Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Oliver Keens

Why do ‘sexy clothes’ not exist for men?

PA

As with many things in life, I frequently bow down to the Renaissance-esque ingenuity of 1970s underground gay culture. Take the Hanky Code, which peaked in this era. It was a way of signifying hyper-specific sexual proclivities via clothing. To elaborate, a bandana of a certain colour placed in either the left or right back pocket would denote a sexual desire. For example, left lavender meant you liked drag queens. Black right meant you enjoyed BDSM. Left green meant you were looking for a daddy figure. Brown... well, you can look it up.

Sure, it might sound niche, and as intensely specific as ordering a Nando’s meal online, but as a language for clearly communicating sexual desire, it’s pretty faultless. I think about this a lot, because I suspect a lot more men would secretly love a way to signal their desires through sexy clothes. Beyond just a fleece, a Berghaus jacket, or unbuttoning that second shirt button, you racy fox, you.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.