Of course, it’s worth noting that Brad Pitt in a skirt is newsworthy. While anyone should be able to wear anything and it not be too heavily remarked upon – and seemingly ‘macho’ men have been hitting red carpets in traditionally feminine clothing for some time now – when Pitt gets the pins out, people take notice. However, good as he looked in his linen twinset and corresponding shirt at the Bullet Train premiere in Berlin yesterday, the skirt isn’t necessarily the story.
Man-cleavage has been on the rise, and not just amongst the day beds and magnums of Marbellan beach clubs, but in the halls of high fashion, too. See Andrew Garfield’s recent appearance at the Valentino show earlier this month: a big-shouldered blazer, high-waisted jeans and aviator shades had him looking like an extra on Boogie Nights. But the shirt, open to the solar plexus and floating in the breeze, was the best bit. Would the actor have worn something so gleefully sssssexy a year or two ago? It’s hard to say. But he had the chest out in Ralph Lauren at Wimbledon earlier this month, so it seems he’s into it.
This trend for chest has been fed by a couple of factors. First, unbuttoned shirts were widespread across the S/S’22 shows, which have now come to fruition. It was to be expected at the raunchier brands – looking at you, Saint Laurent – but even the more decorous designers, such as Hermes, took the opportunity to put more skin on show. The best-chest award (bit lads mag that, innit) goes to Our Legacy, who seemingly decided that the men in its S/S’22 look book simply didn’t need any mid-layers at all.
The second factor is the rise of men’s jewellery, and the subsequent need to show it off. Pitt’s leg tats might be catching the eye, but we’d direct you northward to the clutch of crystals and bling dangling over his solar plexus. Or to Dwayne Wade at the Prada show recently, a string of pearls filling the gap between neck and vest. A year ago, every man was wearing a St Christopher or simple ‘Connell’ chain – as a bare minimum – and most have graduated to pearls, lockets, birthstones etc., and what’s the point in wearing them if you can’t show them off?
The trend looks set to continue into summer ‘23. The look books and social media of designers LEJ and Stoffa – two brands looking to elevate classic menswear out of mundanity – have made chests prominent. As have the likes of Fendi, Zegna and Ami, so expect more skin. Finally, a fashion trend that considers the rigours of climate change.
