Popular culture is constantly evolving. There are many influences on what is considered fashionable and stylish at any one time. Some tend to dominate, however. And one growing trend is the effect of gay male sensibilities on many aspects of mainstream culture including films, television and fashion. No longer on the margins of mainstream culture, gay men are often making its rules.

Take the breakout show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. This entertaining television program took the (often true!) stereotype of gay males being more fashion conscious, cultured and aesthetically adept than straight males and made it the central idea. These witty gay men ran amock, giving advice to clueless straight guys on everything from their choice of swimwear to their behavior with the opposite sex. The show was a huge hit in the USA and globally, and even spawned localized versions in different countries.

There are other, more general examples. Take the gay ideal of masculinity, which has a focus on good grooming and physical fitness. While gay male icons are often Adonis like, their heterosexual counterparts have long been able to get away with being less than fit and sometimes downright slobby. But this seems to have changed in recent years.

A couple of recent “sword and sandal” epics illustrate this well. In Troy, both main stars (Brad Pitt and Eric Bana) were fitter, stronger and more muscular than in any of their previous roles. A similar look was required for the movie 300 about Spartan warriors. All of the principal actors, as well as the extras, had clearly spent a lot of time at the gym. The star, Gerard Butler, followed a punishing training regime for four months prior to filming, often working out with a well known body builder.

One wonders how many of the original Spartans would have looked so buffed. They certainly didn’t have the benefit of digital blood sugar monitors, isometric gym equipment, protein bars and all the rest. (Thought they would have been far more lethal, of course!)

Compare these films with the Roman epics of the fifties and sixties. In films such as Ben Hur and Spartacus physical perfection was not nearly as important. Stars such as Tony Curtis, Kirk Douglas and Charlton Heston were certainly fit, but hardly the perfect physical specimens we’ve seen parading across the screen lately.

The evolving character of James Bond is another case in point. Sean Connery, the original movie Bond, was a masculine icon. He had an imposing physique and was hairy chested. He certainly wasn’t overweight, but he wasn’t toned either. While he did get around in his swimming trunks in at least one film, this was as much to serve the plot as it was to give the women something to ogle.

Then there was Roger Moore. While he was dapper and stylish, he was not very athletic. He was most comfortable in a suit, and seemed to have an aversion to swimwear.

The latest Bond, Daniel Craig, is more fit and muscular than any of his predecessors. He’s probably been training with Gerard Butler! In one purely ornamental scene in Casino Royale he rises from the surf to display his (hairless) barrel chest and washboard stomach. Needless to say, when dressed he’s always wearing the most stylish attire.

It’s interesting that these are all big budget movies that are made appeal to a broad demographic. They are guy films; not gay films. Yet the action men in them look fit, sleek and often fashionable while killing all the bad guys. While the rising influence of gay male aesthetics isn’t the only reason for this phenomenon, it is certainly a major factor.

Intimate apparel is worn against the body under many types of clothing. Some women require intimate apparel for wear during a certain time of the day, and they will find intimate apparel that clings and does not allow the body to breathe to be very uncomfortable in a short time. Intimate apparel such as slips, brassieres and girdles must be comfortable enough to wear on any occasion and finding a good fit in those items may take a considerable amount of time that most women do not have.

Some fashion styles that incorporate skirts into the mix, will give women intimate apparel choices that are very limited. There are slips that would fit the style needs of a fashionably dressed woman. Some intimate apparel choices that would work best with the knit tops worn with skirts would be chemises or camisoles that are styled to be very brief. A woman needs to wear intimate apparel that moves with the body and will often avoid pretty lingerie because it is binding.

Some surgical procedures might require women to change their styles in clothing. A woman that has had a mastectomy might find revealing fashions to be very unappealing. With the correct brassieres that are fashioned to transform a woman’s appearance after she had had such surgery, it is possible to find many fashions desirable and comfortable to wear for many occasions. There are breast forms that can be placed inside brassieres to make women seem bustier.

A bride will be the bell of the ball when she is wearing intimate apparel that gives her shape and support under the various layers of her wedding gown. Brides are thrilled to wear specially made corsets under their wedding gowns. A bride will quickly realize how these intimate apparel items can accessorize the dress form during the day and prove to be very alluring when worn on the wedding night.

A bride will feel very special and unique while wearing intimate apparel that is frilly and decorative and noticeably the color of pure white. She has the choice of wearing nothing underneath the gown but still have intimate apparel that will prove to be some fun at the reception. The bride can wear garters made of lace that they husband can remove, while still wearing intimate apparel that makes her feel extremely sexual and dainty at the same time.

A woman can boost her sensuality by wearing intimate apparel that is silky against the skin. She can maintain a wardrobe of lingerie that range from panties that rise high on the leg to underwear that is barely there and can be tied together with one or two knots. The brassieres can be very intimate to because some of the styles fasten in the front and some from the side. A woman can express her fashion tastes just by the type of undergarments she chooses to wear. Some of these items might be intimate apparel that is never seen in public but the wearer is very conscious that it is there.

In a world extraordinarily focused on outward appearance, we need only to open a magazine or turn on our televisions to see the latest and greatest fashion trend; it walks the red carpet, checks out a movie premier, and heads out nightly to the hottest restaurants. And we, as a society always mindful of what’s popular, follows dutifully along, eager to purchase the “must have” item of the season. But, ultimately, the fashion style that works best for us is that which looks good on our particular body and reflects our very individual personality.

As anyone who follows the fashion industry will tell you, trends come and go. What is one year’s hot item is the next season’s fashion “don’t.” Designers present their newest lines and before you know it stores are carrying these clothes in every conceivable variation. And then, just as quickly, they’re gone. It’s almost impossible to keep pace. Luckily, the fashion style that makes the most sense on an individual level is the fashion style that reflects who we are as people; and that never goes out of style.

The most important thing to remember is that just because a particular fashion style is popular at the moment does not mean that it will look good on your particular body. Wearing something just for the sake of wearing it ultimately goes against the principles of fashion. A fashion style that you choose to wear should be something that accentuates your positives, downplays your negatives, and complements the overall line of your body.

Take the time to get to know your body and what styles work best with it. Assess your body objectively; if you have trouble spots, look for cuts and fabrics that camouflage what you need them to camouflage; if you are on the shorter side, look for a fashion style that elongates your body; and always choose colors that complement your skin tone.

Once you find a style that works – stick with it and add your personal touches to reflect your personality; that is the best fashion style you can possibly wear.