The past year looks set to be the warmest on record, so this Christmas presents an opportunity for men to unwrap themselves into some revealing looks, at least until temperatures dip below freezing.
We’ve seen a lot of bare ankles around, despite the chilly winds. While Father Christmas takes layering to an unfashionable extreme – with only his face on show, and most of that hidden behind his beard and spectacles – the Grinch wears no trousers and no underwear. The key to flesh-flashing is all about a happy medium between the two. If a green mountain monster that eats glass can garner the meaning of Christmas while going commando, well so can you. (Although you should definitely keep your trousers on.)
It may be cold outside, but it’s not that cold, so here are the five rules of wintry flesh-flashing for gentlemen.
Sleeve-tugging
Try tugging your sleeves up a little, uncovering a sliver of arm inbetween your gloves and your cuffs. Or, for a more flamboyant-Latin-footballer-trapped-on-Tyneside look, try a short-sleeved football shirt with mittens or maybe something sheepskin. In either case I’d recommend these Muji magic gloves, which have a conductive material interwoven into their woolly fingertips so that you can use your touchscreen phone while walking in a winter wonderland.
I like: these Zara cuffed leather gloves
Open shirts
Throw caution to the wind and unbutton your shirt, as far down as you dare. The other day, a rather cold day, I had a breakfast meeting with a top menswear stylist and he turned up in a black suit, with a white shirt undone to his abs and a bright tan. It was a truly fabulous look, and would work with a furry coat – as favoured by Arsenal bench-warmer Olivier Giroud and Bradley Cooper in American Hustle – just as well as a suit jacket (as favoured by Harry Styles).
I like… this Lanvin shirt, £375
Sheer jumpers
Channel your inner elf goth this Christmas with a slightly see-through jumper. Mesh knits, in particular, have started appearing on the high street and look brilliant with a bright white T-shirt.
I like…this Topman mesh jumper, £38
Slightly cropped tops
If you’re feeling confident, show off your mince-pie stomach with a shorter sweater and T-shirt, and enjoy the icy breeze every time they ride up over your trousers. Boys in cropped T-shirts had something of an alarming moment this year – with Calvin Klein and London designers Astrid Andersen and JW Anderson recently including them in collections, and teenagers taking confused selfies in them – however this offers a more wholesome and acceptable alternative.
I like… this Son of Wild cropped sweatshirt, £80
Invisible socks
Last, show off your ankles in some invisible socks. Nike offer sports socks in fantastic colours – such as this fluorescent shade of Grinch, below – that will keep your toes warm and your ankles chill, if that’s what you’re into. Never wear shoes and no socks in winter, though. That’s completely acceptable, and you could catch Jack Frost-bite.
I like… these Nike ankle socks, £10
