The Evolution of Justin Timberlake's Sexiness, Post-"SexyBack"
Ten years ago, everything changed. The Hills premiered, Paris Hilton released her first single, and Justin Timberlake brought sexy back―via the song, "SexyBack," a track that embodied both a declaration and a state of mind.
As the lead single off the (then) upcoming FutureSex/LoveSounds, "SexyBack" sexily shook any lingering NSYNC associations off Justin's suit vest and entrenched the singer in pure sexiness...of the 2006 variety.
And of course, it was also all very confusing. Not just in terms of why the song title was spelled that way, but because he emerged as a man.
This was no longer a boy from a boyband who donned matching denim ensembles with his popstar girlfriend releasing his first album―this was an adult male who wore a neck scarf and buzzed his head and had a serious capacity for dramatic looks who was releasing his second album.
But sexiness has changed: Where Timberlake once seemed like the pinnacle of style and sophistication, he has since traded in his suit and ties for an endless supply of fedora and well-fitting khaki pants. He is a husband, a dad, and the singer of the Trolls' theme. And it's sexy.
Here, how we, and Justin, got to the sexy we find sexy today:
"My Love" (2006): Fancy, untucked, and one million layers
We were all responsible for this. First, because of our OTT reactions to "SexyBack." Second, because of Seth Cohen.
That's right. While we may equate Timberlake's polished-but-messy ensemble as the reason this trend took flight, it was actually the indie scene that saw dudes flip and/or reverse the classic take on button-ups, ties, and vests in the spirit of Seth Cohen, post-leather jacket phase (never forget). The trend was then picked up by guys like David Beckham, the guy in this one band I had a big crush on, and every other man on the planet, bless us everyone. Oversize baggy pants, running shoes, and disheveled Cool Guy? vibes were the name of the hot game.
See the original post on Youtube
"What Goes Around Comes Around" (2007): Fedoras
Who's fault is this? Honestly, who do we blame? Not only for the way Justin 100% ignores Scar-Jo's direct orders to GTFO (decidedly not hot), but for how he approaches his retro mic wearing an unbuttoned dress shirt and fedora hat.
Yes, a fedora hat―the pinnacle of "how, why, please make it stop" fashion circa 2016, and the epitome of sexiness one decade ago. Here's what we know already: A staple of the headwear game from the 1930s onward, fedoras grew wings and flew into mainstream music in the early-to-mid 2000s, as Timberlake, Diddy, Kevin Federline, Pete Doherty, and Ashton Kutcher flew the flag for a style that was only ever meant for historical dramas. And we loved it. All of us. We loved them because they were a reprieve from baseball hats. And we loved them because they weren't mainstream yet. Fedoras told us the wearer was "hip" and "cool." And we believed it.
See the original post on Youtube
"LoveStoned/I Think She Loves" (2007): Enormous suits
Full disclosure, I don't think this was so much a trend, as an example of us allowing Justin Timberlake to do whatever he wanted. Still mesmerized by "SexyBack," we reached the rare point of us all ignoring the fact that eight more Justin Timberlakes could fit into the one jacket in this video. Because to be this dressed up was so rare and precious that we dared not do anything to mess with it.
So ultimately, "LoveStoned" is about all of us, who were all high on seeing a pop star wear anything other than too-cool casualwear. Which means that sexiness once meant never having to say, "You know, I think I'll take the smaller jacket."
See the original post on Youtube
"Suit and Tie" (2013): Peak Timberlake (suit, tie, fitting attitude)
So what happened between 2007 and 2013? A massive aesthetic flip? A new canvas for sexiness? The avoidance of anything we saw a handful of years earlier? Shockingly (and heartbreakingly), no. While I wanted so badly to chart the evolution of sexiness in a way that proved we've evolved out of the Timberlake stratosphere, I found myself back at square one: Peak Justin. Only, a little more tailored and with a few more sweaters.
But let's calm down for a second and instead gaze upon Justin's sensible ensemble, anchored by pleated pants, and a fitted, tucked-in dress shirt (as the lord intended). And now, let us think about where we left him last: slightly disheveled but with a penchant for fancy menswear. Like, say, Robert Pattinson in the midst of Twlight's cultural free-for-all (circa 2009). Or Tom Hiddleston in a T-shirt and blazer fit for a (pop) king, back in 2010. Or Idris Elba in every editorial spread ever, of which none of us are even worthy. The perfectly undone "done" look. Rawr.
See the original post on Youtube
"Take Back the Night" (2013): Cool, calm, and casual
And now here we are. The brickwork for Justin's current approach to fashion has been laid. From oversize to super-fitted, we can see that dude evolved with the mantras and silhouettes of style in 2016, but actually changed his personal aesthetic not one bit. He's still polished, despite being casual. He favors neutrals. His pants are black. So hot? He's still got it, it never left―the only thing that's changed has been our definition.
See the original post on Youtube
"TKO" (2013): Canadian tuxedos
As we can see from "TKO," no one's going to think "Ew, I hate that" if they see someone in fitted jeans and a reasonably well-fitted denim button-up. It's casual enough, but still has that "these jeans quite expertly fit my legs, do they not?" vibe. The sexiness is in the confidence...he's not defining hot, really, but he IS hot. The hot is BACK.
See the original post on Youtube
"Can't Stop the Feeling" (2016): Dad
Post-Memorial Day all white denim-on-denim? Who else could pull that off other than Justin Timberlake, hot DAD.
See the original post on Youtube
You Might Also Like
Solve the daily Crossword
