Lumberjacks en vogue

Paul Bunyan, Modern-Day Sex Symbol:

On city streets, too, trends in scruff have reached new levels of unruliness, a backlash, some beard enthusiasts say, against the heightened grooming expectations that were unleashed with the rise of metrosexuality as a cultural trend. Men both straight and gay, it appears, want to feel rough and manly.

Other designers who appeared in scruffy beards during Fashion Week included Brian Kirkby of Boudicca, Nathan Jenden and Matthew Williamson. Santino Rice gave the look national exposure on “Project Runway” this season, with weekly variations. Among the models that Ralph Lauren cast in his men’s show was a wildly bearded young man with long tresses, like Brad Pitt circa 2002.

And with their fully furry chins Ariel Foxman and Bruce Pask, the editor in chief and the style director, respectively, of Cargo magazine, the metrosexual manifesto, seem now to be endorsing a lumberjack ideal.

I had no idea there were “beard enthusiasts”, implying that the term isn’t merely another way of saying “guys with beards”. Maybe this means that rural Oregonians will finally have their day in the fashion sun. I am surprised that they didn’t mention the king of beards, comedian Zach Galifianakis, who pulls off the “looks like I haven’t touched a comb or razor in years” look where so many have failed, including most college students.

Nonetheless I pray daily that the neckbeard will never become trendy, such an occurrence being one of thirteen signaling the end times.