I remember it distinctly. Three years ago, while awaiting a venti white mocha, I had my first exposure. He swaggered in--an attractive man in his mid-20s -- wearing tight, flared jeans, a fitted white leather jacket, funky white boots and crystal-studded aviator sunglasses. With a beautiful young blonde woman in tow, he proceeded to join the long line of early-morning coffee fiends. After placing his order -- skim caramel latte, hold the whipped cream and easy on the caramel -- he took his place behind me in the drink-retrieval line and began to chat garrulously with the blonde.
"I definitely need to start watching my weight more closely," he blurted in an effusive, whiny voice. "We're leaving for Cabo in a week, and I'm going to look like hell in that Prada sport bathing suit I just spent a fortune on. Also, I'm totally stressing since I still haven't made my facial and manicure appointments. And I'd like to fake-and-bake a bit -- you know, just so I have a base tan for when we get there. Don't want to look pasty!"
Then, just as I turned to give this peculiar man a peculiar glance, so as to further assess the character from which such non-manly words originated, I observed what was most peculiar of all: the effeminate man in his sparkly glasses and Madonna-derived wardrobe was there before me, passionately kissing the attractive blonde. And then, "This is going to be a truly fabulous honeymoon, baby," he cooed.
This type of man -- just three years ago deemed anomalistic and, well, seemingly homosexual -- is now about as common as John Smith the plumber.
Men who moisturize, shop, undergo regular beauty procedures and participate in those activities traditionally reserved for the female species, now evoke a mere yawn among anyone who'd bother to glance back in surprise as such a creature saunters by in leather pants and a tightly-fitted tee. In fact, this cosmopolitan, chic male has become so prevalent in the past few years that there's now even a term to describe him. He is, of course, the metrosexual.
The word, coined by a British journalist about a decade ago, has become omnipresent over the past few years, as have the men whom the term describes.
Indeed, the word metrosexual has become so regularly used that resources like http://www.dictionary.com have added it to their databases, squeezed between metrorhagia -- an abnormal hemorrhage -- and Metternich, the Austrian prince.
As defined by the aforementioned Web site, the metrosexual is "an urban male with a strong aesthetic sense who spends a great deal of time and money on his appearance and lifestyle."
And, while the metrosexual may primp and preen for hours, shop until he drops and exfoliate bi-weekly, the biggest catch of all is that he's entirely, completely heterosexual.
Though evolution is inevitable, and thus, over time, men and women are bound to change physical and mental form to ensure continued survival, how has the male species evolved from hairy, rugged ape to hairless, refined Adonis?
For one, the "hippie movement" and sexual revolution of the '60s and "'70s engendered the liberalization of the population, which, generally speaking, made society more accepting. Thus, from this period forward, traditional gender lines were blurred, and men and women were no longer confined to such narrow roles. Moreover, throughout the past 40 or so years, men, in particular, have increasingly been encouraged to explore their more emotional, feminine sides and to become "more in touch" with themselves.
Furthermore, society's ever-increasing emphasis on cleanliness and aesthetics could also prove a strong impetus behind the male movement toward metrosexuality. Whereas it was once expected for men to act barbaric, to bathe irregularly, and to care little if at all about their appearance, this is no longer so.
Along with American society's obsession with sanitation and hygiene has developed a population of men that is learning the necessity of placing their instinctual barbarism aside if they're to be accepted by fellow humans.
"It's not okay for guys to walk around farting and burping as they maybe did in the past," said Victor Costagno, an employee of The Men's Store at Saks Fifth Avenue and first-hand witness to the metrosexual movement. "That's gross and everyone knows it. Guys today care about how people perceive them and how they present themselves to the world. Because they're expected to act more refined today than in earlier time periods, guys are obviously going [to refrain] from [lurid] behavior that could once be passed off as 'just being a guy.'"
Perhaps the strongest force behind the male species' metrosexual conversion is the increasingly high standards for men today's middle-class women possess. Similar to society as a whole, women of today don't want a man who comports himself sloppily, dresses in tattered clothes and neglects to brush his teeth in the morning.
Conversely, the woman of today expects her man to be more like she is --c lean, mindful of his health, put-together and sensitive to others. Thus, if men want to obtain a mate, they must learn to conform to what women want: a metrosexual.
"Girls have always been attracted to the sensitive-type guys, the ones who'll ask you about your day and let you cry to them about stupid things," said freshman Jenny Kahn. "That's cute and shows they have emotions and a soft side. And, of course, [women] are always attracted to pretty-boy types who dress preppy and wear cologne and take care of themselves. And, if they already know [how to take care of themselves], we don't have to teach them!"
Thus, the developing trend toward the "metrosexualization" of males could actually be a product of men conforming to what women have given them no choice but to become: neat-freaks donned in freshly-laundered clothing and designer fragrances.
"I'll admit it," said freshman John, who requested his last name be withheld. "I started getting my chest waxed after an ex-girlfriend of mine told me that chicks hate hair on guys' bodies. I've come to terms with the fact that, if you want girls to like and notice you, you've got to take the time to look good; you know, use gel, wash your face, use some Biore strips. It's all important."
As is commonly known, women have always had a preoccupation with quintessentially gay men and acquiring such trendy, sassy individuals as close friends. Just think of the number of movies and television shows where the female protagonist would be an utter mess if not for her fashion-savvy gay sidekick.
And, with shows like Will and Grace and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy further publicizing and glorifying homosexuals, it seems to be that, in recent years, being gay is synonymous to being cool.
But, what if you're a straight man desiring the same attention women bestow upon their gay friends? You become a metrosexual, of course.
In addition to attracting women and conforming to the cleanliness norms of society, the spread of the metrosexual man has irrefutably been aided by a number of high-profile male celebrities.
For example, British Soccer star David Beckham received an enormous amount of publicity after he admitted to wearing thongs with his white pants, and eye-liner to give "greater depth" to his face.
Among other metrosexual celebrities who've helped perpetuate the trend are Brad Pitt, who's been known to buy female Chanel sunglasses, Bruce Willis, who's an avid fan of Ugg boots and La Mer facial serum, and even Democratic candidate Howard Dean, who. famously, proclaimed his metrosexuality at a press conference last year.
Because humans learn what's normal and acceptable by looking to "leaders," which public figures essentially are, male celebrities have truly been monumental in conveying to men everywhere that it's okay to be a non-traditional male.
In fact, you're not cool until you are.
With an increasing number of men coming to believe that transcending the gender lines is now socially acceptable, the media, advertisers, and marketers have jumped at the opportunity to capitalize on this new male mindset.
Though traditionally available mostly to women, over the past several years designer clothing for men has become increasingly prevalent and integral to the fashion industry.
With more men shopping regularly and putting a greater deal of time into their appearances, nearly every label from Dolce and Gabbana to Louis Vuitton to Express has developed its brand to include extensive men's lines.
Moreover, the men's fashion industry has become so hot in the past decade that all-male fashion magazines including GQ, Details, Cargo, and Male Vogue have moved to fill a lucrative and previously unoccupied niche in the publications industry.
Beyond clothing, marketers and product development executives from nearly every skin-care company used by women have formulated a slew of male cosmetics as well.
Responding to the demand by men for products that will keep them looking younger, cleaner, and more refined, even exclusively female-driven companies like Clinique, La Mer, and Clarins have begun selling product lines strictly for men.
"I've definitely seen an increased demand for all male fashions and products over the past few years," said Castango. "I mean, just look at the fact that every year Saks [Fifth Avenue] expands its men's department more and more.
That's a definite sign of the demand among men for upscale clothing and the like."
Whatever the cause, the metrosexual is a man destined for long-term survival and continued future development.
In the past year alone, publications from The New York Times to Maxim have run articles on the prevalence of this type of man, and how, essentially, this "new male" is rapidly taking over and transforming our traditionally-held beliefs of what characterizes a man.
Even the most "manly" of men--the construction workers and firefighters of the population--are consuming the new male standard.
As the male magazine Details discovered in an article for its January issue, manual laborers today are 70 times more likely to apply moisturizer to their hands throughout the day than occupants of their same profession ten years ago.
As such discoveries confirm, the refinement of men--no matter their class or profession--is a definite reality.
