Boots, Biceps and Bulges

Model: Alex Marte
Photographer: Roberto Chiovitti
Photo assistant: Fabio Piarulli
Model style and graphic concept:
Michele Angiuli

A 21st century man inspired by the
masculine images Tom created.

Unfortunately for Tom, he was just too far ahead of the crowd in many things. Take leather, for instance. Since the fifties, when only really tough guys wore the black-leather uniform of the alienated loner, leather became one of the great fashion trends of the twentieth century. By the nineties, everyone wore it, even a young matron taking a similarly-clad daughter to the mall. But Tom was into leather back in the forties. This was so early that, while the postwar rebel without a cause had already come into existence, he had not yet discovered black leather; he was still wearing brown.

FROM
Tom of Finland: Life and Work of a Gay Hero

 No one bought the book for you? Treat yourself.

Here’s the full story of the Gay icon, Tom of Finland.
Many of the photos and drawings
are being published here for the first time.