Ruggedly Fashionable
April 29th 2009 10:51
Renowned demographer Bernard Salt recently came out and said that in the face of economic downturn that like which we are currently experiencing, females return to an ingrained desire to seek out “manly” men. And in saying this, he predicted the downturn of the metrosexual trend that has dominated male fashion, grooming and lifestyle for so long now.
Interestingly, at around the same time as Bernard was publicly pitying those males who purchase more beauty products than their female partners, stories of designers returning to beefy men on the catwalk over the skinny boys we’ve seen of late began to hit the fashion pages. Could it be that this is already being reflected in fashion and in what is either a very clever marketing move, designers are sending manly men down their catwalks in the hopes of sustaining their sales, and female following, in these days of economic hardship? Whatever it is, it would appear to be working. Women are swooning and whilst high street sales have been hard hit in the current recession, designer sales have managed to be better maintained.
So it would seem Mr Salt possibly has a point. His argument is based around the notion that a woman’s perception of a potential mate’s ability to provide for her, particularly in times of difficulty, is greatly influenced by physicality and ruggedness. And in times of hardship, its those rugged men that appear to be the safer choice if a lady wants to feel secure and looked after. The metrosexual man, as great as he may look in Armani skinny jeans with his freshly moisturised face, if we’re honest about it, doesn’t really look like he could take to the mountains to secure his family some food should he have to, does he?
On the flip side, the rising popularity of manly men – illustrated through initiatives such as Australia’s search for the hottest tradie, does seem to indicate that, as usual, Bernard’s observations seem to be on the money.
Interestingly, at around the same time as Bernard was publicly pitying those males who purchase more beauty products than their female partners, stories of designers returning to beefy men on the catwalk over the skinny boys we’ve seen of late began to hit the fashion pages. Could it be that this is already being reflected in fashion and in what is either a very clever marketing move, designers are sending manly men down their catwalks in the hopes of sustaining their sales, and female following, in these days of economic hardship? Whatever it is, it would appear to be working. Women are swooning and whilst high street sales have been hard hit in the current recession, designer sales have managed to be better maintained.
So it would seem Mr Salt possibly has a point. His argument is based around the notion that a woman’s perception of a potential mate’s ability to provide for her, particularly in times of difficulty, is greatly influenced by physicality and ruggedness. And in times of hardship, its those rugged men that appear to be the safer choice if a lady wants to feel secure and looked after. The metrosexual man, as great as he may look in Armani skinny jeans with his freshly moisturised face, if we’re honest about it, doesn’t really look like he could take to the mountains to secure his family some food should he have to, does he?
On the flip side, the rising popularity of manly men – illustrated through initiatives such as Australia’s search for the hottest tradie, does seem to indicate that, as usual, Bernard’s observations seem to be on the money.
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