Here are a few old-school Channing Tatum shots from his early days as a male model (and stripper if we are to believe the loosely-autobiographical ‘Magic Mike‘ movie.) Mr. Tatum has surfaced here a number of times (particularly his back end) and as the world gears up to seeing more stripping scenes in ‘Magic Mike XXL’ I offer these photos to whet your appetite.
If there’s one item of clothing this blog has supported wholeheartedly over the years, it’s the jockstrap. Both utilitarian and stylish, useful and sexy, ubiquitous and precious, the jockstrap has proven itself a prime example of when substance and style merge into one iconoclastic item. Andy Boyer aimed, and succeeded, in infusing a brand-new twist into the jockstrap we all knew and loved. He created The Crochet Empire, (taking more orders next month) in which he offers custom-made crocheted jockstraps. His variation on the hallowed athletic supporter is a cozy yet breathable option for those who don’t like the standard scratchiness of traditional jocks. While Andrew Christian has run deliciously wild with design in regards to jock wear, Mr. Boyer offers a painstakingly hand-made interpretation that rivals Mr. Christian in artful intricacy.
Boyer’s work is the result of a sexy template and individually-tailored crochet work. These jockstraps give a little to accommodate your most sensitive organs, while provided enough support to keep them secure and safe. It’s like a little hug for your cock and balls, embracing you as long as you keep it on.
The charms of such artisanal efforts don’t stop at the jockstrap; there are bow ties and belts and other accents available, and custom-options that allow one to perfectly match their underwear with their outerwear. In a world of mass-production, where people have the same Gap shirt and the same North Face jacket, it’s a refreshing luxury to find a place that produces one-of-a-kind items.
The unique slant that Boyer puts on each item, and the hours of work and toil that go into every piece, are evident in the quality and beauty of the end result. It takes a little longer to produce such a masterpiece (the popularity of the product has resulted in a bit of a lag) but it’s well worth the wait. I’m sure I’ve called the jockstrap a work of art before, but I never really meant it until now.
A planned runway show, ‘Super Jocks in Super Jocks’ is scheduled for May 10, 2015 in Chicago. It will be hosted by Bianca del Rio and will benefit TPAN, a local HIV/AIDS organization. Hunky guys will sport a few of the Super Jock designs, and then the jockstraps that they wore will be auctioned off. If that’s not the best mix of sexy and serious, I don’t know what is. Bonus: readers of this blog (yes, that’s you if you’ve made it this far) get an additional 15% off with this code: ABI15. They should be up and taking orders in a few weeks, so check back to check out.
PS – My signature colors are lime green and Tiffany blue, with a dash of fuchsia for some interest, in the hopeful event that someone sees fit to gift me one of these works of art. I’d even model it for you…
“You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.” ~ Franz Kafka
The empty room.
The sound of solitude.
The languorous shifting of light.
The art of being alone has produced works of staggering beauty. Only when faced with ourselves can we get to understand what we are really like. You have to be all right with being alone before you can be good company for anyone else. There’s a gorgeous irony in that, and it’s explored pictorially in Mark MacKillop’s coffee-table book ‘Room XIV.’ Released a few months ago, Mr. MacKillop has been making the book tour rounds and putting in appearances at bookstores to spread the pretty word. Reaction has been supportive and enthusiastic.
“I’ve been most surprised by people’s love of the book, MacKillop explains. “It was a really fun project that when I started it had no real intention for it to become a book or continue like this. I love that people are interested in seeing my life touring with a musical depicted in hotel rooms. I don’t think anything really bothered me about this process because that’s all part of the learning curve of trying something new you haven’t done before, like publishing a book. It’s all been a really cool learning experience.”
“You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room.” ~ Dr. Seuss
The book itself is a beautiful study on the human form, but also the human condition of solitude. There is a loneliness at work, but a contentment in that loneliness. There is also a sense of connection, or trying to make some connection. He reaches out with his gaze, seeking to impress with a pose, and the end result is a complex examination of the human condition, veiled in the gauze of beauty. According to MacKillop, it was an invitation: “Very rarely do people get a glimpse into the life of a touring actor’s day-to-day life. I wanted to be able to share that with my friends who were across the Atlantic and any new friends that I met on the road. It was my way of being creative and letting people into my world.”
“When you get into a hotel room, you lock the door, and you know there is a secrecy, there is a luxury, there is fantasy. There is comfort. There is reassurance.” ~ Diane von Furstenberg
In a world of social media overload and online-only interactions, a physical book feels old-school and quaint. It lends a warmth and sturdiness to the experience, something that will never quite be matched by the cold glare of a computer screen. A photograph on paper somehow resonates more than an image on screen. It demands a bit more.
“I love the physical appeal of a heavy book,” MacKillop admits, offering insight into the technicalities of the creative process. “There’s something awesome about physically turning pages, feeling the texture of the paper. That was an important factor when I was choosing what textures went into my book. I chose a paper that had some weight and feeling to it. I didn’t want a high gloss page I wanted the book to feel like it was from a different time, the pages really soak up the ink of the image. That being said as much as I love traditional books the Internet has made it so incredibly easy to share new images instantly so there’s an appeal for both, my love for the physical and the instant.”
That juxtaposition has made the marketing for the book an interesting amalgamation of teasing shots, evocative video, and traditional in-person bookstore signings.
“I used to live in a room full of mirrors; all I could see was me. I take my spirit and I crash my mirrors, now the whole world is here for me to see.” ~ Jimi Hendrix
When confronted with the question of whether he is happier alone or surrounded by people, MacKillop straddles both states. “Everything in moderation,” he says. “Sometimes I crave the interaction and conversation of others. Although sometimes after a long day nothing is more nice than being alone. They say you can’t truly be happy with others till you are happy and content by yourself.”
“All men’s miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.” ~ Blaise Pascal
Which brings us back to that room, where a man stands by himself, gazing out at the world, at the mirror, at the camera lens. It is a moment of reflection, of solitude, of seeking out some understanding of his place here. It is his way of connecting, through the portal of a look, a photograph, a book.
“Being alone was the premise of the project. The year on tour with ‘West Side Story’ was a demanding year both physically and emotionally. It was a big year of personal and artistic growth. I spent a lot of time alone thinking. People always comment, ‘Oh you look deep in thought in the photos.’ That’s what I wanted to capture, that moment.”
Because there’s nothing hotter than a fit guy in white briefs, especially when he’s hosting the Oscars. (Quite frankly, this was the highlight of the Oscar ceremony – and it’s not even over yet.) Neil Patrick Harris has been here practically naked before, in this racy Rolling Stone cover shot; he also wore nothing but glitter here, as was befitting of his turn as Hedwig. As for his Oscar-hosting debut, I thought it was safe and classy (as classy as you can get in your underwear) – and the perfect way to be invited back (though I may be at odds with the world on this one.)
Sometimes all it takes for a revisiting of someone’s Hunk of the Day status is a new photo shoot and some judicious photoshopping (not that anything here was photoshopped…) Here is former Hunk of the Day Andrew Hayden Smith in his second appearance on this wayward blog. There’s nothing else to say, other than Mr. Smith deserved the honor then, and he more than deserves it now. White briefs always make the man.
I will NOT accept Justin Bieber as the new face of Calvin Klein underwear. This is blasphemy on so many levels that I’ve lost count of the number of sins being committed. First of all, how DARE you sully the name, and probably the shorts, of all that is Calvin Klein. This treasure trail was not braved so some pip-squeak wanna-be can take a dump on everything we hold near and dear to our hearts. This is Calvin Fucking Klein. This is underwear. This is unacceptable.
I can promote a post on Bieber puking up all over stage. I can show a peek at his cheeks if he wants to be so cheeky. I can even give him a nod when he wants to do a one-off strip-down on some cheesy awards show. What I will not stand for is putting him into the vaunted echelon of Calvin Klein underwear models. Show some respect. Show some dignity. Show some sense, Mr. Klein.
Some days you just have to take a stand for something.
UPDATE: There have been a number of sources reporting that Justin Bieber’s Calvin Klein ads were photoshopped, to which I initially could barely raise an unamused brow. (Photoshopping? In a Calvin Klein underwear ad. YAWN.) Yet as the unretouched photos made their way onto the net, it seemed to be more than just some smoothing or filters – they altered some rather serious parts – starting with his bulge. Take a look at the before-and-after GIF below and see what you think.
It seems a bit early in the year to have a recap already, but such is the predicament of a Monday morning on this January 5 in the year of our Lord 2015. Last week I didn’t do a weekly recap because I knew that the Year in Review for 2014 was beginning the next day, and begin it did. Part One brought my ass back to the blog, Part Two brought Ben Cohen’s ass back to the blog, and Part Three brought Bryan Hawn’s ass back to the blog. That’s a lot of ass to bring back, even if much of it was sexy.
It was a week of new beginnings, in which this very blog is taking some transformative steps forward. Evolution, baby. Get those knuckles off the ground!
I put some personal family strife up for all the world to see, and realized that I was the one who needed to grow up and get out, and I think a number of us will be a lot happier about it.
A teddy bear and some cute gay animation made for this lovely distraction, crafted by a friend.
My not-so-fondness for tattoos may have taken a turn thanks to Hunk of the Day Logan McCree, while Francisco Javier Escobar Parra made a pretty case for four-name, well, names.
I’ve made a mess of things in the past, but I’m trying to clean it up.
Last but most certainly not least, this pair of sexy posts featured naked male celebrities, gratuitous male nudity, and just about everything leading up to it.
(Not to be outdone, this one gamely tried with its own set of nude male photos.)
Fan favorite Philip Fusco fills out these photos quite finely, and looks even more fit out of uniform. To that end, there are a few of him fittingly in nude form as well. Mr. Fusco has made quite a splash on this site in a short amount of time – and I’m making up for years of not featuring him with a rash of posts that started with this gratuitously grand entry here, and his initial Hunk of the Day honor here.
Thus far no one has complained about the sexy excess. Come back for more. Also, be sure to check out Mr. Fusco’s own website at PhilCity ~ where fitness, health, and lifestyle come together in one explosively sexy arena.
Perhaps he should have been crowned Hunk of the Day (as he hasn’t yet been so honored) but for now this is just an introductory post to Philip Fusco, because sometimes things have to be earned (or at least timed to promote a project of Mr. Fusco’s choosing should he deign to reach out to me.) I think that on a lazy October Saturday, this should be more than ample homage to Fusco, and to his back and front.
Jury’s out on which is his finest asset. Your thoughts? Opinions? Requests? We’re open to all. (And though Victoria Beckham has compared her husband’s appendage to an exhaust pipe, Mr. Fusco may be giving Mr. Beckham a run for his plumbing.)
Whether or not you believe that we should be celebrating Christopher Columbus, many of us have today off from work, so I’m not complaining. We should be on our way back from our annual Columbus Day weekend trek to Maine, but this week will begin with a Washington tale before we get into the Maine events. For this post, however, a quick recap of the week that was posted on this site. Time is nothing but manipulated here. On with the show.
The Nick Jonas shirtless lovefest continued with a few more shots from his recent gay-friendly promo jaunt.
Provisions for a long winter were prepared by this one-man canning machine.
In the fall, beauty and words are a balm for the chill to come.
Keeping things warm were these Calvin Klein underwear models.
The last swim of the season was happily later than usual. And so was the last bout of skinny-dipping.
An impressive array of Hunkdom was on display, thanks to the talents of Jeremy Jordan, John Carroll, James Rodriguez, and Nick Carter.
One of my favorite songs is Betty Buckley’s rendition of ‘When October Goes’ – but it has not gone yet, so let’s allow it to linger.
Long before David Beckham took off his trousers for H&M, before Cristiano Ronaldo disrobed for Armani, before Ben Cohen stood up in his briefs, there was only one underwear giant in the game: Calvin Klein. The male model who happened to be fronting the brand became a celebrity solely through this Calvinization. When you got Kleined, you got it all. (See Marky Mark’s transformation into Mark Wahlberg.) Here’s a look at some of the notable names who have filled out the bulges of Mr. Klein’s briefs.
In the beginning was Marky Mark himself, whose 90’s ads with Kate Moss set the tone for the decade. Raw, minimalist, moody, and brooding, these were a far cry from the original bright blue sky background of Mr. Klein’s early underwear ads. As such, they struck an iconic chord, one which reverberates to this day.
Travis Fimmel and his long haired grungy looks closed out the decade in fine form, even if he wasn’t quite my type. There’s someone for everyone.
Freddie Ljungberg, a Swedish footballer, brought some sport back to the underwear game, a precursor for the David Beckham craze to come.
Jamie Dornan may be doffing any sort of underwear for his racy role in ’50 Shades of Grey’ but a few years ago he kept them on for a stint as Calvin’s bulge boy.
Kellan Lutz filled those boxers briefs a short while ago, but by then Mr. Klein and his underwear line had become one of many. While Calvin Klein remains a potent force in the underwear world, new and fresher upstarts like Andrew Christian have stolen a bit of that thunder. It may take someone like Tom Brady to put Mr. Klein back on the map. But don’t count Klein out yet…
Even though he’s not officially a model yet, Nick Jonas made his first splash as an adult by flaunting his body in a pair of Calvins, harkening back to Mr. Wahlberg’s very first crotch-grab.
If you’ve got it, flaunt it. And thanks to Flaunt magazine, Nick Jonas is showing off his junk and his booty, grabbing his crotch and baring those butt cheeks. He’s hinted at both before, but never quite like this. Feast your eyes on almost all of it.
Thanks to Just Jared for unearthing these uncovered goodies.
Male supermodel David Gandy has been featured here time and time again, and as long as he keeps up the underwear front he’ll be featured here in the future. There’s a comfort and a thrill in that, the perfect encapsulation for the spark of fall just around the corner. Previous postings include his initial crowning as Hunk of the Day, his naked ass (and a peek of more), this sexy work-out GIF, a gratuitous crotch shot, a relatively classy black-and-white bonus, and a bit of bush and backside in one. A few more appearances like this and he may make it into his own category, a la David Beckham or Tom Daley.
Believe it or not, the most requested guy who has appeared on this site is not David Beckham or Ben Cohen or even Tom Daley, it’s this gentleman right here: Alex Minsky. People continually ask when he will be the Hunk of the Day, but it turns out he’s already been given that honor long ago – not to mention this insanely erotic nude GIF. Of course, if he asks politely (or at all) he can have a second go-round at the title. As for Mr. Minsky, he recently made a cameo appearance (butt naked to boot) at Broadway Bares.
Some of these shots are more revealing than others, but here is a brief collection of David Beckham showing off his greatest assets. There’s been some heated debate over whether that’s his butt or his bulge, so here’s a few views of both to let you make your own decisions. I won’t go crazy with the David Beckham links, because all you need to know is found in this very graphic post. But in case you wanted a little more, here you go.
