Buttoned-up Bolle: Shock fashion spread shows Roberto Bolle fully clothed

For the Spring/Summer 2013 issue of Fantastic Man, Roberto Bolle is featured in a series of suits looking very distinguished; his famous pectorals hidden by shirts, jackets and ties: buttoned-up Bolle. The La Scala and American Ballet Theatre dancer wears creations by Tom Ford, Brioni, Richard James, De Fursac, Paul Smith, Ralph Lauren and Giorgio Armani. The spread is entitled Elastic Man, a reference to Bolle’s body, not the material of the clothes he wears.

In a short interview by Stefano Tempofosco, Bolle is asked if he likes the shape of his body:

I do, especially the musculature of my legs. I like how my muscles are strong yet elongated, which are two opposites that really only come together in a dancer’s body.

Tempofosco notes that at 37 Bolle is still relatively wrinkle free:

I started using face creams when I was young, which helps. We wear make-up on stage, and the make-up artist at La Scala gave us lots of beauty tips when we were young.

And body hair? Does he wax?

Oh no, that hurts! I just shave. But I’m not particularly hairy by nature.

What does he feel about youngsters coming up to replace him?

Well frankly, I’m amazed that no one has turned up yet.

Photos by Andreas Larsson.

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano’) about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.