{"id":6442,"date":"2025-04-30T13:47:25","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T13:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/?p=6442"},"modified":"2025-05-01T18:28:16","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T18:28:16","slug":"david-beckhams-sarong-gate-and-all-the-times-he-redefined-masculinity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/30\/david-beckhams-sarong-gate-and-all-the-times-he-redefined-masculinity\/","title":{"rendered":"David Beckham\u2019s sarong-gate and all the times he redefined masculinity"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\"David\t<\/div>
Golden Balls has redefined masculinity throughout his career (Picture: Shaun Botterill\/Allsport\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

David Beckham<\/a> has redefined masculinity throughout his decades-long career in the spotlight – <\/p>\n

The legendary footballer is set to turn 50 this week, and what better way to pay homage to the trendsetter than to remember some of the best times he challenged standards of masculinity?<\/p>\n

The footballer may have been known for his free kick technique, but off the pitch, he stood for something entirely different.<\/p>\n

At a time when we didn’t have the language to define toxic masculinity, the star was labelled as ‘metrosexual’ because he openly used moisturiser and cared about what he looked like.<\/p>\n

With his fashion<\/a> choices, hairstyles, and bold career decisions, the footballer emulated a progressive version of manliness that baffled many in the noughties, but has now forced a new path and definition of modern masculinity for men today.<\/p>\n

Here are some of his most career-defining moments…<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

During the 1998 World Cup<\/a> in France, David found himself at the centre of a completely baffling news story when viewed through a modern lens.<\/p>\n

David was photographed by The Sun, wearing a sarong over his trousers whilst walking with his then fianc\u00e9e Victoria Beckham<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The photos caused a huge stir and the footballer found himself being ridiculed by the British public, with The Sun opting for the headline: ‘Beckham has got his Posh frock on.’<\/p>\n

The look was hugely controversial, but Beckham did not care at all; he continued to make bold fashion statements regardless.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Sarong,\t<\/div>
David still says he’d wear the look again (Picture: PA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In recent years, when discussing the incident, David has only doubled down on the fashion statement.<\/p>\n

He told The Telegraph<\/a> in 2018: ‘Twenty years ago when I wore that sarong, people were shocked. It was an outrage; “why are you wearing that? What were you thinking?”<\/p>\n

‘Today no one bats an eyelid if a guy wears a sarong in the street.’<\/p>\n

In a 2014 interview, he told Lorraine Kelly<\/a>: ‘Sarongs are great. <\/p>\n

‘That\u2019s one thing I never regret because I thought it looked great and I would still wear it now.’<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"BEVERLY\t<\/div>
The couple became fashion icons of the noughties (Picture: Kevin Winter\/Getty Images for AEG)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Becks has been known for finding self-expression through his barnet for many years. <\/p>\n

In the 90s and noughties, he became known for chopping and changing his locks and taking pride in his peroxide bob, mini mohawk, or ponytail – depending on how the mood struck him.<\/p>\n

Seeing the captain of the England football team with a stylish lid emphasised that being considered a masculine man didn’t mean that you can’t get highlights every so often… <\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
The star was known for his stylish hair choices (Picture: Steve Finn\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
He did not care about whether a ponytail was a non-traditional style (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\"British\t<\/div>
His look in 2000 occasionally featured a buzz cut (Picture: Dave Hogan\/Hulton Archive\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Posh and Becks also made it cool to coordinate.<\/p>\n

The couple attended the ‘Versace Club’ Gala Party in matching black leather outfits complete with leather trousers and a matching white tops underneath their peephole neck jackets.<\/p>\n

While some ridiculed the look as a fashion faux pas or a cringey immaculating look for Beckham, the stylish duo solidified themselves as fashion icons and became even more famous.<\/p>\n

The choice to coordinate with his wife at this 1999 event was a fabulous one, and something that he did many times throughout the years. <\/p>\n

His purple wedding look that matched Victoria’s bright purple gown was another bold fashion choice that showed that coordinating is cool. <\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
David & Victoria Beckham Attend The ‘Versace Club’ Gala Party In London. (Photo by Justin GoffUK Press via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 2002, the footballer made a bold move as he appeared on the cover of the gay magazine Attitude. <\/p>\n

In an era of rife tabloid homophobia, the move was monumental for the gay community and became a huge cultural moment.<\/p>\n

Of course, like every big progressive step, the move was met with huge criticism, but it cemented Beckham as a gay icon – for a time.<\/p>\n

In 2022, the footballer lost the respect from a lot of the community as he partnered with the Qatar World Cup 2022.<\/p>\n

The country has criminalised homosexuality, with same sex relationships being illegal.<\/a><\/p>\n

Many questioned why Beckham would profit from this gig<\/a> with the knowledge that he was bolstering support for a country which has been under the spotlight from the LGBTQ+ community and human rights organisations.<\/p>\n

In response to the criticism, Beckham defended his actions saying that he had spoken to people from the gay community who felt it was an opening a conversation for change and those who felt safer at the games than they had been before.<\/p>\n

He told Sky at the premiere of his Netflix documentary: ‘Let the football do the talking, it was a great tournament, a lot of people were happy.<\/p>\n

‘I had a lot of conversations with the LGBTQ community when I was there. They said they had enjoyed the games and they felt it was the safest World Cup they’d had for a long time, it was an important competition and one I was proud to be a part of.’<\/p>\n

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