What Makes A Man

The UK's GQ Style (Autumn-Winter 2007/08) announces it is all about "NEW MACHO." Damn, I was just getting used to the old one, not that I ever owned it. It's a sumptuously produced issue with way too many arresting images to attempt to reproduce them all, but here are some samples...

I found designer Thom Browne to be quite hot as one of Out's "Out 100." As shot by Terry Richardson—whose "look at my dick! look at our dicks!" approach has now become kind of a tired gimmick for me (one with its positive side effects—you do get to see dicks, even if it's boring artistically), he looks older, more real and...possibly sexier:

Birthday suits never go out of fashion.

David Slijper offers this "QUILTING" look, defined by a quilted Dries Van Noten zip-up. I once wrote a fan letter to Van Noten in college and received a signed (reproduction of a) sketch in reply. I don't remember what made Mr. Gap write to a designer in the first place, but he was unfashionably kind:

Quilt to last.

This tween.org.uk ad is pretty smoldering and the guy is packing, but..."Tween?" Really? Is that word not commonly used overseas, because here it means pre-pubescent moneybags:

Lean and Tween.

Aldo Rossi turns in these amazing shots of "CLEAN JEANS"—the model is like James Marsden's even cuter, even younger, even brother:

Jeans therapy.

Bearded man's man Patrick Petitjean earns "MAN FOR THE SEASON" honors, posing as the epitome of macho for Nathaniel Goldberg. He does have a crazily timeless look—and despite his popularity, it's one not resembling that of any other male models I've seen lately:

Unique in many ways, but not the only male model with a beard.

"MAINTENANCE: The Definitive Guide To Looking Good" is a supplement kicked off by this vintage-looking pose—once you get your hand through the ring, the other isn't nearly so hard:

Lord of the rings.

Within the "MAINTENANCE" section is a piece on gynaecomastia—man boobies—that is inexplicably illustrated by this cute, flat-chested lad, who has good taste in T-shirt icons...

A teen Dean.

...and who looks damn good soaking in a tin tub:

Hot tub.

Wrapping up, Rossi's "El Mirage" spread has the look of an early ’90s Janet Jackson video, but in a good way, I think:

Love will never do without him.

You may not have a grasp on the "NEW MACHO" after flipping through this issue, but you might find yourself grasping the same old macho you were born with.

Comments

[John Logsdon]

I actually find that new bearded look to be interesting. It works so well on some guys...I've considered it..but once you start going grey...you want to avoid the santa claus look...LOL...but Patrick is pretty nice with a beard..especially since he doesn't appear to be too young for that look.

[Matthew Rettenmund]

I think beards work on some, but on most they look like "bear" (which is fine if that is the message one wants to convey). Patrick could pretty much shave his head and paint lollipops on it and look hawt. Life is so...unfair.