Ready or not, the next issue of 10 Men is coming your way. Launching next Tuesday, March 17th, Issue 51 is all about the meaning of sexy in the life of a modern man and its numerous interpretations, as told through the stories of our contributors. The first of four covers stars Talib Jamal Williams in Virgil Abloh’s SS20 collection for Louis Vuitton, as styled by Ola Ebiti and photographed by Jenny Brough. But who better to explain the theme than our Editrix Sophia Neophitou and her Editor’s Letter:
“What is sexy now? That’s the million-dollar question. With this issue we tried to identify what this could be, addressing the ideas and actions that make someone sexy today.
We tried to challenge the stereotype of what that could be, and Michael Hennagan’s piece on Masculinities: Liberation Through Photography documents how more than 50 years of male social and sexual evolution has changed those stereotypical ideals, thankfully.
Personally, I have never been a fan of the chest-beating macho man, but opted for the quiet, sensitive type. The type of person who is full of mystery and fragility. Someone who is definitely emotionally available. Someone who can cry when they’re sad, laugh when they’re happy, who never tries to conceal anything and has a real sense of authenticity. A capacity to laugh with a giant sense of humour and wit is also key.
But possibly the sexiest and most important thing, above all else, is kindness. People have become rather careless and cruel in the virtual space. The brutality that exists now doesn’t seem to manifest as much physically, but is more prevalent on social media, where cyber-bullying people for being strong, sexy and independent has become commonplace. These platforms can now act as anonymous firing ranges, where people can take potshots that they believe will have no repercussions, but of course end with real pain and sadness.
Now, more than ever, I really do believe that in a world where we can be anything we want to be, we should strive to be kind! So modern sexy for me is someone who definitely embraces this ethos, doesn’t shy away from confronting their emotions but deals with them head-on, and regards the feelings of others before their own in every interaction. Someone who is always authentic and has a capacity to show random acts of kindness always.
This, for me, would be perfection to nurture in us and our children. Kindness, hope and unconditional love make for the best future for us all.”
Issue 51 of 10 Men – GENTLE, SENSUAL, FANTASY – is out Tuesday, March 17th.
LOUIS VUITTON: BRING YOUR OWN SUNSHINE
Photographer Jenny Brough
Fashion Editor Ola Ebiti
Hair Claire Moore using Evo
Make-up Mona Leanne at The Wall Group using Rodial
Models Talib at Success
Set design George Lewin Studio
Floral stylist Harriet Parry
Casting Jonathan Johnson
Photographer’s assistants Guillaume Mercier, Oliver Francis and Joshua Onabowu
Fashion assistant Nikki Ranger
Set-design assistants Aimée Brigg and Sarah Stone
Postproduction Monica Chamorro
