The rebirth of cool

I read somewhere that socially and economically, "metrosexuality" is viewed as an important trend but after a few years, companies may decide to market a different sort of image and shift away from the importance of drawing too strong a connection between success and style. The idea that you will not be successful if you don't match your physical image to that end is sad, but in today's world, it's a fact! So, I seriously doubt that this type of marketing technique could ever become obsolete. It's all tied into popular culture and what we hype as the new cool or what now has the coveted it factor. I admit that when I meet someone new, I am all too aware of their physical appearance and how they present themselves. Perhaps I am not the best person to be commenting on this subject, as I do work in the fashion industry, where I am constantly faced with what I deem the "beautiful people" and work directly with the manufacturers that perpetuate the superficial elements that go into what makes up the "metrosexual".
Metrosexuality has come out of the closet and has thrown itself onto the untapped market of the young unkempt straight guy, sucking out his ever-so-passe notions of anxiety towards waxing, indifference towards style and his contempt for the gay man's success in attracting females with his dance moves. This is just one take on the movement, but a pretty accurate one at that. I can recall, only a few years ago, how I used to look to my few gay male friends for their views and advice on everything from fashion to decor, even what grooming products to use. Now, the entire notion of straight guys having days out at the spa, shopping and then brunching together in a smokeless environment, are all considered the new norm. I see straight men with their girlfriends trying on the latest fashions with abandon, mixing and matching colors that would have the Queer Eye guys jumping for joy. Remember how Joey on Friends reacted when he accidentally mistook a woman's purse for a man's bag...or when Seinfeld coined the phrase "men's carry-all" and tried to cover up it's real intent by shouting it's European?! It's truly amazing how men are carefully guided by skilled marketing to fantastic worlds of trendier clothes and style, higher standards in grooming but can't admit to their origins. Even the geniuses behind South Park got into the act and created a hilarious send up of all things "metrosexual", taking shots at this phenomenon, not only targeting the men of the town, but the nine year old boys as well. Stan gets beaten up on the playground when some of the kids discover he isn't using any "product" or following any of the movements criteria. Cartman even suggests holding a "metro-pride parade" after one of the boys father's believes that the women of the town have become metro-phobic!
It's clear that fashion forward images will continue to emerge in even more aggressive ways as time goes on. Films, print ads and tv will continue to assist straight culture to cross over into the gay uber world. It's pretty evident that the amount of product that is created every millisecond grows larger and seemingly more important, with everything from home decor, magazines, health and beauty products, music and personal listening devices, travel, cars, accessories, restaurants, clothing, shoes and yes, even the way we speak... all now commonplace for the gay influence. It used to be deemed highly inappropriate for a guy to express himself in a "gay" voice, trying to get a rather femme point across. Now, it's totally acceptable and gets a laugh but for all the right reasons. I find it fascinating that straight guys are striking out there and experimenting with what gay guys have been successfully doing all along. It's amusing to me and my girlfiends now when we meet a new guy and he's painfully aware of his appearance and surroundings...we have to ask: is he?
(Not that there's anything wrong with that!)