Alejandra "Metrosexual Wife" V. / June 26, 2003 1:28 PM

I just posted on my site how my husband is a total "metrosexual." I'd give various examples of how and why, but he'd probably kick my ass with his designer shoe! Ha!

Andrew / June 26, 2003 1:48 PM

I prefer to think of myself as ambiguously straight.

I hate putting styling stuff in my hair -- it just feels nasty. My hair stays "just so" because it stays however it dries, not because I put three different ypes of hair glue in it.

ng / June 26, 2003 4:47 PM

I know several men who I can only describe as 'flaming heterosexuals'. It's nice to finally have a slightly better term.

Kris / June 26, 2003 5:25 PM

Damn metrosexuals. They only confuse those of us who are actually gay...

Actually, Miranda and I had a brief exchange about this over at her blog:
http://www.mirandala.org/blog/archives/000256.html#000256
We wondered if calling this a "phenomenon" and giving it a name isn't a way of allowing hetero men to participate in non-traditional gender roles, without getting mixed up with those gay men in the box labeled 'The Other.' Straight men can now indulge in Diesel, Clinique, and Prada, and if anyone questions them they can say, "No, no, I'm not gay, I'm Metrosexual! Look, the Times wrote a story on us, so it's legitimate!" Why is this such a big deal, anyway? I'm a gay man who goes to sports bars and Supercuts. Where's my Times story?

Cinnamon / June 26, 2003 5:48 PM

And, I'm a straight chick who rarely wears make-up, always wears comfortable shoes, but doesn't feel drawn to women in a sexual way. Where's my word? What am I? I feel so left out.

miss ellen / June 26, 2003 5:54 PM

cinnamon,
that described me to a tee! i loves me some comfy shoes ;)

oh, and, i want to pick-ax every girl i see in those damn pointy shoes - can that trend go away PLEASE? beware, smellen's on a pointy-shoe rampage. bwah-ha-ha.

Naz "Miscellaneous" H. / June 26, 2003 6:03 PM

Labels, labels, labels. It's sort of stupid. I believe I've been mistaken for being gay appearance wise, mostly because I wear fitting clothes and like to dress nice and yes I do like fashion. But big deal. I think people should do what they want. If guys want to wax their backs and legs, go for it. If women stop shaving theirs, go for it.

In this day and age, there are no clear cuts, there are no definites, it's amazing how varied and complex people are today. Which makes for interesting times.

You could always pout some Haterade on the next paper copy of the NYT you see.

Paul / June 27, 2003 8:48 AM

Cinnamon: feterosexual. (cough)

Wendy / June 27, 2003 11:21 AM

If a guy can afford to buy Clinique and Kiehl's and all kinds of fancy-ass designer stuff, the question I'd be asking is not, "are you gay or straight?" but "will you be my daddy?"

Naz "Daddy-in-training" H. / June 27, 2003 12:06 PM

Wendy, that is the best!

Kevin / June 27, 2003 12:56 PM

Metrosexual? YHGTOK.

Jeans, T-Shirt, Bar of Dial and a lake.

Guess not.

Wendy "the world's only female go-go boy" Mc. / June 27, 2003 2:28 PM

Seriously. I need me some metro bling bling.

WizofOdds / June 27, 2003 3:11 PM

Easily one of the most ignorant articles I've ever seen in the New York Times. Saying men who have excellent taste and good hygiene have "homosexual tendencies," or however you put it is the same as saying white kids who use slang and poor diction and carry a gun have "black guy tendencies." This is just another of many tricks straight dudes use to try and convince women they're sensitive and not interested in sex.

When I have the money and the time, I'm an excellent dresser. You know who else were excellent dressers? Antonino "Joe Batters," Accardo, John Gotti, and Harry S Truman.

Just more evidence of how much damage Will & Grace is doing to the image of homosexual men. The vast majority of gay men I'm friends with or have worked with were actually pretty "manly," and not exceptional dressers--just perhaps inclined towards tighter shirts.

Ladies, don't be fooled!

stephen / June 27, 2003 3:12 PM

Remember the wise words of Chuck Palahniuk:
"You are not a beautiful snowflake."

Honestly, half of the NYT story was basically guys willing to spend some cash to take care of themselves and look good. Does this require a label? No. It's an egotistical thing, the label. I say go with what you got. If that's Kiehl's and Diesel, great, or if its Dial and some gap levis you got fer 15 bucks, rock on Chicago.

Seriously though, Kiehl's is the shit. It's expensive for a reason. And how many more skins are you gonna get, anyway?

Naz "Heh?" H. / June 27, 2003 3:44 PM

I don't even know what Kiehl's is.

Kevin / June 27, 2003 7:20 PM

"Will & Grace" is to homosexuality what Al Hirschfeld is to the human face. And what Naz said the first time. Hell, what everybody said.

If good hygeine is "gay" then I'm a flamer.

Paul "Not Quite a Metrosexual, To Be Sure" M. / June 28, 2003 11:31 AM

Isn't Kiehl's that department store located in many malls?

Jason "MIA" S. / July 21, 2003 6:52 PM

Not only does this "Metrosexual" thing make me roll my eyes, I'm a little concerned, then, about what "Rurasexual" connotes.

Or what would the word be? Rurasexual, or ruralsexual? Burbosexual? Sticksual?

Raz Levin / August 12, 2003 3:01 PM

hi im from long island. im definetly a metrosexual.i go to the beauty salon twice a week. i get my nails done, wax my llegs and back, and get my hair done.i wear only brand names such as armani,prada,diesl and others. i have a girlfriend but i think i might be a "homo" but i cant tell..is it ok to be gay now a days?

anon / September 9, 2003 4:32 PM

Metrosexuals... totally meaningless contrived word.

My friends and I call them "mirls", and we've been doing that a lot longer than that article has been around. It works for us.

NYT: Feh, I say. Feh.

Dan / May 29, 2004 1:11 AM

I am a gay man and do not care about my clothes and shoes because I look good naked, and thats all that matters!