The Men at GQ Magazines IRL (In Real Life)

The Men at GQ Magazines IRL(In Real Life)
by Bencynnet L. Ofilada

http://instagram.com/p/RpxhBDrOxv/

When you check out Instagram or Tumblr, you’d find out quickly about the popular acronym that has taken the fashion blogs or social media by storm over vanity - #OOTD. It means Outfit Of The Day where people show others what they are wearing or have worn. Going through all those photos, you’d see many people showing off the branded and stylish clothes they have in their closet as they show off their “skill” in putting together pieces of fashionable outfits to make guys or girls stop and take a look at you. In these modern times, not only women are the ones who can be considered fashionable on the internet but also the men of the metropolitan world.

            The younger men of the metropolis have become so engrossed of their appearances that they have taken more time to groom themselves in front of the mirror more than women as you would see in the amount of vain pictures of themselves or the Outfit Of The Day that these men have posted in their Instagrams or Tumblr. This type of man has been called a ‘Metrosexual’, which is a term that is derived from the words metropolitan and heterosexual, that was coined back in 1994. We define a metrosexual man to be so concerned of his appearance that he spends a significant amount of time shopping and grooming. They have adopted fashions and lifestyles stereotypically associated with homosexuals.

Back in the ‘80s, the metrosexual man could only be found inside fashion magazines such as GQ or

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/428827195739739766/

in television advertisements for Abercrombie & Fitch or in the gayest bars. As we enter the 21^st Century, you could see him almost everywhere, living and breathing and of course, shopping.

The metrosexual man slowly becomes the most promising consumer market of the decade. Wearing Davidoff ‘Cool Water’ perfume, Louis Vuitton Jacket, Lacoste Polo Shirt,  Ray Ban Shades, a pair of Giordano Khaki Pants ,brown boots and Calvin Klein underwear, it just proves that male narcissism is here to stay and we’d have to get used to it. He is a collector of the newest releases sold to him by advertisements. We consider a metrosexual man to be someone who is very concerned about his grooming and appearance spending a significant amount of time and money on shopping.

Although, not all metrosexual men can afford such brands, some still consider themselves to be metrosexual because of the influence they have gotten from magazines that inspire them to be groomed and fashionable at the prices they can afford. Of all the people I’m friends with, who I have interviewed that have said to be metrosexual, students spend at an average of Php5,000 per month for fashionable items. Unlike those who are working or have a job spend at least Php10,000 or more for branded clothing.

 

http://fashionfreaks12.blogspot.com/2012/05/top-clothing-brands-for-men.html

With all the grooming that they do almost every day, we sometimes question their lifestyle. We stereotypically associate the lifestyle of a metrosexual to be that of a model where everything is in high maintenance to be in the best shape since we see them as these properly dressed males from head to toe. Others ask if you have to change your lifestyle in order to become a metrosexual. In most cases, you don’t have to.

Of course, being a metrosexual doesn’t mean that you have to be at your best 24/7. Some of the metrosexuals I have interviewed also said that they cannot be groomed to their best every day and that there are days when they just don’t care and would pick the nearest shirt to wear to school or work even though it was a ‘horrible’ gift from someone. Like Jake Norman Cando, a recent graduate, said “I have a lot of off days that I just look like patapon(messy)”. There are still those such as John Paulo Alquizor, a high school student, who “make sure to be in the best shape or looks most of the time”.

So if you think being metrosexual is weird, it’s not. It was made just to be a form of expression of individualism representing those of the male society who are concerned of their looks more than the average male. They’re regular people too, just like us. It’s a small change in society which is part of a bigger change as we move forward into the future. And change is nature.

http://meetville.com/quotes/tag/fashion/page50