Dress Codes: Fred Perry

Fred Perry's Fall 2007 Line of Polos. Photos: Courtesy of Fred Perry

Some styles never die, but few can be named true classics. Take Fred Perry's iconic, laurel-adorned polo shirt. No other casual shirt enjoys a such rich heritage throughout fashion history. Fred Perry shirts reigned supreme in just about every fashion circle and style moment in the UK since the creation of the brand. In fact, Fred Perry might be the only common ground among cute country club prepsters, skinheads, mods, and chic celebrities over the ages.

One thing that Mr. Perry probably didn't count on was the appeal of the shirt to the gay fetish community.  Some gay guys with an affinity for skinhead fashions get decked out in their favorite  gear for a night at the local leather bar and advertise their preference for certain activities by carefully choosing the color of their stripes on their favorite polos. Could this be the return of the Hanky Code from the 70s when gay men wore handkerchiefs of different colors in their back pockets to advertise their bedroom repertoire and preferences in a mate?

Of course, this doesn't mean that if you're not into getting a little freaky in the bedroom that you can't wear the yellow- or red-striped polo. I just wouldn't recommend wearing it to the leather bar or you'll get a quick lesson in sex ed.