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Rooting for the Retrosexual
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The Retrosexual has time for other things besides self-image and self-gratification
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`METROSEXUAL' WAS the uber trendy term doing the rounds with the merlot and mocha crowd in 2002, and it has percolated down the last two years with egalitarian bliss. Trend forecasters, editors and the fashion police have all hailed the arrival of the metrosexual, an advanced anthropological twist on the New Man.
The metrosexual is not only in touch with his sensitive side but also with his feminine side, his inner side and his good-looking side. He is a fashionista.
Of course, metrosexuality is not just a western urban legend. Traces of pre-metrosexuality can be found in the history of great civilisations when fashion and `lookist' spaces were less divided on gender norms.
The Chinese emperors liked their nail art, the Egyptian Pharaohs did wonders with kohl and eye shadow and Pallava and Chola jewellery designs for kings and generals could give Van Cleef & Arpels or Harvey Winston a permanent complex.
In 17th Century England, powdered hair and patches, fops and dandies proliferated across several decades of history. Today, the term metrosexual pays direct homage to the gay influence in the West, on male fashion and sartorial trends. Chest hair waxing, a little bit of crossover dressing, an addiction to grooming, a little more than the usual obsession with hair and body image are some of its characteristics. The hit television show `Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' cashed in on this trend getting straight guys to dress a little more spiffily and nattily like their gay brothers.
The term metrosexual has become the open currency of the global village and it is Delhi's Gurgaon and Mumbai's Goregaon that have absorbed its codes osmotically. I am told more men streak hair here than anywhere else in the country.
The no-fuss type
But the sigmoid curve of trends, as of history, turns against excess.
Now, the metrosexual is under threat from his less flamboyant brother — the Retrosexual. This is the man who would rather be the proud eagle than the proud peacock. The No-Fuss man. The Responsible man committed to more than his Atkins diet and Ayurvedic detoxing. The Hunter-Gatherer-Nurturer. The Strong Silent Type in touch with his inner bodhisattva, not his inner beautician. Think Rahul Dravid playing to a personal code. The Retrosexual is the man who is retreating from today's feminine grooming spaces. But he is neither so retro that he reverts to being a macho brute nor so much of a slob or nerd that he becomes a boor. Discreet, never over the top. Conservative but not necessarily conformist. Not a fashion victim or a style slave. Which means he has time for other things besides self-image and self-gratification.
The Retrosexual is the man who will open doors for you, whip up a great meal, and who will fetch and carry for you unlike the metrosexual who may not want to muss his blow dried hair or sweat in an unseemly fashion into his new facial. Given a kurta pyjama, the retro will wear it straight and minimalist whereas the metrosexual would ornament it with a designer angavastram, black Rajput war tilak, handmade mojris from Nabha, a ear stud and hair teased with TGI's "Bed head" for the perfect look.
Different interests
The retro is unlikely to waste so much time romancing the look, he would rather romance the great outdoors, romance old-fashioned rum or bourbon and romance a profession beyond media and advertising.
One does not quibble over some of the benefits of metrosexuality: the Indian male does need a sartorial make-over and a lecture in social graces from time to time.
But in the crossover of masculine-feminine spaces, the fall out is that romantic spaces have collapsed. I belong to the old school where I want my man out of my hard won space, especially my hair colouring space and closet space. As far as I am concerned, these are not the spaces in togetherness that Khalil Gibran talked about.
The retrosexual does the man thing, which I personally think is good. Fetches and carries and opens doors and remains mildly bewildered by the enigma of womanhood. He is an always-linen-never lycra classicist. He is not branded from head to toe. He discreetly shows off his upper deltoids but does not necessarily flaunt oversize, myoplex induced pecs. Ripped abs? Well... maybe, just maybe he has ripped abs too. (My womanist fantasy)
Creating an identity
Right now the Retrosexual is defining his identity. At the moment, he may be the blog's answer to the metrosexual. You could check if he has made it to trendwatching.com.
For many men who haven't yet caught on to the metrosexual trend, it may be a signal to hold still and stay unchanged. You could be trendy after all.
Metrosexual, Retrosexual or a bit of both. Which way will the real man go?
GEETA RAO
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