 "Photo: Shaun Stewart")
Fabio, Don King and Donald Trump define themselves by the hair on their heads. However, younger generations of men increasingly define themselves by the hair that's missing. The metrosexual allows his BIC razor to travel below his chin, claiming territory previously unknown to a man's razor. What began as the tweezing of an occasional stray nose hair has spread indiscriminately to all parts of the male anatomy underneath the neck.
Popularized by the Fab Five on "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," the term "metrosexual" identifies a "white middle-class urban heterosexual male who is concerned about the presentation of the self, mainly defined by style and fashion," said Gloria Gonzalez-Lopez, an assistant professor of sociology at UT who specializes in gender and sexuality studies with populations of Mexican origin. Gonzalez-Lopez suggests that globalization, new expressions of capitalism and western ideals of masculinity are contributing to the metrosexuality spread in other ethnic communities.
Hairless icons of metrosexuality regularly appear in Calvin Klein, Abercrombie & Fitch and a plethora of other style advertisements, Gonzalez-Lopez said.
"Fashion, in particular new expressions of masculinity as defined by new European-dominated fashion style, is a significant social factor affecting this trend," Gonzalez-Lopez said.
While academics monitor this trend, women are becoming curious, too, now that the men they date often have smoother legs than they do.
"I don't think that I would call it effeminate," said Wendy Bradley, a government senior, "but lately I've noticed that the men I date are curiously hairless in most areas."
Bradley said her first experience with this updated form of male grooming occurred during her freshman year at UT.
"One of my best friends was eliminating unwanted hair for a big date but needed help for a hard-to-reach surface," she said. "We drove to HEB, bought some sugar wax, and by the end of the evening, his butt was as smooth as a baby's bottom."
While only recently popularized by the metrosexual trend, hair removal has been a part of the lives of UT athletes for decades. Runners, swimmers and cyclists such as Norman Caston Meyer shave off hair to shave off time in races.
Meyer, a geological sciences junior, presides as secretary of UT's Cycling Team and competes regularly in mountain bike races.
"If hair gets in the way of anything, it's just got to go," he said.
This is not your father's fashion
But it's not only an increased passion for smooth skin that drives the metrosexual. A flair for good fashion is also on the top of his list.
"While I don't have a hairless body or an overabundance of hair products," said Joe O'Connell, a finance senior, "I do have more clothes than your average guy might."
While O'Connell said he denounces many elements of metrosexuality, he values the importance of fashion.
"In the business world," he said, "it is important to look competent and well-put-together at all times. Dressing well shows attention to detail, self-worth and a good sense of the world around you."
O'Connell said the same philosophy applies to social situations because "people are attracted to people who know how to dress well."
The importance of looking good is emphasized by celebrity and gossip magazines that illustrate society's infatuation with well-groomed men through their constant coverage of the fashion elite. David Beckham may be the quintessential metrosexual: hot body, hotter clothes and shoes to match.
Gonzalez-Lopez points out that ideas of masculinity and femininity are fluid, and these concepts change with America's dynamic capitalistic society.
"Our generation certainly does have more options than our fathers in the fashion department," O'Connell said. "As being fashionable becomes less a sign of femininity and more a sign of social aptitude and success, the younger generation of males is becoming less afraid of coordinating a snappy tie and shirt."
Girlfriends affected by this trend are sharing closet space at home and cardio machines at the gym. And beer guts are a thing of the past as men clamor for the bodies of the hairless, well-dressed models in GQ and Maxim.
Putting effort into appearance no longer carries a "girls-only" label.
"I do not have an extensive hair product collection. I don't have the finest clothes. Hell, I don't even wear cologne," said Olle Lorehn, a petroleum engineering senior. "But I work hard to keep my body in good physical condition."
As male fashions become more enterprising, the male physique falls under more scrutiny. Designers create low-rise jeans for lean bodies-bodies that do not occur effortlessly.
A full-time student with a part-time job, Lorehn said he still manages to spend time in the library and at the Rec Center.
"I swim two times a week, run two times a week and lift weights four times a week," Lorehn said. And Lorehn is not alone.
"More people today are in the weight room than there were 30 years ago," he said. "A person's appearance has become very important in today's society, and this can be seen no matter where you look."
Eager to cash in on the trend, companies are expanding to cater to the demands of image-conscious men. Vera Wang, Redken, Clinique and Lancome recently developed new lines of men's skin care products. Clearasil markets Energizing Face Scrub for Men in a chrome-trimmed container, which matches quite well with Adidas' Energizing Face Lotion for men in a sporty-looking box.
The other side of the razor
Even salons and spas are rapidly expanding their list of services to support the influx of male customers.
Zhanna Savitskaya, owner of Halina European Skin Care Spa and Salon in Austin, said her spa has seen an "exponential increase" in the amount of male customers clamoring for spa services over the last four years.
"We feel a lot of it has to do with the emergence of the 'metropolitan man' concept," she said.
Girlfriends and wives do not force their significant others to get pampered anymore; instead, many metrosexuals schedule their spa trip right next to guys' night out.
"Men are much more comfortable in the spa environment than in the past," Savitskaya said. "It is finally OK for men to look good."
Many sociologists say that it is the increasing acceptance and popularity of homosexual icons such as the Fab Five or "Will & Grace" making the metrosexual trend so popular, but some in the gay community say this is misleading.
Dana Cloud, a gay activist and an associate professor of communication studies at UT, feels the term metrosexual creates a false impression that heterosexuals are more accepting of homosexuality than in the past. While metrosexuals themselves are not gay, the fact they've embraced elements of what is usually considered gay culture creates the illusion discrimination is a thing of the past.
"The inclusion of some images and inattention to others is problematic," she said.
The development of the term metrosexual, Cloud said, highlights the adoption of certain aspects of gay culture, while ignoring the fact many homosexuals are of the working class.
Despite Cloud's concerns, the popularity and influence of the metrosexual does not appear to be fading any time soon.
Just take a glance at any television show, men's magazine or a lecture hall on the UT campus.
Like Meyer, O' Connell and Lorehn, guys don't have to go to extremes and wear makeup like David Beckham or get manicures like Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. But they are part of a growing population of men who invest more time in their overall appearance.
They may not be sugar and spice and everything nice, but metrosexuals are certainly a whole new flavor.
The Celebrities who display the most metrosexual qualities include:
David Beckham: With looks that rival his "posh" wife, Beckham maintains a stylish image on and off the soccer field.Sean "P. Diddy" Combs: P. Diddy brought a stylish new edge to rap videos and continues to influence other artists with his style and sense of fashion.
Lenny Kravtiz: From his "Are You Gonna Go My Way" days to his appearance at MTV's Video Music Awards this summer, Kravitz has always had a noticeable flair for fashion.
Michael Jordan: Rumors have it that Mr. Jordan gets manicures every 10 days.
If you're looking for . . .
Pampering of all kindsHalina European Skin Care Spa and Salon 5403 Clay Ave.
Maximum FX 1007 S. Congress Ave., Suite 10C
Hot, hip hair
Wet Salon 1109 S. Congress Ave.
Pink 1204 S. Congress Ave.
Avant 318 Colorado St.
Sassy shopping haunts
By George 2346 Guadalupe St.
Urban Outfitters 2406 Guadalupe St.
Therapy 1113 South Congress Ave.
Factory People 702 Patterson Ave.
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