Justin’s Bringing Sexy Back

Justin Timberlake has been holed up in the penthouse of a Paris luxury hotel, even as an entourage of PR consultants have been working feverishly to cement his image as the pop world’s leading male. After his fingertips led to Janet Jackson’s mammary wardrobe malfunction during half-time of Superbowl XXXVIII, it’s reassuring to see the scruffy Justin of then, replaced by the polished Justin of today. He’s all decked out in Dior Homme by Hedi Slimane for the cover of Future Sex/Love Sounds, his first album in four years.

But looks might just be deceiving. In an interview conducted with The Observer last week, Timberlake admitted that “I’m just like everyone else, I get completely plastered, I’ve done my fair share of drugs and I’ve been caught places with my pants down…” His pants were down during the interview as well, at least far enough to reveal his white Abercrombie&Fitch underwear, an experience that led Ms. Long of the Observer to conclude that “he is certainly handsome and well-sculpted.” Justin seemed a bit confused as to whether he wears YSL, Gucci or Dior, but given he’s no fashion addict, perhaps we can forgive that peccadillo.

– Timothy Hagy