The implication is that after a decade of forthrightness about male back waxing, it's fine to sweat and stink as you muscle through the workweek, even if it's in a cubicle. "Guys are feeling all right about being a guy," says Michael Williams, who blogs about American-made menswear at A Continuous Lean. "The whole metrosexual thing, which I think was a false label put on guys, that's gone away. Now it's OK to be masculine."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/17/LVNM1BDCUH.DTL&tsp=1#ixzz0ctVPUSee

Recently, my company distributed a kind of uniform: plain jacket for winter. I chose red one whereas most guys chose grey ones. Women prefer orange one.

Last week, people at the computer division called me, asking me whether I can chat shortly with two customer-care persons from a software company. One was a young lady, and the other was middle-aged man. They thanked me for finding a serious flaw in their software (the related hot fix was released after I suggested it: http://support.sas.com/kb/34/587.html).

The young lady said like she was surprised at my wearing the plain jacket as she expected I wear a formal dress. I replied that, although we are government employees, we are basically researchers, tending to wear freely. I added that the jacket is a kind of uniform as a small company logo is printed there. The man said to me that he envies my company because the work environment seems nice and flexiable, which I did not agree on.

Yesterday I attended a formal meeting in Seoul. Most wore black formal dresses whereas I wore a red long coat for women. I alone wore colorful one. As I wore the same red coat last year at the same place, nobody seemed surprised, but still a few people commented on my red coat. I replied jokingly like I was too busy to find my clothes in the morning; instead I borrowed my wife's.

Barbie~~

Quote from: tekla on January 17, 2010, 12:07:38 PM
"The whole metrosexual thing, which I think was a false label put on guys, that's gone away. Now it's OK to be masculine."

So I guess that plaid is back.

So stylish...

on anyone but me!

-Sandy

It's more that I wear Dickies and Carhart work clothing to my office job thing - at least from what I see, but I was just quoting the article.

In my life plaid never went out - catholic school girl outfits and grunge CPO jackets.

/Yeah, I wear Dickies and Charhart, and they are dirty, greasy and smell bad when I'm done.

I wear a uniform to work, everyday same uniform no changes, about 6 months ago I started ordering a female uniform it looks the same only it's a female top with darts and the opposite zipper and slacks have a higher cut and shorter zipper, the par numbers were basicly the same with one number difference, well this years new catalog there the exact same number except the female uniform have a F at the end, so our quartermaster from the home office calls and asked did you know you have been ordering female uniforms, I told yes she asked why? I asked her why do you were a female uniform....... a moment of silence and she said OK no problem, my new stuff came in and nothing else has been said LOL it's though being in the closet sometimes..........

Personally, I found the metrosexual notion to be utterly insulting.

men are so utterly repressed. They have practically no scope for creativity in their appearance at all.

Then along comes metrosexual giving men permission to step just a little bit, within predetermined limits.

Now, it seems, that has been removed and men are required to return to their original positions.

My wife and I have to go to a wedding this weekend. Wife spends ages picking out colour combinations. I spent about 10 minutes looking for my dark suit, white shirt, and my black shoes.

Why can't I wear something nice?

Why can't I wear a nice skirt, perhaps a floral print?

Why can't I wear some nice shoes, do up my face, just be a litle less drab?

Nah, I got the ugly growth. I gotta be quiet, stand like a prat and look as if I'm calm and ready to go off and die in a war.

I don't know what you guys are talking about some guy clothing is awesome.

like this

http://www.topman.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategoriesDisplay?storeId=12555&catalogId=17551

I work with a uniform same for women and men, black pants white shirt and apron and tie.

Hey I think it's all kinds of cute when people who never do more work than shove a sheet of paper from one side of the desk to the other side dress like they were farmers, mechanics, and carpenters - minus the tools of course, they would only hurt themselves with those things.

Hahaha what a joke.  Different trend, still look like idiots.

Most clothing is supposed to be functional, on occasion stylish, nothing makes one look more like an idiot then showing up for an important business meeting dressed like you were working on your car, unless it's working on your car while looking like you were at an important business meeting.

Believe it not, Carhart, Dickies, levi's and flannel shirts were the main stay of my wardrobe for quite awhile

My how things can change

The metrosexual trend was good for the economy. Helps to keep the service industry flowing when you have men going and getting mani/pedi/wax/massage/hair cuts/etc.

And I personally want to grab a handful of the hair on his head when we're making out... not the hair on his back.

Quote from: spacial on January 21, 2010, 02:47:34 PM
gotta be quiet, stand like a prat and look as if I'm calm and ready to go off and die in a war.

That was well written honey  I know it's hard to grasp, but most normal guys like being like that. They are jazzed if they look good in a suit and tie or a uniform.

I used to feel the same way as you, until I was actually part of a group of men getting ready to go off and die in a "war", and now I
have a whole different level of respect and admiration for that level of bearing. Remember, normal guys think that's cool, and they are quite comfortable with it. It's a little annoying when you are romantic with one and you do all the talking, but they really are listening, usually.

I need to get some Carharts, my Levis are getting trashed at work even ripped a pair the other day. I prefer to dress for the specific job I am doing. When in an office dress shirt, tie if needed, while in a warehouse jeans and steel toed shoes.
Myles

Steel toed shoes are like crossing the Atlantic with Columbus, so last year, check out the new composite toe shoes, much better.  Really,  I had a lot of weight land on mine just the other day.

http://www.batesfootwear.com/US/en-us/Product.mvc.aspx/9393M/0/G/Footwear/Mens/8-inch-Tactical-Sport-Composite-Toe-Side-Zip-Boot?galleryId=G-F

I promise you, you'll never go back to steel.

Those look like some darn good boots

I had some steel toed clunkers and still lost the nail off my big toe on my right foot 

Yeah, the composite ones don't bend down like the old steel ones do, so you're at less risk of just having your toes cut off.  (Iccky, but much better than crushed, as a clean cut can be reattached if you get to the hospital right quick, but smashed/crushed ones, they don't get better - so goes the theory).  And they are a lot lighter too, which if you're on your feet for 12-17 hours a day, is a big plus.  But that console weighed a few hundred pounds and it rolled over my foot and I'm fine, good enough.

Yeah, I was glad to just lose a toe nail. It eventually grew back kind of and doesn't look too bad

Steel toes don't cut, testing the steel toes in factories to meet weight-standards shows that they do crush and never cut.

Personally, I'm comfortable with 'career casual.'
Whatever the hell that is. xD

Quote from: spacial on January 21, 2010, 02:47:34 PM
Personally, I found the metrosexual notion to be utterly insulting.

men are so utterly repressed. They have practically no scope for creativity in their appearance at all.

Then along comes metrosexual giving men permission to step just a little bit, within predetermined limits.

Now, it seems, that has been removed and men are required to return to their original positions.

My wife and I have to go to a wedding this weekend. Wife spends ages picking out colour combinations. I spent about 10 minutes looking for my dark suit, white shirt, and my black shoes.

Why can't I wear something nice?

Why can't I wear a nice skirt, perhaps a floral print?

Why can't I wear some nice shoes, do up my face, just be a litle less drab?

Nah, I got the ugly growth. I gotta be quiet, stand like a prat and look as if I'm calm and ready to go off and die in a war.

I don't know. Why do I have to spend hours trying to find something appropriate to wear? Why can't I just wear something simple?

Why do my clothes have to be unique and make a statement?

Why do I have to put up with flimsy synthetic fabrics in gaudy colours and styles that cling uncomfortably in all the most embarrassing places and fall apart at the seams when washed?

Why do my "good" shoes have to be unnatural shapes that deform my feet and give me blisters?

Why do I have to smear stuff on my face to be socially acceptable?

Why don't my formal clothes have any pockets?!?!?!?