Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2021 i Attitude Magazine

Petros Kouiouris, photographer Here I am wearing my fave sweater. I moved to the US from Greece carrying a tiny suitcase, with only two sweaters in it — this is my forever favourite one and it has been with me for many years. Joseph Kocharian, Attitude fashion & grooming director Styling is not always glamorous. Here I am in my puffer jacket in an Austrian snowstorm, lugging 25kg of clothes on my back to an icy river to get the shot. My reward was sleeping in the suite Princess Diana used to stay in, at the Hotel Arlberg, Lech (complete with a rum hot chocolate), which was much more boujie. Sacha Dance, Attitude fashion assistant This was taken among the madness of my first ever event at Attitude: the 2020…

SAINT LAURENT RIVE DROITE X BANG & OLUFSEN Bang & Olufsen are on a roll with their collaboration with fashion house Saint Laurent. Super stylish, the limited-edition Beosound Edge wireless speaker delivers state-of-the-art acoustics with a touch-sensitive surface for starting, stopping and switching tracks, while its circular aluminium frame lets you adjust the volume by rolling it back and forth. What’s more, its marble print and matt black finish make it impossibly easy on the eye. Clever and good-looking: now that’s what you call an all-rounder. Price: £5,225. ysl.com SAVE THE DUCK For its new A/W21 outerwear range, Save the Duck is embracing the raw power of nature’s elements. The weightless, easy-to-wear quality of their overcoats reflects the lightness of air, while the range’s supreme thermal efficiency — even when…

What were your rejected drag names? My very first drag name, for one night only, was Petra, a Miss Piggy-esque club kid with an obnoxious voice-changing megaphone. Ever since then I have been Kita Mean. Originally, Kita was my cat’s name; I thought it would be ironic to name myself after my own pussy. Describe yourself in three emojis. Describe your drag style in five words. Quirky. Kooky. Kitsch. Quick. Keen. Best pick-up line someone has said to you? “The club closes in 20 minutes. Wanna get out of here before the lights come on?” So thoughtful… How would (or does) your Grindr profile read? “Looking for love in all the wrong places.” What is your safe word? Pringles. Because once you pop you can’t stop – and I love…

I went to see a show, Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner, at the Royal Court a couple of weeks ago, and I was so excited for those actors because everyone’s been pining to have this experience again. Theatres do so much for the local community in London, too; shop and restaurant owners rely on them to entice people back. If you look at The Donmar, for example, it has a rich history and heritage that has shaped the area and must be preserved. Because I have been back at home in Wolverhampton for such a long time, it has felt like I’m rediscovering the capital again. On breaks, I love mooching about Seven Dials: they’ve got the Art of Banksy exhibition on Earlham Street at the moment, as well…

We all get thirsty from time to time, just take a flick through Instagram… But seriously, I’m talking about hydration, specifically in and around exercise. What is the importance of staying topped up, and how can you make sure you get it right? When you train, you sweat, and the secretions contain several minerals which are the conductive materials within your muscle tissues and nerves. When those stores are depleted, it reduces the effectiveness of the signals the brain is sending along those nerves and into the muscles for them to contract and for you to perform the workout movements. Replacing those electrolytes is therefore key to turning in a good performance or a poor one. Maintaining liquid intake has also been proven to increase cognitive function, so drinking water…

I had COVID earlier this year and I’m still not completely back to normal two months later. I used to go to the gym regularly, but now I can’t climb a flight of stairs without getting breathless. Could this be long COVID? Milo, London ‘Long COVID’ is a term we use to describe ongoing symptoms some will experience after an initial COVID infection. Most people will be fully recovered within four weeks, but there is a significant proportion — of all ages — who continue to feel unwell. They can suffer from problems ranging from fatigue, breathlessness, pain and skin rashes, to mental health difficulties and brain fog. Although we are still learning about this virus, NICE (The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) divides long COVID into two different…

Order books online at gaystheword.co.uk BOOK OF THE MONTH Past imperfect A funny yet moving novel about growing up Black and queer in 80s America SINCE I LAID MY BURDEN DOWN Brontez Purnell/Cipher Press Raw and unadulterated, Since I Laid My Burden Down is a riotous read about reckless excess, yearning and loss. When DeShawn is informed of his uncle’s death, his chaotically promiscuous life in San Francisco is abruptly put on hold, as he travels back to Alabama for the funeral. While there, he is confronted by familiar faces and spaces seemingly frozen in time, triggering flashbacks of growing up queer and Black in the 80s South; a youth filled with strong women, bewildered boys and questionable decisions. Wading through prickly reminders of his childhood, DeShawn reconnects with his…

GOLDEN SHOWER Tom Daley is top trunks as he leads Team GB’s medal sweep at the Olympics DANCING QUEENS Oh, how we’ve missed you, clubbing! GO SCARJO! Black Widow’s Scarlett Johansson takes on a new foe… Disney. What a Marvel-lous plot twist! FLY ME AWAY Holidays are coming… and we’re off. Just not yet. But soon. Maybe. We hope… FUMING WITH QUEUING Sure, ending lockdown is great, but… anyone else miss table service? BYE, BYE, DABABY Dua Lipa, Elton John and Madge among those to call out the homophobe rapper AXE FACTOR Simon Cowell finally faces the music as the singing contest officially hits its sell-by date WILLIES NOT WELLIES! Freak flooding is climate change ringing the alarm bell. Not the kind of ding dong we like…

GOING FOR AN INTERVIEW? Dress appropriately for the job you want, hun. Messy hair, a rumpled shirt, undone shoelaces isn’t gonna cut it… unless, that is, you are dripping with privilege and fancy running the country. COMFORT EQUALS CONFIDENCE. Avoid turning a look — no matter how cute it is — that you feel awkward in. Please note that this is NOT a free pass to slip on a pair of *shudder* Crocs. Have bunions, you say? Tell someone who gives a fuck. WEAR THE TROUSERS — and then hoick them up past your belly button. That seems to be what all the rich white dudes do. Tip: you’ll know they’re high enough when your balls crawl back inside you. Hmm, success feels… uncomfortable. TURN BACK THE CLOCK with a…

My favourite thing to do is plan. Well, favourite? I’m not sure, but that’s what my chronic obsessive-compulsive disorder enjoys best. Before I go to bed each night, I plan every minute of the following morning. Throughout the morning, I set aside time to organise what I’ll be doing every minute of that evening. I have a paper diary that I look at every day, with every week choreographed down to the millisecond. It’s a thing of beauty, ngl. The source of my greatest existential anxiety is not knowing where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing in the future. My OCD means I am most comfortable when I have control over a situation (social, work, romantic – everything); even events that seem casual and improvised, like pre-drinks before a…

3 ISSUES FOR £3 THEN ONLY £3 AN ISSUE Saving more than 45% CALL NOW CALL 01778 392005 AND QUOTE ATT339 OR VISIT MYMAGAZINESUB.CO.UK/ATTITUDE/PROMO/BESTEVER PRINT Subscribe to Attitude — Europe’s biggest and best-selling gay lifestyle magazine – by direct debit on trial today and get the next three issues delivered to your door for just £3! That’s just £1 an issue instead of the regular cover price of £5.50, so saving yourself a tidy £13.50. Better still, when the trial period comes to an end, extend your subscription automatically every six months for just £3 an issue – saving £15 each time: a discount of more than 45 per cent! Every issue is delivered to your door, in a discreet envelope, on the day it appears in shops. 13 issues…

elskamagazine.com CIRIACO V “I have to accept that I like my comforts. I enjoy quiet and safe sex, preferably in a massive, comfortable bed; affectionate, if possible, with a lot of gazing into each other’s eyes. And if it’s not too much to ask, followed by a wonderful meal — preferably cooked or bought by my partner. No, I am not that crazy, young, sensual, and adventurous boy that I would like to be, and who those viewing these photos might think I am.” Without a doubt, Brazil has to be the most easy-going society I’ve ever been to. In most cities I visit, I tend to meet and photograph around a dozen guys, but here in São Paulo I am practically bombarded by people who want to take part.…

Tradition, transparency and timelessness – three words that go a long way to describe the philosophy and style of Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, the fourth managing director of Fears watchmakers. Started in 1846 by his great-great-great grandfather, Edwin Fear, the company ran until 1976, when it closed its doors. Then, almost 40 years later, at a fateful Sunday roast, Nicholas decided to restart the business. Here, he tells us how that came about and why time certainly isn’t up for the humble wristwatch. Did you always want to work with watches? No, I wanted to be a train driver. Even to this day, I’m an avid reader of Rail Magazine. I grew up interested in watches, but I didn’t really know [making them] was a profession until many years later. So, it…

Today I want to share my dislike of extreme positivity. I find it toxic and I’ll explain why. It might seem odd to be reading an article on toxic positivity by a therapist and author who has written a book about happiness, but I’m not one for fantasy or fairy tales. I also don’t believe in feigned happiness — we have all tried clicking our heels and never found ourselves back in Kansas. So why I am writing about toxic positivity at this time of great struggle, during a global pandemic? Because I believe it’s making us more miserable! Every time I go on social media, I find another guru reminding us that “We’ve got this!”, “You’re amazing!”, “It’s all good,” “Life is amazing.” But if that’s not your experience…

Mole patrol The preoccupation with COVID over the past 18 months has meant that other key health messages have been overlooked. At this time of year, it’s all about skin and, in particular, moles. Remember to regularly inspect any moles you have, using the ABCDE checklist to remind yourself what to look for: A (any Asymmetry) B (an irregular Border) C (a varied Colour) D (over 6mm in Diameter), E (Evolution or changing over time) Speak to a health professional if you notice any changes. Just a little prick… Having your COVID vaccine is still one of the best ways to protect yourself — and others — from both COVID-19 and long COVID. Every adult in the UK has now been offered at least one dose, but for full protection,…

DaBaby has tried to ‘apologise’ (he really needs to look up the meaning of the word) for his repulsive comments about gay people. But it’s too late, girl; if you’re actually sorry, you can do some LGBTQ+ community service and raise money for HIV charities making a difference to the stigma you help perpetuate — bye. Lil Nas X, meanwhile, continues to banish all of our gay shame on Twitter. I plan to get his latest affirmation “I just like dick” written on my doormat. Right, time to turn up the music, and I’d love you to give Australia’s MAY-A a listen (if you’ve been following heyitsmaya on YouTube, you’re no doubt already obsessed). The singer’s latest song Swing of Things reflects on her relatable back-and-forth relationship status: Once you’re…

GLITTERBALL Shimmer and shine in eye-catching metallics tailormade for the party season. CHROME ZONE Going monochrome makes a bold statement that’s sure to turn heads, and this look from Lanvin’s autumn/winter collection is giving us the blues in the best possible way. OUT IN THE OPEN You’ve got to admire the great outdoors, for the nature, the wildlife — and the inspiration for some stand-out seasonal trends. COVER UP One of the smartest fashion pieces, the shirt/jacket hybrid is back in style. FUTURE OF FASHION In a return to the brand’s DNA, Colmar Originals are going back to basics this season with a minimalist collection. Created from a variety of fabrics, the line features a distinctly wintry palette of warm burgundy and petrol green accented by black, white and grey.…

Having started out as a model, Jack Guinness is a contributing editor at British GQ and the founder of The Queer Bible, an online guide to those who have shaped LGBTQ+ culture. Jack recently edited a literary version of the website — an illustrated collection of essays penned by a string of stars, from Elton John to Munroe Bergdorf, about the trailblazers who inspired them. A total bookworm, Jack, 38, understands the power of the written word. “The book that saved my life is The Velvet Rage by Alan Downs,” he says. “Downs clearly describes the trauma of growing up gay in a straight world and offers advice on how to heal and develop a more authentic sense of self — if I’ve made it sound bullshit and hippy, it’s…

“Our lives are enriched when we open our hearts and minds to lived experiences outside our own” From the decades when we were criminalised, through the Aids crisis, and the subsequent battles for equality that we continue to endure, can you imagine how much better life for gay men would be if, every now and then, people took a moment to understand how our struggles and celebrations had shaped us? Similarly, our lives are also enriched when we try to see the world through the eyes of others; when we open our hearts and minds to lived experiences outside our own. From Munroe Bergdorf in conversation with Clara Amfo, p.38, to adoption hero Benjamin Carpenter, p.48, via Disney star Joshua Bassett, p.28, non-binary fashion student Kieran Pruett, p.100, and even…

In July, the Nationality and Borders Bill started its journey through Parliament. For months now, the government has been ramping up its rhetoric around this bill, but all the tough talk is merely a smokescreen to distract us from the fact that, in reality, this is an anti-refugee bill. It will make sweeping changes to the asylum system and will mean that many LGBTQI+ refugees will no longer get protection in the UK. It’s already difficult for LGBTQI+ people who are fleeing persecution to find safety in the UK, and these cruel proposals will make it even harder. In order to secure asylum or refugee protection, people have to ‘prove’ their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics (SOGIESC). Many are not even aware that they can be…

Which song introduced you to dance music? Gypsy Woman by Crystal Waters. I’m sure I’d heard of dance music way before this, but it was one of the songs that made me do my research and find out more about the roots of Black dance music. Which dance record changed your life? I haven’t made it yet. What secret weapon do you have in your DJ catalogue? My mix presence. It’s not something anyone has. What’s the go-to club to DJ at for the energy? H0L0. It’s in Ridgewood, New Jersey, right in the midst of the action. They have a lot of diverse acts come through there. I like that they have an outdoor patio as well as the club, and it’s right by Pirate studio, so you can…

Looks like we may have uncovered a new member of Mariah Carey’s ‘I Don’t Know Her’ club, as it transpires Joshua Bassett once royally snubbed Jennifer Lopez. Oh, the shade of it all; to be fair, he was only a wee mite, so we’ll cut him some slack. “When I was eight, I was a background actor in a movie with Jennifer Lopez. I had talked to her and her co-star a few times, and as I was leaving the set, my dad was, like, ‘Go say goodbye to them.’ “I didn’t know who Jennifer Lopez was, but the other guy was super nice to me and welcoming, so I went over to the guy and gave him a hug. Then Jennifer Lopez opened her arms to hug me, and…

Some questions are easier to answer than others, as Omari Douglas discovers when he hops onto our video call wearing his beloved Spice Girls t-shirt and is asked to reveal his favourite member of the band. It’s like a gay Sophie’s Choice. “Shit,” he gasps, with a look of genuine panic on his face. “I think it is Mel B.” More of a Posh stan myself. “If it wasn’t Mel B, would be Vicky B,” he concurs, adding that he recently tumbled down a rabbit hole trying to figure out what happened to Victoria’s second solo album: “[I didn’t know] Resentment, which on Beyoncé’s B’Day album, she recorded it first. So, Beyoncé got a hand-me-down from Victoria Beckham – that’s mad!” The official campaign to exhume VB’s buried music starts…

It’s somewhat ironic how Sink The Pink co-creator Glyn Fussell and I first met. The setting was The Wig Party at London’s iconic Café de Paris, an annual charity fundraiser and colossal dress-up affair, which, once upon a time, was a highlight of the queer social calendar. To gain entry, going all-out with your costume was a given. It was October 2009 and Glyn, then a spritely 28 years old, was sat in a booth at the top of the stairs, dressed in everyday boy clothes, to which I immediately raised a disapproving eyebrow when we were introduced by mutual drag queen friends. His droll standard attire caught my eye among the shimmering sea of glitter and glamour. Now that’s no diss to Glyn – the man is as dashing…

RIVER DANCE Greenwich+Docklands International Festival is snaking around London’s Thames for its 25th anniversary, from 27 August to 11 September. One of the capital’s premier outdoor events, it will celebrate dance, art and theatre with the majority of events free to attend. Highlights are the mysterious Future Cargo (pictured), Dan Archer’s We Are Watching, an image of a giant eye composed of thousands of digital images of people from 190 countries and printed on a 10-storey flag to send a message to world leaders about climate change ahead of COP26, and Borealis, a light show inspired by the Northern Lights. LGBTQ+ productions include drag cabaret superstar Fatt Butcher’s Big Gay Disco Bike, while on 11 September there is a full afternoon of queer fun and exploration on the Cabaret Stage…

Not many can say they’ve licked and kissed Lil Nas X, but Yainer Ariza has done both. Hailing from Colombia, where the UN reports rising levels of violence against the LGBTQ+ community, Ariza has been dancing professionally for eight years, and now all that hard work is paying off. Speaking to Attitude just after his 24th birthday, the dancer talks about where it all began and what it was like working with the MONTERO (Call Me by Your Name) singer. Did you always want to be a dancer? Always. People often ask me if I want to teach it, but I have to be really inspired and want to share something with people to do that. I’m more of an interpreter; I like to play with different types of body…

I first discovered the term non-binary, or gender-fluid, when I was 17, not long after I had come out as gay. Coming out as nonbinary meant that, for the first time in my life, I finally felt valid. For me, the term set me free from the restrictions of the gender I identified as previously. In particular, moving to London empowered me to explore my gender identity and the multiple facets within it. Arriving in a more inclusive place, I was no longer frightened to question myself; I could delve into my non-binary identity and become the femme person I’ve always subconsciously wanted to be. On the whole, the responses have been good, but they’re often mixed with shadows of uncertainty. It’s surprising how many people still don’t quite understand…

One fifth of Queer Eye’s dream team, Tan France hosted Netflix’s (unjustly cancelled) Next in Fashion, and now has his own podcast: Tan France’s Queer Icons (available on Audible). “Before, I would have said [my icons were] the likes of RuPaul or Elton John,” he says. “However, after the podcast, I realised that the person that has impacted my life — all of our lives — is Dr Evelyn Hooker. She was the first person willing to do research to prove that we [gay men] are not insane… this woman changed the course of history for us.” Tan, 38, and his husband Rob live in Salt Lake City, Utah, and are expecting their first child. Tan France’s Queer Icons is available to download on Audible audible.co.uk/queericons I DON’T CHECK DMS…

BE A SPORT Wes Anderson’s classic 2001 film The Royal Tenenbaums is the 70s inspiration behind Fila and Oliver Spencer’s new collaboration (who doesn’t love a matching tracksuit?). Fila’s heritage sport styles have been given a neat spin to create the Hayward jersey jacket, the Benedict polo and matching Ari Jersey shorts. Made from ethically and sustainably sourced materials, the collection is exclusively available at Oliver Spencer, Fila and MR PORTER, and Oliver Spencer will be contributing 10 per cent of its sales towards the MR PORTER Health in Mind fund. fila.co.uk HAPPY FEET Nothing burns the sole like uncomfortable, stiff, formal shoes, so why not treat your footsies to a pair from Louis Vuitton’s new Vendôme Flex range — fancy footwear that feels like trainers. Experts at the brand’s…

Makeup is becoming less gender-exclusive, with many men wearing it every day (who doesn’t want to disguise a blemish or two?). With their vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics created specifically for male skin, the War Paint for Men range will help you look your best — whether that’s for a date, or a flawless Insta closeup — or simply to feel confident in your appearance. Stylishly presented in black packaging, their products are light and comfortable to wear as well as giving a natural finish. Never tried makeup before? Their Starter Set has everything you need: there’s concealer to hide imperfections and tinted moisturiser to give you a healthy glow (plus a facial sponge for blending it all in), and beard and brow gel to tame unruly facial hair. And when…