Metro-sexual and evolution of its fashion trends

Gone are the days when a man was considered macho or masculine only when he wore a body-fitting shirt that defined his ripped body and tight pants that accentuated his glutes.

Lately, several men have been adopting metro-sexual fashion trends, with men being qualified as macho even when flaunting a dress on the red-carpet with matching accessories and nailpaint to go. From David Beckham and Harry Style to our own closer home, Ranveer Singh, have been exploring their fashion preferences, challenging the stereotypical brackets of male and female fashion.

According to Wajahat Rather, the founder of clothing brand, Raffughar, quintessential metrosexual men are highly concerned with their wardrobe, hair and skincare routine, and fitness regimen. “In short, they’ve a softer side, at least in contrast to the traditional macho image many men aspire to have. He might be a regular at the salon, indulging in everything from massages to manicures without a second thought. He’s no stranger to designer names, frequents boutiques and greatly appreciates bettering himself in every way.”

Adding more information about metro-sexuality, Wajahat points out that though the term was coined in the early 1990s, it was not until the 2000s that metro-sexuality became a lifestyle for many men around the world. “Discussed enough in both the media and on the street today, in practicality the term was first used to describe the single man with a taste for shopping and one who was conscious about lifestyle,” he adds. “The metrosexual of the 1980s was only found in the fashion magazines, but the metrosexual of the ’90s was someone possibly found walking down the street. Then around early 2000s, metro-sexuality became recognised as a lifestyle with an English football icon catapulting on the media scene as a noteworthy metrosexual. The term, however, soon entered mainstream media and not soon after, major publications picked up on it. Suddenly, metrosexual men were everywhere.”