Thread: Isn't this all a bit foppish?

Let's see...
12 years in the U.S. Army, 4 of which were spent smelling like musty armpit and dirty butt crack.
Now i'm in some sort of quasi-"corporate america", so i can't smell like the motorpool anymore.
fop? you tell me, my "bodywash" doubles as shampoo for my very low cut hair. true, i use sandlewood soap to shave with, and my aftershave is bay rum.
i like to look my best just as much as the next pretty boy. i'm just lazy so i go for the bare minimum unless i'm trying to impress someone (lucky me, i don't respect anyone's opinion enough to do that)

Originally Posted by clrobert60

Manicures, pedicures, facials and the like are for women. The most thought I give to my appearance (aside from the inevitable when I look in the mirror first thing in the morning ) is to "look respectable". Can't really define that but I know what it is and it doesn't have anything to do with skin food, buffing or butters.

Have you ever had a proper manicure or pedicure? They are more about the health of your skin and nails than looking good for others. Manicures ensure you do not have excessive cuticle growth, which leads to hand-nails (thus making every keystroke with that finger a pain), that your nails are clean and smooth (thus not snagging your necktie...or your wife's hose/blouse/other expensive fabric item). Same goes for pedicures - clean, well-trimmed nails, smooth feet (ever rub you heel against your wife in bed and go deaf from the resulting scream?)...also, if you can find a pedicurist who does reflexology, the foot massage can do wonders to relax you. When I was living in Asia, this was the norm. There is nothing like having a lovely Asian woman (feel free to insert sexist rant here if you feel the need) cleaning your hands, massaging them, then doing your feet. You feel invigorated and are ready to tackle the world again. Combine this with a Thai or Shiatsu massage and you'll never want to leave.

It is only within the last 40+ years that being well-groomed became equated with being foppish or effeminate. Most of the manly barber shops we all long for had manicurists. Clean nails, nourished skin, feet that cannot double as sanders in the workshop, and not smelling like you just drove a heard from Waco to KC (unless, of course you DID just drive a herd in from Waco). Nothing beats smelling clean, but a little cologne doesn't hurt...the operative word being "little"...some on your bodies pulse points, no more. Also, men do not have shiny nails, only clean and buffed. Whether you use moisturizer, creams, etc. depends on your skin. If your face is often mistaken for unclaimed luggage or oil sheiks are following you around in hopes of sinking well, you may need something more than just soap.

Colognes, creams, etc. are merely an expression of your mood, like having many different fountain pens, pipes, neckties, rings (never more than 2 - incl. the wedding ring - I wear my Master Mason's ring on my right hand and a star ruby or a sapphire ring on my left....pinkie rings - up to you, but not everyone can pull wearing it off without looking like an extra from the Sopranos),....or razors.

A lot of the products are geared toward "marketing victims"...I stick with the basics - moisturizing or oil-reducing face soap, moisturizing balm for after shaving, some tonic or witch hazel for after shaving, cologne, hand lotion in the winter. If you have skin blemishes or problems with clogged pores (leading to blackheads and zits) a peel off mask can help...tweezers to get the errant hairs out of your ears, off your nose...and remember, they are called eye brows-there should be two of them!

(On an aside, I've always wanted to set up a table in a high-department store cosmetic section, and while wearing a white lab coat, tout the latest in exfoliation...then whip out a Craftsman Belt-sander...I wonder how many takers I would get?)

Good grooming should be for your benefit, not to impress others (that is foppish). Polished shoes, clean hands and nails, a good shave, well-trimmed hair, beard, etc., pressed shirt/trousers, a properly knotted tie (if you wear one)...good manners - these are the marks of a gentleman and are not foppish. It is also about how you carry yourself - I have seen slobs in $1,000 suits and I have seen well-groomed and courteous farmers in dirty overalls.

Gentlemen have style; fops have fashion.

When in doubt, follow Cary Grant or Gregory Peck's lead (Fred Astaire for formal occasions).

Listen guys I am only warning you because I care. This excessive use of mens "beauty" will be the end of you!
There was a gentleman on our boards for awhile who went too far with all of these products! Last I heard he was seen in paris...well, just don't let this happen to you...He was a dear friend also.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

One brush, a few soaps, I wash my hair with the same soap I wash my body with, no hair products, no colognes or AS and I brush my teeth with baking soda mixed with the same soap I wash my hair and body with. I guess that's pretty simple. I likes it that way.

Chris L

Originally Posted by M1ke

Hell with drawing the line. I buy what i want, use what i want when i want.

Call me any of the stereotypical labels. I don't care. You don't pay my bills.

Mr. Avery, this wasn't ment towards you specifically. was just a general statement articulating that no one should worry about what others think. do what makes you happy.

+1 for M1ke

Check out my rotation. and planning to get more and more..
About your final question:
Also are their any men left with simple tastes and simple wants anymore or are we all so self obsessed these days?

Simple taste? What is simple taste? Here is one example for that
Shaving den:
Soap: Good old Williams soap
Brush : check out the China cheapie in here
and only ONE razor
no aftershaves, deodorants or things what smells somehow.
one nail clipper
one shampoo

That's it. To keep yourself clean you don't need more and everything else makes you look a dandy.
Is that what you meant?

I draw it at the feminine care isle at the store, and yes mark your depends are awfully close to it, so from where I stand it looks you've crossed it! and some more for emphasis !!!!!!!!

Jimbo, I personally don't mind the 17yr olds, but you've got a wife so I understand your position and respect your right to self preservation....

If you guys want to know about my smelly stuff my favorites are mostly about 100 years old. If a luxury product survives that long it's because of something more than a fad.
A lot of my clothes I think you'd consider pretty metrosexual (fcuk would do that to you), but hey I've got a good figure no need to hide it... plus I can always resort to the excuse of being european.

Who do I do it for? I guess for me and the ladies, which I guess is again for me

No, I ain't no simple man, and my tastes are not simple either. Please send your gift of fine cognac to my address.

Originally Posted by WireBeard

Have you ever had a proper manicure or pedicure? They are more about the health of your skin and nails than looking good for others. Manicures ensure you do not have excessive cuticle growth, which leads to hand-nails (thus making every keystroke with that finger a pain), that your nails are clean and smooth (thus not snagging your necktie...or your wife's hose/blouse/other expensive fabric item). Same goes for pedicures - clean, well-trimmed nails, smooth feet (ever rub you heel against your wife in bed and go deaf from the resulting scream?)...also, if you can find a pedicurist who does reflexology, the foot massage can do wonders to relax you. When I was living in Asia, this was the norm. There is nothing like having a lovely Asian woman (feel free to insert sexist rant here if you feel the need) cleaning your hands, massaging them, then doing your feet. You feel invigorated and are ready to tackle the world again. Combine this with a Thai or Shiatsu massage and you'll never want to leave.

It is only within the last 40+ years that being well-groomed became equated with being foppish or effeminate. Most of the manly barber shops we all long for had manicurists. Clean nails, nourished skin, feet that cannot double as sanders in the workshop, and not smelling like you just drove a heard from Waco to KC (unless, of course you DID just drive a herd in from Waco). Nothing beats smelling clean, but a little cologne doesn't hurt...the operative word being "little"...some on your bodies pulse points, no more. Also, men do not have shiny nails, only clean and buffed. Whether you use moisturizer, creams, etc. depends on your skin. If your face is often mistaken for unclaimed luggage or oil sheiks are following you around in hopes of sinking well, you may need something more than just soap.

Colognes, creams, etc. are merely an expression of your mood, like having many different fountain pens, pipes, neckties, rings (never more than 2 - incl. the wedding ring - I wear my Master Mason's ring on my right hand and a star ruby or a sapphire ring on my left....pinkie rings - up to you, but not everyone can pull wearing it off without looking like an extra from the Sopranos),....or razors.

A lot of the products are geared toward "marketing victims"...I stick with the basics - moisturizing or oil-reducing face soap, moisturizing balm for after shaving, some tonic or witch hazel for after shaving, cologne, hand lotion in the winter. If you have skin blemishes or problems with clogged pores (leading to blackheads and zits) a peel off mask can help...tweezers to get the errant hairs out of your ears, off your nose...and remember, they are called eye brows-there should be two of them!

(On an aside, I've always wanted to set up a table in a high-department store cosmetic section, and while wearing a white lab coat, tout the latest in exfoliation...then whip out a Craftsman Belt-sander...I wonder how many takers I would get?)

Good grooming should be for your benefit, not to impress others (that is foppish). Polished shoes, clean hands and nails, a good shave, well-trimmed hair, beard, etc., pressed shirt/trousers, a properly knotted tie (if you wear one)...good manners - these are the marks of a gentleman and are not foppish. It is also about how you carry yourself - I have seen slobs in $1,000 suits and I have seen well-groomed and courteous farmers in dirty overalls.

Gentlemen have style; fops have fashion.

When in doubt, follow Cary Grant or Gregory Peck's lead (Fred Astaire for formal occasions).

Well said! I feel the same, I just didn't care to write a book over it :P

Originally Posted by Quick Orange

Have you ever had a pedicure or a facial? Obviously you don't get it for beauty purposes, but it makes your feet and face feel pretty damn good. The added bonus is that if you do it with your significant other, she'll brag about you to her friends. This helps immensely in times of need (see Ray G's thread about Old Spice).

No, I've never had either. My wife tells me the same thing - it feels good. I can't see myself doing it but I didn't intend to cast aspersions on anyone who does. Shouldn't have said the bit about them being "for women", I don't really believe that.

My wife could care less. She already thinks that I am nuts for spending well in excess of five grand to strap over 200 lbs of equipment on and jump in the ocean. But to spend hundreds of dollars on a sharp piece of metal that does what an eleven buck shavette would.....and it never sees the social light of day. Now thats just insane. AND

To do it repeatedly is ADDICTION. I expect to be Baker Acted any moment. And I still haven't ordered my
PRESHARPENED DOVO "Bergischer Lowe" 5/8

So, foppish or not. its an insane addiction that can lead to paranoia, and institutionalization So be careful out there!

Growing up in the fifties with John Wayne and Gary Cooper westerns giving me my impression of what a 'real man' should be I didn't use any perfume, AS or even deodorant. Twenty years of ironwork beginning in my teens and then becoming a pro tattooer for the past twenty, I still had no men's grooming products and used the same Hoffritz badger brush lathering with the bar soap I washed my face with since 1973.

Now after being corrupted by these shaving forums I have a flock of shaving brushes, glycerin and triple milled soaps, creams, AS and even a couple of EDTs. I like all of this stuff a lot and it has made my life a bit richer and my bank account a bit poorer. Not up to the level of fop though ........ yet.