LIFESTYLE – LORHUES

Today’s ‘Metrosexual’ Man – Blending Classic with the Modern!

Lifestyle Choices

“The eyes might be the window to the soul, but clothing and accessories are the doors leading to just about everywhere else” ~ Lorenzo

According to the journalist Mark Simpson, the metrosexual is dead. Long live the ‘spornosexual’. Is he right?

Personally, I disagree. Athough there’s a growing number of men doing all it takes to be rewarded with ripped bodies, there are many others who are still very much more focused on clothing, accessories, the occasional keep-fit sessions, grooming and less of extreme body workouts.

Being the author of both terms does give Mark Simpson the license to define them as he deems fit. However his take on the metrosexual suggests a rather narcisstic personality, self-loving, “the single young man with a high disposable income, living or working in the city {because that’s where all the best shops are}”, seems to me to be erroneous given that not every man who is conscious of their outward appearance and grooming have high disposable income, live or work only in the cities and somewhat narcissistic.

There is an increasingly generalized influence on men by a feminized culture which educates men that masculinity has suddenly become toxic and therefore being more feminized is the New Man! This doctrine cuts across every economic and social background and has an impact on the perception of most men on how society views them. There are others who are simply expressing themselves as they know how, irrespective of how much they have at their disposal.

Mark further argues that the death of the metro man has unleashed the ‘spornosexual’, a blend of sport, porn and metrosexual.

The spornosexual is seen as the man concerned with his personal appearance such as grooming and fashion, but also keen to emphasize a fit, virile and toned body. He is the man who works out daily at the gym, building those oiled six packs ready for a selfie!

In many respects I do agree with Simpson on the rise of the spornosexual, however I believe the metro man is alive and well. I am one!

Some have also argued in the past, and perhaps many still do today, that men who take absolute pleasure in grooming and physical appearance exhibit a ‘gayness’ or ‘girly’ nature. This may be right for some. But for many, it is the new age hetero-man being conscious of self, wanting to be everything and be that which he is. There are also gays who are proud of themselves and are equally as confident expressing themselves without limitations. It is all about self-discovery and boldness to be as you choose, by way of your physical appearance.

The explosion of male grooming products and advertisements showing body perfection, has also created an awakening in today’s males, that they can present themselves as best as they want without guilt.

Although society does put pressure on men to engage with their more feminine qualities, to be more effeminate, it should not in any way, condemn men who, though have been feminized somewhat, are still able to express manly tendencies. Masculinity should not be confined only to aggression and patriarchy, but rather it is the quality that defines manhood.

I remember some years ago walking into a shop and picking up a bottle of the Original Old Spice Aftershave. Why? I needed to be reminded of that distinctive classic masculine smell, the smell of the man’s man.

Acknowledging one’s softer side such as outward show of emotion, being more caring and accommodating, less brutish and more nurturing, amongst others, should not strip one of one’s masculinity.

Recognising these feminine personalities in oneself and yet exuding strong manly qualities, especially in one’s bold and confident physical appearance, only confirms a man who has successfully struck a balance between the classic and the modern.

Today’s metro man is indeed like Old Spice. He exudes masculinity and is distinctive. He has been around and knows the game. He is self-aware and meets the challenges of being a man in today’s world.

The Metrosexual is very much alive and awake. He is the quintessential gentleman, bold enough to make a statement that he has arrived, yet subtle enough to not wreck the party.

He exhibits a manly confidence and a posturing which suggests he is aware of his time and will do the needful to achieve his goals.

Either you are a metrosexual, spornosexual or non-metro, what’s really important is self-identification. Be who you really want to be. Break the chain and feel release. Feel confident to represent yourself and no one else!

Be distinctive!!! Have your own style and rock it with confidence!!

#Updated. First Published on 9th January, 2017

Travelling with Underage Children!

Most of my holidays/exploring abroad are usually with my two little daughters. We always have an amazing time together, visiting great sights and experiencing new cultures and people.

I consider travelling a form of education for my daughters, where learning and exploring are a part of understanding and developing knowledge of the peoples and cultures of our world, especially in our increasingly more multicultural societies. We are Londoners after all, arguably one of the most diverse cities in the world.

Getting them appreciating where many of their classmates came from is an eye-opener for them as it provides them a better insight of their friends’ cultural backgrounds.

Sometimes though, having young children on holiday with you means you have to shut your eyes to certain events and activities you would have loved immensely. It can be rather frustrating lol.

On a recent trip to Cologne, Germany, I had one of the most amusing moments that got me wishing my girls were adults already.

We often take walks down the Rhein River Promenade, watching folks go by, tourists taking pictures, many in festive moods, drinking, singing and dancing, and lovers in tender embrace.

Walking towards the Rhein River Promenade, Cologne

I had promised the girls, on a previous visit to Cologne, we would go on a cruise up the River on one of those river cruise boats that had on-board restaurants and bars when next we visited.

So, on this beautiful evening, we were standing on the Promenade watching a few cruise boats going up and down the Rhein. One caught my attention. It was a huge tourboat playing loud Dance music. There was a massive party going on with lots of people singing, dancing and drinking. It was electric!

I got my phone out and began recording the scene. Within five minutes the tourboat docked and more people started getting on-board. My girls turned to me and with excitement, said, “daddy let’s go”, pulling my hand and dragging me towards the entry point, where other revellers were walking up towards the boat.

As they pulled me closer, I gave it a brief thought and decided to go see the possibility of joining the party. Deep within me I knew this was not going to end well for the girls. Looked like an ‘Adult-Only party’ 😂.

We walked boldly to the docking point where this rather youthful lad was standing at the entrance, ushering ravers on-board and letting others off. He looked not older than 18!!!

Got to him with my two escorts in tow. I asked if it was possible to join the party and how much it would cost me and my girls, smiling rather sheepishly. Looking at me with concern, he smiled back at me and in very hurried English, stated that the party was for 18 years and older only!!

“Dang”, I said, turning to my girls and calmly explaining to a very disappointed duo that they’d have to wait till they turned 18 to enjoy more adult stuff. Oh well, to say I didn’t feel I had missed out on some big party is putting it mildly 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.

The Shabby Chic Culture – A Fast Growing Trend

Over the years, there has been an explosion of a culture, or perhaps a movement, in interior decor, of furniture and furnishings, known commonly as the Shabby chic look, which seamlessly blends the old with the modern, resulting in a distressed, tired, yet modernistic appearance.

This style was quite popular in the 1980s amongst modern Bohemians and Artisans in the United Kingdom who challenged the fashionable and expensive culture of the upper middle classes with their unconventional, non-bourgeois style.

Today, it is well-loved in the urban community, with many fashion-savvy folks, ‘urbanistas’, keen to evoke a more rustic decor than an ostentatiously lavish, gleamy look.

The Shabby chic style does remind one of those old English country houses where you find well-worn Chinz sofas, heavy fleur de lis curtains showing wear, embroidered curtains whose gold material and threads have faded into dull creamy colours, of old French chateaux and farm houses where most of the paint have peeled off the external walls and hardwood furniture, revealing original wood or a blend of discolourations, or even of the 18th century Swedish painted decoration.

Conservative yet bold, the Shabby chic culture represents a very cosmopolitan take on the vintage, of age and well-used, yet stylish, trendy and exuding great taste.

Recycling old fabrics and furniture is very much part of the Shabby chic culture.

I fell in love with the look when, many years ago, I holidayed with my family in the village of Maffliers in the Val-d’Oise department in Île-de-France in Northern France.

There, I was fascinated by the old, faded-looking beautiful French buildings lining the narrow streets and in one home I was invited into for a drink, I was blown away by an old chaise longue. The piece had this time-worn heavily embroidered, silk-like material covering. But what caught my attention was the old Satin blue paint peeling off the entire wooden leg surface, exposing a rather dull creamy-coloured hard wood underneath. The design on the legs of the furniture was ancient-looking, very Gothic. The material covering the chaise longue looked tired but adorable. I fell in love!!

That was my Shabby chic awakening moment!!

Now I’m always looking out to rediscover that feeling in every piece I come across.

Here’s one I designed and hand-painted recently:

If you haven’t been bitten by the shabby chic bug just yet, you just wait, there’s no escaping it!

screenshot_20170115-140316 — An old building typical of many structures I saw and fell in love with in Maffliers, a French village in the Val-d’Oise department in Île-de-France in northern France. This was the little village where I fell deeply in love with the shabby chic culture.

A View through the Wire ~ A Short Story pt2

A View through the Wire ~ A SHORT Story

Samantha rolled off the bed, suddenly aware how late it was. ‘Gosh!!, that was meant to be a short nap!’. It was now after two in the afternoon and she had slept for good three hours. She looked around and wondered where Jim was. She could still smell his masculine scent on the sheets. Throwing on her housecoat, she walked lazily into the bathroom and turned on the tap. “A good hot soak is what I need right now”, she thought. She looked out the little window, misty from the freezing cold outside, and wondered why loving was such a painful experience. Suddenly she felt vulnerable, like she was fighting a battle only she could lose.

She remembered that first night with Aileen, Joe and Kenya. It was a fun evening. Joe had just been promoted onto the company board and he and Aileen were ecstatic. Joe and Aileen were such great company. They all had been talking about relationships when suddenly Joe mentioned he was expecting a friend Jim who had just moved back to London from Brisbane with his two little daughters. He was a single dad, mid fourties and ready to mingle, so Joe believed.

Later on that evening when Jim walked into the bar and headed straight to their table, Samantha knew instantly there was something about this man. She immediately felt his eyes all over her, running through her length, and back to her eyes. She could see he was checking her out with such intensity that she suddenly felt naked, as though he already had a good peep into her very soul. She wanted to turn away as he drew closer to the table, eyes still fixed on her. It was like in a dream, like everything had stopped and she found herself trapped in a room with no escape. As he got to the table, hand stretched out to her for a handshake, she almost passed out. That was seven months.

As she soaked in her scented bathwater, still reminiscing on that first meeting, she wondered what future she could possibly build with Jim. She closed her eyes once again and let the sweet smell of lavender take her away into a world full of hopes and dreams.

Jim had left her to sleep and had buried himself in his work. ‘Damn!’ He swore under his breath. He loved that woman. She was everything he desired and wanted in his woman. He had abstained from having any intimate relationships for close to two years, focusing instead on being a dad and mum to his little princesses. They had formed a close relationship, he and his daughters, and he didn’t want anything to destroy the bond he had built with the girls. He loved them so much and was afraid starting a new relationship could alienate the girls. He knew at some point the girls would need a mother, so he had been told oftentimes by his mates. He was not sure if he wanted to change things as they were. He was beginning to enjoy his own company and space, until that night he set eyes on Samantha. Now seven months on, he knew he was in love, or was he?

To be continued……..

Himalayan Salt v Other Sea Salts & Table Salt

The other day while going through various posts on social media, I stumbled on a discussion between a couple of friends about the Pink Salt also known as the Himalayan Salt. It caught my attention because, several years ago, I was in a friend’s house and I had seen this pink salt. I thought nothing of it because I already used these salts in my bathe and was not really into the health stuff as I am today. However back then she did say she preferred these to the regular table salt or other sea salts in her dietary requirements.

I became quite interested again and popped into one of my locals and picked up some Himalayan Salt to try with my foods. The result so far has not been very noticeable, save for taste. I suppose it’s early days yet as I have only been adding this salt to my food only about 2 weeks or less. My past preference was the regular supermarket-bought Sea Salt.

Okay, I have since done a lot iof reading and comparing the Himalayan Salt with other commonly used Salts.

Here’s my findings:

The Himalayan Salt

Going by what Alanna Ketler of the Collective Evolution and many other commentators and experts write, the Himalayan Salt will be said to be one of nature’s gift to mankind. Not only does it contain same number of trace elements and minerals found in the human body, 84 last count, it also contains less quantity of Sodium per regular serving compared to other salts simply because of its unrefined nature and larger chunks. It is also said to store vibrational energy as the minerals are in colloidal form due to its unique cellular structure.

They also praise it’s detoxifying properties too, when added to your bathe.

Clinically speaking however, there has not been any conclusive evidence of its ‘superfoods’ qualities as touted by many. The composition of all Salts is 98-100% Sodium Chloride and about 0.2% of other minerals which may not have much health or nutritional benefits.

The Himalayan Salt, although unrefined and containing loads of trace elements needed by the body, most of these minerals are already present in many foods we already consume everyday. Such minerals include phosphorus, bromine, boron, zinc, amongst others.

Other Sea Salts

Sea Salt is made by the evaporating of seawater and like all salts, it is mostly composed of Sodium chloride. Sea Salt does also contain traces of minerals such as potassium, iron and zinc. It is also said that the darker forms of sea salt contain a higher concentration of ‘impurities’ and trace nutrients, which in my opinion, may also contain some trace elements of heavy metals like lead due to the pollution of oceans.

The regular table salt on the other hand is a highly refined form of salt with most of its elements removed. Also note that iodine is added to regular table salt.

My verdict

Whether it is Sea salt, table salt, kosher salt, flavored salt, fleur de sel, Hiwa Kai, Black Hawaiian Sea Salt, Kala Namak, ‘organic salt’ or Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, all basically contain the same chemical, sodium chloride. The difference is that they contain varying levels of other trace elements.

If you have an iodine deficiency, then the regular Table salt might be a better option as it is fortified with iodine which helps prevent goitre.

As for taste, I really love the Himalayan Salt and find its unrefined taste quite appealing. The verdict is still out on its nutritional and health benefits, but it’s detoxifying qualities also makes it a winner for me.

Whatever your preference, it is important ones level of salt intake is low for medical and health reasons.

Himalayan Salt v Other Sea Salts & Table Salt – My verdict