By Nicole Seymour
Complete with carrier bags, Banana Republic attire, perfectly messed hair, Nordstrom-caliber shoes and as much care for their looks as a female, the metrosexual trend is present among BYU males.
Ryan Roche, 22, a sophomore from Parma, Idaho, studying business management, said from what he sees, about 40 percent of guys around campus sport the metrosexual, high-maintenance look.
Sara Petersen, 20, a senior from Kaysville, Utah, studying psychology, said she has several friends that she would classify as “metro.”
“To me, it”s any [guy] who cares about his appearance, it doesn”t necessarily mean that he”s gay, of course,” Petersen said. “But, it”s their lifestyle, they take time to do their hair in the morning, they look in the mirror — they”re kind of vain.”
While some see metrosexuality as tied to vain self-love, those categorized as metrosexual say it is just a matter of taking care of their selves.
“I like to care for myself because it feels better and gives you a level of confidence that you”re trying to look your best,” said Cam, a BYU student.
Petersen said metrosexual guys at BYU tend to wear more fitted clothes to show off their bodies and they often go for the trendy look. She said another trademark is the blue dress shirt.
“I like collared shirts, I have a lot of those,” said Ryan West, 23, a UVSC student. “My shoes always match my belt and I like to buy scarfs.”
He would say he dresses nicer than the average guy.
West classifies males into three categories according to their dress: “Those who just don”t care, those that just buy what”s on the cover of GQ magazine and those that just dress well.”
According to his scale, West said he is a type 3 dresser, he has a real sense of style — but he doesn”t want to seem boastful. He shops whenever he has the money to spare.
Cam enjoys shopping for fun about once a week, but he doesn”t make purchases so frequently.
He describes his style as kind of preppy, with button-up shirts and nice looking clothes.
“I”m really into Ralph Lauren, stuff that”s colorful or just a different style,” Cam said.
He said people usually notice his shoes.
“I like buying shoes because someone once told me on my mission that the most important things for first appearances are good shoes and a nice haircut,” he said. “So I like to have clean, good-looking shoes that are a little different.”
As Rob Greer, 21, a sophomore from Paul, Idaho, studying business management, said shopping is a pastime that sets a metrosexual apart from the other guys.
“I work at a shoe store and whenever they go in there, they tend to spend more than five minutes and they see some shoes they like and they say ”oh, this is totally me,”” Greer said.
Both Roche and Greer agree that metrosexuals can tell a girl what looks good or what they can do with their hair different.
Likewise, West said he likes to take a lot of fashion advice from girls and he enjoys shopping with people, even if it is just window-shopping.
As they pulled out a picture, Roche and Greer referred to a metrosexual haircut that many models are now wearing, but they say they see that haircut around BYU too.
“It”s where guys pull their hair forward with the wet look and it comes over their eye, that is definite metrosexual,” Roche said. “Any guy that uses a curling iron on his hair is a definite metro.”
Petersen said the friends she classifies as metrosexual jump at the chance to treat their selves with manicures and facials.
For the sake of feeling and looking his best, Cam said he takes care of himself by doing exfoliating facemasks once a week, shaving his legs and even wearing scented lotion.
As Petersen said, “They take care of themselves, they pamper their bodies.”
She admits she finds metrosexuals more attractive than the average guy. She said they tend to go out on nicer dates; they like to dine out at fancy restaurants and she appreciates how well they take care of themselves.
“But I think there”s a line that needs to be drawn,” Petersen said with a laugh. “Like if they”re more worried about their hair than me — well, that”s a little too much.”
As others have pointed out that Cam really takes care of himself, he isn”t bothered.
“I”m really comfortable with my masculinity and myself so I don”t really do things to impress people,” he said. “So, I don”t feel like it”s a problem.”
