1.27.2009

retrosexuality.










I've been saying, "Out with the metro-, in the retro-" for a really long time now. For those of you who aren't fimiliar with this terminology, allow me break it down.

metrosexual: (according to MSN Encarta)

young straight stylish urban man: a young, straight, sensitive urban man who is unashamed to enjoy good clothes, stylish living, the art of decorating, and improving his personal appearance ( informal )

[mid-20th century.]

retrosexual (according to the urban dictionary.)

A retrosexual is the opposite of a metrosexual. He is a guy who doesn't care about his looks.
I'm so over boys being prettier than me, my new boyfriend is totally retrosexual.
If that's still not clear, click here.

Okay, so maybe I'm a trend-follower or maybe I'm just growing up, but I completely agree. I'm tired of boys being prettier than me.

Once when giving Mike Alger some fashion advice I said, "I would never want to date a boy who dresses more carefully than I do... been there, done that. Look nice, but not too nice."

A few months ago, my brother, Carl, asked me for advice on what his new haircut should look like and within 5 minutes I was shaving his head with 1/2" clippers.

And I promise that I was saying all of this long before I met Josh. (It's just another one of those amazingly perfect things about him that he happens to be retrosexual.)The weirdest thing about my recent retrosexual trend is that I've become awfully retrosexual myself. It's true that my hair is still short and that I still don't like lacy things; but I recently bought my first pair of high heels (I like them so much that I'm planning a whole future entry around them), my first push-up bra, and my first non-grocery store makeup. I'm wearing perfume on a regular basis for the first time ever, and I've had my fingernails painted red for about 2 months straight with no plans of stopping anytime soon. I am loving it.

I'm not entirely sure what this says about me. An earlier version of myself may have been disgusted...

12 comments:

Miriam said...

Hooray for retrosexuality! Mostly I agree. However, I am becoming so buff with P90X that I'll be able to take down any guy who challenges me...

April Hunsaker said...

I love this new trend. My husband is back in style! Woo-Hoo! I love being girly and tough...I think you can be both. So maybe guys can look nice without taking it too far. Keep the red nails, push up bra and high heels. I'm sure they look great on you!

Dylan said...

i totally agree with you laura. metrosexuality is pretty unattractive in men. i'll take a lumberjack anyday over a fashionista.

MikeAlger said...

I think either I or you doesn't understand what you're talking about. Wouldn't retrosexual be, like, a hobo? Or is this just a "look good but not too good" or what?

Whittron said...

miriam, I love that you are doing p90x! Also, retro-sexual doesn't mean that he doesn't care at all. It means the man is clean shaven, smells of after shave, and when he goes out he dresses up nice, it's not with the latest trends, it's what guys have always looked good in. Retro. He looks handsome not pretty.

A man should never have more accessories than a lady.

laura said...

Thanks for the definition Whit, I totally agree. Mike, I did change things about the post to communicate what "retrosexual" means to me more clearly. The funny thing is that I think you're such a "guy" that you just don't get it.

Unknown said...

this is a great post. i agree with the pretty boy thing as well. guys are more attractive when they don't have to try too hard. as far as you and your fun changes...i also started doing the nail thing and other changes and love them also. but one thing i try not to do is to define myself in what i do or let it alter how i feel... like hair, nails, clothes. thats all just for fun.

Miriam said...

Whitney! Thanks for getting the Barlow gals going on p90X. It is fun and a good work out.

Mike! Retrosexual still has "sexual" as a suffix. I think that necessitates bathing and basic grooming. Being stinky or unkempt will never be sexy.

Anonymous said...

make your choicees

laura said...

to miriam: ha! what a great explanation!

Carroll said...

All I can say is I like this post

Mark said...

Why does there have to be a definition that describes hygienically sound principle of a man being clean and ordinary? 100% subject to personal opinion, and for clarification purposes, what is prettier than you in a man? Or what constitutes, with one glance, if a man cares more about what he looks like than you or any other woman? Is asking the blogger questions like this totally against blogger protocol?