something to be taken very seriously: "Fashion watchers have been anticipating the change almost as closely as climatologists monitor sea levels."
Devotees of butt floss will continue buying banana hammocks, and would-be Kelly Slaters will always gravitate toward the surf jams. I honestly don't care what length swimsuits take as long as magazines keep bringing out swimsuit issues.
Young Men and the Sea [next]
Redefining your Level of Comfort [new york times]
And yes, I know I just shouted out to my advertisers in a post last night, but this is of service: Aussiebum and Go Softwear both have great selections if you're looking to do some shopping.
Posted 3:00 PM EST by Andy Towle in Fashion Men | Permalink
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Andy: have you repaved Towleroad? Instead of the nice tasteful black, I'm seeing a sickly green with white letters?
Incidentally, I said I'd be wearing a thong, but it's really a tanga. You didn't have that so I had to go with the next best thing.
Posted by: JT | May 18, 2006 3:07:47 PM
Thank dog! The towlroad is back to black. Sorry for my panic.
Posted by: JT | May 18, 2006 3:10:09 PM
its impossible to read your site when its this mossy green color.
i will be wearing the box cut, i dont have the legs for a speedo.
Posted by: ryan | May 18, 2006 3:25:18 PM
I only wear just-above-the-knee board shorts but I wear them low on the hips. I too don't have the legs for anything shorter but I do have the flat abs.
Posted by: gabe | May 18, 2006 3:38:23 PM
hey andy, your new light turquise layout with white fonts are VERY VERY DIFFICULT TO READ, and i don't even wear glasses! otherwise, love your blog!
Posted by: pat | May 18, 2006 3:40:36 PM
Sorry guys, the script in the poll was turning the whole blog green. Oops. Guess we'll try again soon.
Posted by: andy | May 18, 2006 3:42:26 PM
If that's an outtake, I can't wait to see what made it in the issue! Yum.
Posted by: EricW | May 18, 2006 3:50:48 PM
like i said andy, there's news & then there's 'whoa, that's an outtake?!' sweet. now someone please come up with the outtake takeout.
Posted by: basis4insanity | May 18, 2006 4:17:14 PM
Yummy
Posted by: Patrick | May 18, 2006 4:50:15 PM
Holy Christ on a cracker... talk about a perfect body...
Posted by: Brian | May 18, 2006 5:02:25 PM
He's better than the guys in the spread.
Posted by: JT | May 18, 2006 5:14:40 PM
Gabe, thanks for the information about your flat abs. Whatever.
Posted by: jon | May 18, 2006 5:29:26 PM
Love the budgie smugglers!
Posted by: Uroskin | May 18, 2006 6:01:31 PM
The guy you're all salivating over is, I think, Andrew Aponick and there are a few pics of him on the 'net floating around.
Posted by: MJW | May 18, 2006 6:06:49 PM
If we're moving back to less material in men's swimwear, I'll be the first to celebrate. I've hated the shapeless, baggy look that's dominated for the past decade.
Covering up all that make beauty--what was everybody thinking? Particularly with the gym body and the surfer body all around us, speedos and their ilk are absolutely what I want to see on men when I can't be at a nude beach.
Posted by: Will | May 18, 2006 6:25:39 PM
Don't know about the speedos but square cuts, oh yes.
Posted by: Jase | May 18, 2006 7:08:24 PM
The hottie in the Speedo is Andy Sziraki. What a beautiful man!
Posted by: Giovanni | May 18, 2006 10:00:29 PM
A few more shots of Mr. Sziraki:
http://www.r-lmodels.com/Men/AndySziraki.jpg
Posted by: Jase | May 18, 2006 11:07:29 PM
Here's the deal: there's something seriously wrong with ANY MAN - and I don't care how much $$$ he's got - who spends over 20 for a bathing suit. The hotter you are, in fact, the more cut-offs will do very nicely.
Posted by: Jacko | May 18, 2006 11:10:54 PM
Those who insist on rather vulgar attire in any shape or form make me sick, regardless of how they look. These type attitudes continue to fuel the fire for these right-wing conservative republican pigs out there. One only need to look at some of the comments above to realize that community no longer exists in the homosexual sub culture. It's these type of attitudes that at times make me ashamed to be an openly gay man constantly having to explain why my fellow so-called brothers insist on cavorting around half naked (or naked in Will's case). Personally, I would not care for my significant other exposing his shit to God and everybody. I'm old fashioned (not old) that way and truly believe that it is a sign of weak character. Once again, Jacko, I think you hit the nail on the head!
Posted by: John | May 19, 2006 1:15:57 AM
Yeah, gay men have to stop looking at swimsuit models on fashion shoots in a sexual way because homophobes don't like that. It will make straight men feel more comfortable if we hate ourselves and each other for sexualizing ourselves. That will help them relate to us better because it will remind them of how they hate themselves for sexualizing their women.
Don't you homosexuals understand that the right-wing conservative republican pigs (gay and straight) will continue to discriminate against us with firings, harassment, beatings and murder as long as we keep reminding them that we're gay?
It's our fault. It's not enough to be ashamed of ourselves for being gay, we have to hate ourselves now...apparantly. And by all means if you ever see a gay man expressing himself in a way that makes straight homophobic men unconfortable please make them stop.
Posted by: Chad Hanging | May 19, 2006 2:01:58 AM
No, no, no. Of course, gays should look at what attracts them. Of course we should eye hot dudes. It's ridiculous not to check out what you find hot.
But gays MUST NOT buy insanely over-priced swimwear. Not if we want any respect at all.
Posted by: Jacko | May 19, 2006 7:34:11 AM
Gay men should be able to spend as much as we want, whenever we want, on whatever we want (as long as it's legal)... just like straight people do. Straight folks spend crazy money on fancy cars, suburban McMansions, etc... what's the difference? Saying that we "must not" buy overpriced swimwear because it would erode society's respect for us (as if there was any to begin with) is crazy. We probably shouldn't buy overpriced swimwear because it's a stupid waste of money, but that's for the individual to decide. I work hard for my money, and I won't have anyone, gay or straight, tell me what to do with it.
And let's just all be real for a moment... pretty folks have been baring flesh for the benefit of others since the beginning of time. If someone is hot, and if they feel comfortable doing it, they should be able to show it off. Women do it all the time... and frankly, so do straight men... so let's not start saying that gay men should keep themselves all covered up in a burka just to keep everyone comfortable. If you don't like seeing half-naked men, then don't go to the beach. I, for one, think that the human body is a beautiful and natural thing, and we'd all be better off if we expanded that definition of beauty to include more of us... not just those of us with 4% bodyfat. Hiding under a blanket is the wrong way to go.
Posted by: Brian | May 19, 2006 9:18:34 AM
OK, Brian: 4%!? Loving it! But what will YOU be wearing?
Say that, as gay men we SHOULD (fill in the blank) is about as pointless as saying that anyone who belongs to a broad subgrouping of society should do any one thing. For Dog's sake, we gay men are conservative, liberal; religious, enlightened; built like Brian (lusting), normal; young, old. We have so many diverse attitudes, incomes, values and loves that we can't even agree on whom we should support for President. If you've got the cash to spend on $150 dollar swimwear, then Dog love you! You earned it, just as Brian expresses...Really...4%?
Posted by: JT | May 19, 2006 11:18:37 AM
Oh dear, I'd better correct this right away... I may have had 4% bodyfat at some point during my fetal development, but definitely not now. I live in Wisconsin, for chrissake... "America's Dairyland"... I was referring to "those of us" in the larger, "big gay family" sense. Count me among the proudly normal builds. And I'll be wearing trunks or boarshorts myself (unless at the nude beach)... no judgement, it's just how I roll.
Posted by: Brian | May 19, 2006 11:53:41 AM