Actor Timothée Chalamet has led the pro-sternum charge at film premieres,withGame of Thrones’ actor Kit Harington following suit,no shirt,at Louis Vuitton’s runway show. Model Christian Wilkins andPlay School presenter Matthew Backer trialled the trend at last week’s Sydney premiere ofBabylon.
“Queer men have been doing this for years but to see straight men diving in is exciting,” Backer says. “Let’s get rid of the tropes of men’s and women’s clothing that we grew up with and all enjoy clothes. We should all wear what feels good and this felt right for me.”
This breezy approach has jumped the gender divide where on the other sidewomen such as Cate Blanchett,Jennifer Aniston,Zendaya,Rihanna,and Kim Kardashian regularly champion versions of the power suit where blouses get in the way of a photo opportunity.
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Along with discovering the power of a pectoral smorgasbord the trend is part of the ongoing decluttering of traditional men’s staples.
“This is definitely a progression of men moving away from the tie,” says stylist Dale McKie,who has dressed singers Guy Sebastian and Isaiah Firebrace in stripped-back suiting looks. “We have gone from men unbuttoning shirts to their waists to getting rid of the shirt altogether.”
“You don’t need to go the full J-Lo to pull this style off. Look for a double-breasted jacket if you want a higher neckline or wear a waistcoat beneath your jacket for greater definition around the waistline. Having a good physique certainly helps.”