You want me to wear what?

Runway style from Prada (left) and Tom Rebl.

John Galliano (left) and Kate Sylvester.

David Kemp (left) for A*Muse and Vivienne Westwood.

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The recent menswear collection shows in Europe threw up some fashions that would throw most men - even those who know their Galliano from their Gucci.

In Paris, John Galliano put more men in corsets. Vivienne Westwood dressed her models in "trash chic" inspired by roving vagrants that included pirates and the homeless, the latter reminiscent of spoof fashion comedy Zoolander.

In Milan, Prada did shrunken cardigans more suitable for boys than men, while Dsquared2 channelled Rocky Horror.

At Berlin Fashion Week German designer Tom Rebl went for bondage, sending out a model in a leather shoulder harness and nothing else. The model used his gloved hands to hide his package.

The fetish theme continued at London Fashion Week where Jaiden rVa James presented a collection that was frighteningly fierce and S&M; and New Power Studio put lipstick and silly hats on its models, including a drum.

It's not only overseas designers putting male models in confronting clothing.

At Air New Zealand Fashion Week in September last year Kate Sylvester sent male models down the runway wearing women's lingerie slips, and boxer shorts trimmed with lace for the presentation of her men's and women's 2010 winter collection Diamond Dogs. The collection was inspired by infamous Auckland socialite of the 1980s Judith Baragwanath who had a penchant for wearing menswear and black lipstick.

"We were pillaging our menswear and putting it on the girls and thought what about the poor old boys, and decided to do a complete swap," Sylvester says. "We had very boysy boys - it was important that they still looked very masculine in their slips. The models were incredibly gracious about it and wore them in very good spirit."

Wearing crazy clothing on the catwalk is part of the job description, though Thailand-based Auckland model Bertie de Rhonde, 28, of Nova admits he does turn down shows that make him feel uncomfortable, especially in Thailand where "sexy" swimwear and underwear shows are popular. "When I first arrived I did lots of swimwear shows with a rocker influence - speedos with lots of heavy chains, motorcycle gloves, lots of eye makeup and spiky hair," de Ronde says. "At the time it was all new to me so I took it as it came, and it was necessary just to make ends meet, but nowadays I turn those down."

Modelling swimwear for the first time for A*Muse at New Zealand Fashion Week was confronting for fellow Nova model David Kemp, 20, though he quickly took it in his stride. His outfit - a pair of low-riding skimpy speedos with Pamela Anderson's face strategically place on the front, and his toenails were painted with gold glitter.

Kemp says: "When I first saw them, I was thinking: 'hmm, okay!' but everybody else was wearing similar things so that gave me some comfort."

He says he doesn't mind wearing fashions some see as bizarre. "It's all art, that's what I like about fashion. When I started modelling I didn't understand how fashion could be art, but now I think it's really awesome."

HOW TO WALK LIKE A MALE MODEL: Squint your eyes but don't frown. Open your lips slightly.

Don't move your shoulders, or slouch. Only move the arms from elbow down. Keep hands relaxed. Don't twist the hips too much. Take large steps - you're portraying a power character.

Swing your arms a little, back and forth, with steps. At the end of the runway squint, keep lips slightly apart but look relaxed.

Pose for 1 1/2 seconds. Then turn, but still keep your head looking to the front. Head follows for stride back up the catwalk. The look is bored, and nonchalant.

If you look like the only reason you've showed up is because you're getting paid, congratulations, you've got it.

- © Fairfax NZ News