Some guys in the gay community started planning their wardrobe for Pride months ago, especially if they're going to be in the city's largest annual parade, next Sunday (August 6). And, like the revellers at Caribana, Mardi Gras, or Carnival, they've been taking it very seriously. Their chance to shine in the public spotlight comes around only once a year, and they're making the most of it. Whether sequined and spangly or sprayed-on and sexy, their outfits enable them to work the route and strut their stuff with a nudge nudge, wink wink.

Even if the occasional wardrobe malfunction displays a flash of flesh, Pride is hardly the Sodom and Gomorrah some people make it out to be. Once you factor in all the nonprofit community associations, sports teams, corporate-employees' groups, unions, and children, family, and friends of lesbian, gay, bi, and transgendered Vancouverites, the parade is positively Thornton Wilder””if Our Town were staged by Madonna.

Men who want to be part of the eye candy come Pride Day can check out a number of stores in and adjacent to the West End that are stocked with all the current trends in gay apparel. If you need to do a last-minute catch-up on what's hip, Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium (1238 Davie Street) carries many of the major international lifestyle fagazines. However, be warned that according to these publications, there isn't a homosexual over the age of 30 anywhere on the planet, AIDS is an inconvenience not a health crisis, and a man's most important attributes are six-pack abs, perfect teeth, a flawless complexion, zero body fat, and a disposable income to make all this possible.

London-based AnOtherMan, which blurs the distinctions between queer and straight men, is the best of the bunch for a quick overview of the current season's hottest looks from the leading design houses. ReFresh, also from the U.K., is a good bet, as are the American gay style Bibles, OUT and Genre. Published in New York, A Bear's Life provides a respite from the buffed and polished boy next door. It's for butch-looking hefty and hirsute men (bears) and those who love them.

If you want to flaunt the results of all those two-hour gym sessions and high-protein, no-carb meals, Little Sister's sells skin-tight black or red pleather boxers with posing pouches ($49.95) by Catherine Coatney of San Francisco, as well as Coatney's black nylon and Lycra fishnet boxers ($39.95) and black pleather zip-up tank tops ($69.95). Owner Jim Deva says that there is renewed interest, especially from younger queers, in aluminum-ring rainbow chokers and necklaces ($10.99).

Down the street, Obstruction (1112 Davie Street; the Robson Street location is closing) has some of the latest fashions for gay blades, including Firetrap's Toto shirt ($105). Sleeveless, with frayed seams, this pink-based plaid shirt goes well with one of the hottest pairs of jeans out there, from Antik ($355). Distressed and faded, and featuring raw stitching along the cuffs and elaborate embroidery on the back pockets, Antik jeans are a current fave with young celebs, and hard to find in Canada.

Village People wannabes can sex it up at Mack's Leathers (1043 Granville Street) with black leather chaps ($299), studded or plain chest harnesses in the $200-to-$225 range, long studded black leather cuffs ($100), and a stainless steel–spiked dog collar ($250).

Over at Preloved (1015 Granville Street) you can be sustainable and stylish at the same time by dressing up in a comfortable and convenient pair of Trench shorts in various shades of blue and green. Made from reconstituted trench coats, these shorts are waterproof and have very deep pockets to accommodate all a lad's party favours. These go nicely with sleeveless bed-sheet shirts ($49) that are as light and cool as, well, bed sheets. Preloved also sells a range of sexy recycled ripped jeans ($89).

Harking back to the decade when Pride began, Cherry Bomb (843 Granville Street) celebrates retro-'70s rock/glam. (Move over, Madonna, and make room for Confessions on a Gay Dance Floor). They can apply a transfer ($15) onto a cotton T-shirt ($20) of David Bowie during his salad days: the iconic Aladdin Sane album cover framed with silver glitter, the rock star's poetic profile from his Low album, and images from Diamond Dogs and The Man Who Sold the World.

A celebration of the gay '70s continues at True Value Vintage (710 Robson Street). A wide array of vintage western and synthetic '70s-style print shirts sells from $25 to $40. Cowboy boots are something of a rage right now, and TVV has some used ones in good condition from $80 to $120. These boots are made for walking and will take you down the street to Boys'Co (1044 Robson Street) for a matching brown Sexy Cowboy T-shirt from Dom Rebel ($67.50). Complement your Bowie transfer T with one of Boys'Co's sequined caps from L.A.'s Ed Handy ($160) or a wicking straw cowboy hat in various colours ($22.50 to $55).

Whatever you decide to wear””or not wear”” during Pride, please remember that being the most fashionable and sexiest guy is not the point; it's what you do with your head and your heart that really counts. Use them wisely, and have a happy Pride Day.