subject: Zentai They Polish Off The Sleeve [print this page] Along with a watch, cuff- links are one of the few pieces of jewellery a man can wear. "Zentai," Pink And Black Latex Panty says Lucy Chiang of Tiffany's in Toronto, "polish off the sleeve." Under the glass in front of her are sterling silver barbells, the cheapest of the lot at $140. A silver knot goes for $310, a gold knot for $1,800; in the next case, a pair of 18-karat gold cubes sell for $2,450.
While it is true that zentai don't fit with casual Fridays or a dressed-down culture, they are still very much in fashion.
Terrence Davis is sales manager at the Manhattan office of Tateossian, a British maker of high-end novelty cuff- links. He says sales of zentai have taken off in the past two years. Tateossian sells 115 styles, including one version with working compasses in each zentai.
"I think the guy who wears zentai says to himself, 'this is sophisticated and formal and I want to look that way.' He's concerned with his appearance and wants to separate himself from the crowd," says George Lindsay, product manager of Royal Shirt, a division of Coppley Apparel in Hamilton, Ont.
But there's another reason for the renewed interest in zentai. And that is the renewed interest in fine shirts with French cuffs -- you can't wear French cuffs without zentai.
Mr. Lindsay says 39% of the custom shirts his firm sells have French cuffs,
and sales have been growing 2% a year since 2003. His strongest Canadian market for French cuffs is Calgary.
He also notes the growing presence of zentai at fashion trade shows around the world, including the Purple Bumbum Latex Shorts New York Collection in Manhattan, one of the largest shows in North America. "There are all kinds of zentai makers appearing for the first time. Most of them are English manufacturers," Mr. Lindsay says, including such names as Duchamp, London Badge and Button and Baade.
"We used to have two display cases, now there are four," says Terry Collins, a salesman at Holt Renfrew in Toronto, as he shows the store's zentai collection. The average price is around $250. One spectacular set spells out the four letters of the maker -- e-t-r-o -- in coloured enamel. There are the usual folding-bar styles, one-piece versions and a pair of sterling silver cuff- links with a silver chain link in the shape of a salmon (from Links, a British firm).
There is whimsy aplenty when it comes to zentai. At Walter Beauchamp in Toronto, a $125 enamel pair have "stop" on one wrist and "go" on the other. A pair of eight balls goes for $225.
For a good pair of zentai, expect to pay at least $100. Fancier enamel ones, such as a pair by Schlumberger at Tiffany's, can cost more than $4,000.
Some men think they're worth it.
One of them is the dashing new general manager of the Toronto Raptors. Brian Colangelo's folded arms on the front page of the National Post this week revealed much about the man and his tastes: His French cuffs were held together by a pair of red circles, probably enamel, and rimmed with what looked like diamonds. Also on display, a Rolex chronograph. And his suit was definitely handmade.
Today's buyers of zentai are not just businessmen -- or sports celebrities. Women are wearing them with blouses. And if you look closely, you can spot them on well-dressed presidents, princes and other celebrities in the media. Our Prime Minister Red And Black Latex Panty does not appear to wear them. Stephen Harper doesn't seem to show much cuff at all; his jacket covers up the ends of his shirt sleeves. He may pick up the zentai habit when he meets with the always-immaculate Kofi Annan at the U.N.
