According to one style commentator, Retrosexual is the new Metrosexual when it comes to style.
While years past witnessed a rise in salon savvy, style-concsious men, the retrosexual is the opposite. Retrosexuals prefer to work on the car over a day in the spa. They abandon Italian style for more traditional men's apparel.
Style commentator John Davidson told the Scotsman, "There is a feeling that people are looking for something to go in place of the metrosexual idea. Daniel Craig in Bond is just one example of the move, but think also about other film stars such as Gary Cooper, Errol Flynn and Jimmy Stewart. The idea is to try and be more rounded than a metrosexual, not so obviously into moisturising. Some celebrities are moving with the trend, Brat Pitt was a metrosexual, but he has since rebranded himself as a retrosexual."
Picture from: JCrew's 2007 Online Catalog
Rise of the Retrosexual
Retro Not Metro
Trend Themes
1. Return to Traditional Men's Fashion - This trend towards more traditional men's apparel presents an opportunity for designers and retailers to tap into demand for vintage clothing and classic styles.
2. Shift in Masculine Beauty Standards - The rise of the retrosexual indicates a potential shift away from the focus on manicured appearances and towards more rugged, natural looks, creating opportunities for grooming and personal care brands to redefine masculine beauty standards.
3. Rejection of Conventional Gender Norms - The rise of retrosexuals suggests a potential rejection of traditional gender norms and opens up opportunities for fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands to create unisex products and blur gender lines in their marketing and branding efforts.
Industry Implications
1. Men's Fashion - The rise of the retrosexual trend presents opportunities for established and up-and-coming fashion brands to create and market classic, vintage-inspired clothing designed for men who reject the metrosexual look and prefer timeless styles.
2. Grooming and Personal Care - With the rise of retrosexuals, grooming and personal care brands can incorporate natural ingredients and rugged packaging to cater to men's desires for a more rough-and-tumble beauty regimen.
3. Gender-neutral Fashion and Beauty - The rise of the retrosexual trend highlights a shift in gender norms and a desire for gender-neutral fashion and beauty products; brands can tap into this by creating more inclusive, unisex products and marketing efforts.