The Beauty Curse - Frock Paper Scissors

The
NEW
Man
WORDS Phoebe Parsons
PHOTOGRAPHY Jaclyn Fellows
Ladies, there’s a new man in town…and
just in time. At long last we may have finally
seen the back-end of the metro
movement. The scantily clad, size 26 jean
wearing strain we’ve come to accept as
our ‘male counterpart’ may soon be,
officially dead.
Women have grown tired of waiting for their white knight; the
knight whose biggest fear isn’t ripping their taut jeans while
getting on a horse. Women want ‘real’ men who scale tall
buildings in a single bound.
Coined in 1994 by British journalist, Mark Simpson, the term “Metrosexual”
paved a way for the hetro-sexual man to openly adopt certain traits
in regards to his shopping and grooming habits.
According to Simpson a Metro-sexual is “a man with money and with an
interest in fashion and beauty who lives within easy reach of a city”.
Adopted and popularised by a host of big name celebrities, such as Justin
Timberlake and David Beckham, the metro craze spread faster than swine
flu.
In next to no time, you were hard pressed finding a man whose hair
contained less product than Pamela Anderson and whose jeans were worn
high enough to conceal his Calvin Klein underwear. And just for the record,
no, he wasn’t checking you out as you walked past; he was checking his
behind in the reflection of the shop window…until he spotted the sale sign
that is.
No stranger to exfoliating face masks, tinted moisturiser and eyebrow
shaping, it’s safe to say Beckham’s long standing crown as poster boy for
metro-sexuality is not likely to be revoked (pity the same can’t be said for his
appearance on trend pages).
Senior booker for Chadwick modelling agency, Lyli Estalote, says the
term ‘Metro-sexual’ came about due to a progression in society. “The
everyday man no longer has to settle down, have children, and take on traditional
roles if you will. This allows them the luxury of exploring different
ways of living, which culminated in the importance of looking and feeling
good which is considered in high regard within our society,” she says.
Just when we had lost all hope, our white knight took off his skinny jeans.
Similarly to Beckham’s hairstyles, masculine identity has undergone many
transformations in the last few decades, making it hard to keep up with the
current batch.
From the exuberated elegance of the Dandy to the subtle
sophistication of the SNAG (sensitive new age guy), to the blatant boldness
of the Metro-sexual, the latest buzzword illuminating masculine identity is
the Neo-sexual.
The Neo may just be the perfect man. Attaining more masculine qualities
than his Metro counterpart, he’s still sensitive to his partner’s needs and has
been likened to ‘James Bond with a sense of humour’.
Estalote noticed a shift in the type of male models cast globally in this
year’s fashion weeks. “The choice of boys was decidedly more manly than
last year. Fashion week parades globally like to change the types of models
they use because that is fashion for you. One minute the boy look is all over
the catwalk and editorials, the next year it’s the opposite, the following year
they mix it, then the year after that they go back to the boy look,” she says.
“It’s exactly like you see in fashion. Most looks and trends come full
circle and at some point always get repeated, but with a relevant more
contemporary shift.”
Maurie Powell, long standing staff member of men’s retailer, Harry
Henry, says he noticed a shift in his customers’ desire for a more classic
and masculine style. “Namely the colour pink has lessened noticeably as a
fashion statement. Blue for boys is an old adage and is very popular again,”
he says.
Powell, who has over 45 years experience in men’s fashion says men in
the public eye who have always epitomised masculinity influenced the shift.
“There has always been an elder statesman who always looks classic, namely
George Clooney, the epitome of looking good and feeling comfortable in
what he wears. The younger males who most take our eyes are Daniel Craig,
Clive Owen and Michael Buble, to name a few. These stylish masculine
dressers will have a great influence on this new generation,” he says.
Now that the Neo-Sexual has arrived; without the fear of helmet hair and
with more stretch to his stride, it may not be too late for our white knight to
catch us. WX
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