Apparently, the sluttiest thing a man can do is write poetry, respect your boundaries, or be emotionally available—at least, that’s what we’ve been led to believe. But what if the ultimate sluttiest thing a man can do is more of a sartorial choice? Like…wearing really risqué shorts. Because, hey, self expression is just as important as being emotionally intelligent.
Today, men are dressing sexier than ever. And no, we aren’t just talking about leaving a couple of buttons undone. We’re talking flimsy shorts, snug tank tops, sheer shirts, cropped T-shirts, visible underwear, serious man cleavage, rising hemlines and dropping waistlines. Everybody seems to be in their thirst trap era. And if recent events are anything to go by—like Andrew Garfield putting on his reading glasses with a few buttons undone and his chain peeping out at the Golden Globes, and the internet collectively losing its mind at the sight—this era is here to stay.
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Slutty dressing is an acquired taste and might not come naturally to you, but you might really end up enjoying it upon diving deeper into it. Not to mention, life is too short not to wear super short shorts and let those squats go to waste (no objectification intended).
A pair of Bermuda shorts, a snug white tank top, combat boots with socks peeking out, and a crossbody bag…sometimes it's just that simple. But sometimes it’s a bit more nuanced than that. Mind you—we’re not talking about ‘too put together’ kind of slutty—we’re talking about more of an effortlessly slutty vibe—but not too effortless. The key is to fall somewhere in the middle on the scale of Barney Stinson to Adam Sandler in terms of “effortlessness”.
Exhibit A: Paul Mescal.
Underwear as Outerwear
Dear men, if you would like a more in-your-face approach to slutcore, presenting to you Paul Mescal. I remember vehemently crushing on Paul’s style when he wore a button-down shirt and just a pair of boxers, paired with socks and loafers for the Gucci show in Milan last year—a look that was the epitome of effortlessly sexy. This look should be illegal. Or should be taught as a case study. Or both.
Underwear Peeking Out
This one’s tricky. There’s often a fine line between tasteful and tacky. But let's be real—Lee McQueen didn’t give us the gift of low-rise pants only for men to still shy away from them decades later. Troye Sivan tucking his T-shirt inside his pink undies in a rather preppy look is how to embrace this trend while keeping things classy—a tough line to walk.
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Snug Cropped T-Shirts
While we’re on the subject of horny, please note that snug-fit cropped T-shirts will never not be sexy on men. If you’ve got the body for it, that is. Also, Damiano David and Troye Sivan need to be on your slutty dressing mood board. I do not make the rules. Take notes, gentlemen.
Sheer Shirts
Sheer clothing that leaves nothing to the imagination might just be your best bet when it comes to slutty dressing. Throw another layer on top of it perhaps, if you want to take it down a notch, or go all out.
Man Cleavage
This one is a no-brainer. Leaving a few buttons of your shirt undone, or wearing a nice blazer with nothing underneath is probably the easiest way to embrace sexy. It would be remiss not to mention Lewis Hamilton wearing a custom blue Dior jumper with a neckline that dropped to his belly button. He knew what he was doing when he wore that.
So, dear men, hop on to the bandwagon of slutty dressing if you like, because you too deserve to express yourself. We see you, and no—you're not ‘asking for it.’
Fair warning: Embracing self expression will come with its fair share of judgy looks. Some people will think it’s a bit too extra, but, well, some people also like pineapple on pizza, so… Remember, there are only two types of people whose opinions matter when it comes to your clothes: you, and the people you owe—and you owe no one.
Please note that slutty dressing is for you if:
● You work out (this one shouldn’t come as a shock)
● You sometimes cry during a movie
● You’re into skincare
● You can openly talk about your mental health
● You have a non-alcoholic drink at a party sometimes
● You’re into caramel lattes
Please note that slutty dressing isn’t for you if:
● You wouldn’t dare post a thirst trap
● You pretend to look down upon Taylor Swift but secretly enjoy it
● You think Babil Khan being a nice person is an act
● You’ve used the phrase "Real men don’t cry" unironically
● You’ve used the phrase “man-up”