Mad Men, the critically aclaimed series focusing on the lives of advertising men in the 1960’s returns to our screens on April 13 with hints that the final chapter will take place in the 1970’s. The show which aired its first episode in 2007 will divide its final season into two parts concluding in 2015. Having won 15 Emmys and four Golden Globes due impart to its impeccable styling, acting, writing and authentic references to historical events, Mad Men has been credited for a resurgence of 1960’s style. Reflected here in promotional pictures for the season 7 is a more 1970’s tone which has critics predicting that the last instalment will lead Don, Betty, Joan, Pete, Roger and Peggy into a new decade.
ANZ, one of Australia’s largest banks has taken the concept of the “pink dollar” to a whole new level with the installation of “GAYTMS” to celebrate Sydney’s world famous Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. ANZ has commissioned artists to individually convert 10 ATMs into “GAYTMs” to celebrate their partnership with the Sydney Mardi Gras festival.
Decorated in colours, patterns and jewels inspired by LGBTI culture, each GAYTM tells a unique story. The artworks include the “Hello Sailor” GAYTM, designed to celebrate the Defence Force allowing its members to march in uniform for the first time last year and “Pride”, representing the rainbow, a symbol of diversity, amongst others all created in partnership with the LGBTI community.
2014 marks the eighth consecutive year that ANZ has partnered with Sydney Mardi Gras and this year the bank will donate ATM operator fees for non-ANZ cardholders from its GAYTMs during the festival to Twenty10, a not for profit organisation that supports young people and their family and friends who are dealing with gender and sexuality issues.
It is truly inspiring to see a major corporation such as ANZ embrace its LGBTI employees and customers. Mark Hand, Chair of ANZ Australia’s Diversity Council said: “This association is all about encouraging an environment where everyone feels comfortable being themselves at work. You don’t get the benefits of a diverse workforce if some people are expending vast amounts of energy pretending to be something they are not and trying to conform.
“We want the best people to work at our organisation and given how many people identify as LGBTI, we want to make sure that everyone feels welcome here at ANZ – regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” Mr Hand said.
ANZ’s GAYTMs can be found in various Sydney locations on Oxford Street, Pitt Street, George Street, Castlereagh Street, Surry Hills and Bondi Junction. More information including a map of the GAYTM locations can be found by clicking here. ANZ will share photos and news about the GAYTMs through social media channels using #GAYTM.
Welcome to 2014 and thank you for your continued support of The Modern Gay Guide to Life.
Let’s dive straight into the new year with new content (coming this week) but in the meantime here are some images from Tom Ford’s Spring/Summer 2014 campaign, shot by the man himself.
They say that you can tell a lot about a guy by the underwear he wears. Well if that’s the case then you want to be a man who wears Zayn. The brainchild of 24 year-old Melburnian Jarryd Haefele, Zayn underwear was launched in August this year to raise awareness of male depression in Australia. A percentage from every sale of underwear is donated to beyondblue, an organisation that works “to reduce the impact of depression and anxiety in the community by raising awareness and understanding, empowering people to seek help, and supporting recovery, management and resilience”.
As a victim of depression for over 6 years, Jarryd uses his underwear line to create a national rsponse to mental health disorders. “Depression and anxiety affects over 3 million Australians every year, many of whom are men,” said Jarryd. “As a sufferer, I wanted to create a product that supported more than just bums and Zayn does that.”
Available in a colourful range of men’s briefs, hipsters and trunks, the Zayn underwear collection is made from cotton and spandex materials and retails from $11.95 AUD (internationally shipping is available).
To check out the Zayn collection click here. To visit the beyondblue website click here.
Givenchy is the ultimate menswear label. Under the creative guidance of Riccardo Tisci, each season the label continues to deliver distinct, ultra-modern designs and prints. What’s more, Tisci challenges the conventions of menswear with skirts, leggings and over-sized shirts, pushing the boundaries of men’s clothing as creative fashion should. In this cover story for DSECTION Magazine, Tisci selects looks from Givenchy’s Spring/Summer 2014 collection and Paolo Zagoreo cleverly styles those looks to create “A New Ethnic”. The story is shot by photographer Mariano Vivanco and features models Harry Goodwins, Andy Walters, Emil Terry, Betty Adewole, Ivan Gonzalez and Jibril.
Basketball is one of the few sports that has created distinct fashion pieces that are acceptable to be worn both on and off the court. From shoes to singlets to headbands, basketball fashion has inspired street-style which has been adopted by gay and straight men alike. The humble high-top, a favourite amongst gay boys trying to achieve that “straight” look, was first introduced to basketball courts in the ’80s as an athletic shoe before it made its way onto the streets.
In this shoot for Attitude Magazine, photographer Jeff Hahn captures the essence of sports style with a fashionable twist.
The beard has made a comeback. Once only found on the faces of bears, cubs and Santa Claus, facial hair has now become the must have accessory for all fashionable men. Whether it’s a moustache, a 5 O’Clock shadow, or lamb chops, there’s a plethora of styles from which the discerning man can choose (given that he’s hit puberty and has the ability to grow facial hair). Recently adopted by hipsters from Brooklyn to Bondi and any band that features the banjo, facial hair is the cheaper male equivalent of going to the salon to have your hair coloured.
British model Declan-John Geraghty ticks all the hipster boxes in these shots by Dimitris Theocharis:
There’s an area of same-sex marriage equality that we’ve neglected to consider.
We’ve been fighting so hard to have our rights recognised that we’ve overlooked an important element of the same-sex marriage process. We’ve been too focused on the immediate goal of equality that we haven’t thought about what comes next. There’s a question that until now we have not dared ask ourselves.
“Where do I find gay wedding cards?”.
Luckily, Emily Belden has come up with the solution in the form of HappyHappyGayGay.com, an online greeting card store. The US$5 cards are written and designed by Emily to celebrate same-sex love, marriage, enGAYgements, and other milestones while a portion of each card sale goes to LGBTQ organisation The Trevor Project.
Emily, who is straight, conceptualised HAPPY HAPPY GAY GAY after realizing there was a limited selection of cards dedicated to this demographic.
“My gay friend was one of the first to get married after DOMA died. My option was to send him a greeting card clearly meant for a straight couple, or send nothing at all. So I sent nothing at all,” she explained.
A month later, she launched the slick site where shoppers, gay or straight, can easily nab one of the affordable designs.
Click here to check out the selection of cards available.
He’s been called Hollywood’s gayest straight man but I prefer to refer to him as “James Franco – my future husband”. No other straight actor in my opinion has been brave enough to take on the style of roles that have defined James Franco’s career. From Milk to indie-film Interior.Leather Bar., Franco has exceeded the necessary quota of one gay film required by straight actors to be considered for an Oscar nomination. This has led to persistent rumours about his sexuality.
When asked by Entertainment Weekly why he’s drawn to gay roles, Franco responded “Part of what I’m interested in is how these people who were living anti-normative lifestyles contended with opposition. Or, you know what, maybe I’m just gay.”
Born April 19, 1978 in Palo Alto, California Franco’s big break came when he was cast in the short-lived cult classic TV show Freaks and Geeks. In 2001 Franco played the role of James Dean in a television biographical film for which he received a Golden Globe Award and in 2010 starred in 127 Hours for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. Beyond acting, Franco is a published author, PhD candidate at Yale, teacher at UCLA, all-round mega babe, who’s appeared in drag and is open about his love of masturbation and weed.
At just over a minute in length, the below video is perhaps James Franco’s finest work (and it’s much hotter than any other porno featuring straight guy-on-guy action).
The word “tattoo” is derived from the Polynesian word “tatau”. The practice was first documented by Captain James Cook in the 18th century while exploring Tahiti and New Zealand. Sailors on later voyages introduced the practice to Europe and as they say, the rest is history. Nowadays tattooing has become a form of personal expression that has permeated its way into mainstream culture. Once seen as rebellious and extreme and confined to the fringes of society, tattoos can now be found on people from all works of life.
As an ode to the humble tattoo, please enjoy these modest pictures of English model Stephen James.
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