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Richard Botto, Editor in Chief / CEO of RAZOR Magazine, has created the definitive men's magazine which features the best in men's fashion, travel, sports, autos, celebrities, technology, humor, fiction, fitness and more.
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 WRITINGS:
RICHARD BOTTO
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November 2003
The Hunt For
Metrosexuals
Perhaps you've heard that in dimly lit conference rooms spanning a
small area of Manhattan, those trained to sell sand in the desert have
been abuzz regarding the exciting discovery of a new breed of man. A
man who has regard for what clothes adorn his well moisturized body,
what shampoo and gel he uses on his perfectly coiffed hair, what wine
he drinks with the five course dinner he just prepared - a man who can
recite the starting front seven for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense,
quote memorable lines from The Magnificent Seven and wax poetically
about his seven favorite works by Monet with equal aplomb.
They have named him metrosexual. If you haven't heard of him, Madison
Avenue will be taking care of that shortly and if by chance you are
one, there's a net being cast over your head as you read this.
Catchy marketing word aside, metrosexuality is just an extension of
what people used to call a gentleman. A style that appeared to have
gone out of style but is making a comeback in a big, manicured way.
It's about men being men, secure with themselves, flaunting their masculinity
through individuality instead of simply emulating a stereotype. Call
it the furthering evolution of the alpha male. Surely, women must be
rejoicing. Because although you may hear about them wanting the pretty
boy or the bad boy, at the end of the day when the lights are low, truth
be told, they don't want a boy at all, they want a MAN.
But let's face it, this man has been around for a long time. That's
the reality. Whether it was T-shirts, leather jackets and jeans in the
50s or the coolest leisure suit this side of synthetic material in the
70s, men have been hip to fashion. They have been aware of the trends,
concerned about their appearance. The difference is in what else has
become socially acceptable. What used to be defined as sissy behavior
now passes for the higher arc of manliness. Men no longer need to put
on trench coats, hats that sit low on the brow and dark glasses to buy
skin care lotions and "product" for their hair.
And metrosexuality has nothing to do with sex. That's a misnomer. Some
people say that this is a sign of men getting too soft, it's all about
heterosexual men becoming way too familiar with their feminine side.
With no clear-cut definition to stand on, I see it as the opposite.
I see it as men becoming worldlier, more aesthetically aware, more confident
in their own skin. The only feminine side they're concerned about is
that of their significant other.
And at its heart, isn't metrosexuality all about confidence? And isn't
confidence on the short-list of the traits women universally find attractive?
Is this a revolutionary thought? Or is this just growth, progress? Being
intelligent enough to take what's being offered and using it to our
benefit? Or are we just taking the DNA of the gentleman from days gone
past and updating it for 2003? Whatever the case, if it eliminates donning
trucker hats after 5pm, I'm all for it.
Metrosexuality hasn't reached everyone, but trust me it's coming. Sure,
some of us are still challenged when it comes to fashion. Yes, many
of us can't find the right side of a grooming product until we are slashed
and bleeding. So it's true that there are a select few who still believe
that cologne should never cost more than a gallon of gas. But that's
changing. And for the love of all things not High Karate, isn't that
a good thing?
And it's a good thing to be a man. A guy's guy and a woman's guy at
the same time. We have been spreading that gospel here at Razor for
three years. We didn't need some drummed up focus group word to tell
us that. Metrosexuality is all about being a man and this magazine always
has and always will cater to all things men without compromise. We've
seen the future and it's right now. The new lumberjacks can be found
in the gyms, in the spas and familiarizing themselves with fashion and
the arts. And, most likely, on Sundays in the fall, he can be found
downing a few beers and watching football with the guys. It's the true
separation of the men from the boys.
Enjoy our 3rd anniversary issue.
Richard Botto,
Editor in Chief / CEO of RAZOR Magazine - The Definitive Men's Lifestyle Magazine
www.razormagazine.com
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