Men in Suits
July 9, 2010
I APOLOGIZE for posting such a large version of Australian Conservative leader Tony Abbott in a bikini swimsuit. It’s true that the image is unsettling and so I have reduced it in size. Fortunately, this phenomenon of the Man-in-Pampers remains relatively rare on American beaches, at least on the beaches I know. Here we see in the starkest terms the great cultural divide between America and Europe (with Australia possibly buckling in to the European influence). American men, with the exception of those who are on swim teams or lifeguards or those who consider themselves trendsetters, have generally rejected near nudity, unless things have changed since I was on the beach last year. [Note: A reader points out below that Tony Abbott is in fact a lifeguard.] Swimming trunks do not always stay securely fastened when a man emerges from the surf, but they are relatively modest. American men look even more ridiculous in bikini suits than their slimmer European counterparts but I think the only men who look halfway decent in itsy-bitsy suits are those with the physique of Adonis and, even then, trunks are less distracting.
— Comments —
Kilroy writes:
On the issue of Abbott’s beach wear, he actually does serve as a life saver at Manly Beach. He’s been doing this for years. What do people expect him to wear when he’s on duty? He’s been involved in the local community around Manly even before his political career took off (see The Manly Daily). I see community involvement as one of the inherent qualities of a conservative leader. Some may say that he should have stopped this when he entered Parliament, but I appreciate the fact that he’s made the effort to stay in touch with his electors and the local culture and not “sell out” by donning a pin striped suit for every occasion. The Sydney Morning Herald had a piece contrasting a similar “budgie smuggler ” moment that went horribly wrong (warning: it has pictures).
Laura writes:
In the case of lifeguards, bikini suits are entirely acceptable.
