Does the Metrosexual truly exist?
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/...826436007.html
Perhaps the new "Kinder, Gentler" Man. Sensitive...Fashion Forward. The Gay Guy you can bring home to Mother?
Perhaps the new "Kinder, Gentler" Man. Sensitive...Fashion Forward. The Gay Guy you can bring home to Mother?
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Macho man has bitten the dust to be replaced by something just as tough inside but softer at the edges. Peter Gotting reports on a new target market.
He loves Armani, is seen just as often near a catwalk as competing in sport, confesses an adulation for Kylie Minogue, even designs his own jewellery. But he's not gay.
So Ian Thorpe told Australia in a radio interview last November. With interests outside the domain of the traditional Aussie macho male, Thorpe talked about his sexuality for the first time. He was flattered that the gay community identified with him, he said, but he was, in fact, heterosexual.
"You know, I'm a little bit different to what most people would consider being an Australian male," Thorpe told ABC Radio. But he's not that different at all. Men - of all sexualities - are taking a greater interest in their appearance. They go to hairdressers rather than barbers, avoid using soap because it's too harsh on their skin, visit the gym instead of playing sport and even have difficulty deciding what to wear.
They're spending their time differently - not only occupying more of it in front of the mirror but also shopping at boutique stores, drinking at bars rather than pubs, enjoying a dance at a nightclub and going to beauty salons. Cosmetics brands such as Ella Bache say men make up as much as 40 per cent of their salon customers in some areas.
Marketers are spurring on the change, dropping the macho from their products that target men. Gone are the tough male images - even from beer and car ads. Cosmetics brands are actively targeting the new, softer male, with Clarins the latest brand to launch male skin-care products. Men's fashion chains are growing, with women's stores such as Esprit launching men's ranges, and department stores are offering boutique-style experiences, too. Men's magazines are increasing their coverage of fashion - not just for editorial reasons but because they're getting more ads. The men's title FHM says its fashion and grooming advertising has increased 35 per cent over the past three years.
Originally posted by groverat
I wouldn't call all of this stuff gay, I would call it really really stupid and superficial.
I don't think it's Gay either but I feel it's a bit effeminate. However Gay guys really can get along with Women so it could be quite a lure for Women to be a Metrosexual.
Somebody frost my hair and pass over those Ferragamo shoes. Where's my Armani?
Who dreams this crap up, and why they have time (or would want) to fixate on such things is beyond me. Amazing how the people who bitch and moan the most about "labels", are the people most likelyto create them. Boneheads.
Next thing will be "tough guys who like to play rugby AND design their own jewerly -- hetropolisexuals maybe.
That's what happens if you bother with being fashion conscious. You end up with heads in the refrigerator.
I agree with Moogs, however. I prefer the term Nancy-pants.
Hey Man I don't care. Men should take care of themselves.
After watching American Psycho. I'm ready to start exfoliating and caring about my business cards.
Women like it. Not all Women want a scruffy faced Manly Man.
Originally posted by tonton
Lambaste it or not, I identify with this. I shop at Armani (but can only afford it when it's on sale) and I just found a pair of Versace jeans I'm buying tomorrow (60% off). I wear Guess and Sisley and am a fan of ladies' fashion from Guess, Sisley, Morgan de Toi, Miss Sixty, etc. I shop together with my girlfriend every week, and I pick out her clothes in the morning on a regular basis. I'm even familiar with her cosmetics preferences.
I sometimes even wear ladies' fragrances because I find them fresh and light. One of my favorites is Premier Jour by Nina Ricci.
I'm a huge fan of Vivienne Westwood, though I can't quite afford it right now (the only Westwood item in my wardrobe now is a Westwood designed Swatch). One of the current Westwood lines includes skirts for men, and this interests me.
I don't think you're gay, I think you're a latent sociopath and I would like the FBI to keep an eye on you.
I guess now we have to be extra careful not to say anything politically incorrect to "metrosexuals" since they too are obvioulsy very sensitive.
This is a load of crap. Even if you indentify with it Tonton, you shouldn't encourage the behavior of the people who drum this stuff up. In the end, this is just a friendlier way to say "transvestite" (men who like jewelry, [feminine garments, perfume], etc). Your post actually bears that out (thanks).
Regardless this sort of labeling will invariably end up being devisive -- and it's already meaningless. End of story IMO.
Originally posted by tonton
One of the current Westwood lines includes skirts for men, and this interests me.
I like Erasure, Pet Shop Boys, Robbie Williams, Pink, Dido, etc.
There's nothing wrong here except for pink, who needs to never be beamed into my house.
Now, if you said you were a fan of 94 degrees, then that would be gay. Super gay.
Guess what. I'm an urban, educated male and younger than 35. My social circle is made up of sucessful cultural professionals. Probably a full third of the people I work with are homosexual. A male getting highlights is OK, but it's gay. Not that there's anything wrong with it. Armani is dope, but how are the clothes gay unless you are wearing those sun dresses (like tonton
This whole idea of metrosexual is so 10 years ago, which should be obvious to even the most isolated soul simply because of the media attention. There wasn't a name for it back then, you'd just be a gay straight man. It's kind of funny how horribly fruity the word 'metrosexual' is.
One trend that is certainly solid is that the people that identify with this tend to be males who want to pretend they are richer than they are and, therefore, seek out these things they associate with luxury.
That said, I probably have some pretty effeminite qualities. Of course, I also grew up doing graffiti and around gangs and grew on to drive a volvo (she picked it out, OK? I wanted an accord because I'm a practical male) and have a home theater, so being through the whole range makes people let me get away with it.
Originally posted by Moogs
I guess now we have to be extra careful not to say anything politically incorrect to "metrosexuals" since they too are obvioulsy very sensitive.
So long as they're straight white males, they can't complain. Hell, call them gay. They obviously love it. However, there's no reason to be rude about it. Wearing skirts is a little funny (especially since they are obviously seeking attention), but if someone wants to get highlights in their hair, what do I care? But it is a little fruity, and they know it.
I'm conflicted on the perfume bit. I like cologne for no good reason, even though I think it's stupid. But I totally judge guys that are wearing it. Long story short, I think all perfume is kind of gay, whether is called by a different name for men or not. Hell, acting like one type of perfume is more manly than another is kind of gay. But that doesn't stop me from wearing it once a year to some special event. Maybe.
"Man, those were the days.... when gay men were gay men...and straight men were in denial."
tonton:
You scare me.
The thing is, you better have a sense of humor if you are wearing a skirt around. No one wants to see some dude's hairly legs, not even women. Hell, I certainly dress in stupidly priced 'fashionable' clothes, but that's only because everything plain and solid is more expensive (I hate shopping, though, so the woman, or broad, as we real men say
But the thing I will forever be confused about is how is this whole focus on appearance and luxury any different than that of some male members of the inner-city lower class? Sure the style is a little different, but it's the exact same concept, sans the desire to have people thing you are down with the gays.
Anyway, in a lot of ways, I'm just kidding on the square.
Originally posted by GreggWSmith
But I also like things like fine clothing and good wines and beautiful works of art and music.
There's nothing gay about having taste.
And being gay doesn't mean you have taste by any stretch of the imagination.