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Christmas Desires: Men's Grooming

Forget labels such metrosexual and menergy (or whatever the buzzword de jour happens to be), the modern male concentrates on his looks and appearance with a savoir-faire not seen since the English Regency era. But when it comes to Christmas, the grooming products on the markets for men pale in significance in comparison to those available to the fairer sex.

So what grooming products should you give the man in your life for Christmas?

Menergy 1981 hit, now about Real Men

That time of year is around again, you know when they say that now finally Metrosexuals are out and real men are back in. This time real men have their own term, "Menergy". As far as I'm concerned being a real man never really went out but apparently, every man everwhere for the past few years has been running around looking androgynous and getting facials. I must have missed the memo and lived under a rock while this was happening. So what's this Menergy stuff all about? Well Daniel posted this article in the forum;

Move over, metrosexual. Make room for the manly man - and all that implies in terms of looks, attitude and behavior.

The testosterone count is skyrocketing, everywhere from Madison Avenue and prime-time TV to the furry faces of Hollywood's biggest studs.

Last month, The New York Times' Horacio Silva used the term "menergy" to describe the "anti-metrosexual, hypermasculine vigor coursing through men's wear" during Milan Fashion Week. He went on to cheekily illustrate the point: "Seriously, the menergy at Dolce & Gabbana was palpable."

Same goes for George Clooney's face. Hirsuteness is, after all, a sign of masculinity - and not just on the sitcom "Cavemen," which debuts tonight. Oscar winner Clooney has traded his pretty-boy sleek cheeks for near-Neanderthal macho. Odds are his salt-and-pepper whiskers will spark more Hollywood hotties to retire the razor.

Benicio Del Toro has taken the hint, from the looks of Esquire's October issue. The babe-candy actor is fur-faced in a crisp white shirt, tie and a classic blue jacket.

"The pendulum is always swinging when it comes to masculinity," says style watcher Robert Verdi, who has observed menergy on the covers and pages of Men's Vogue and Details. "The visual language being communicated, whether it's clothes to poses, is a return to real men."

[snipped, there's more in the fashion forums]

Tom Ford the original Menergiser

strictlymensbusiness.com.au opens its doors

Strictlymensbusiness.com.au, which opened its doors this month, gives guys an online channel through which to shop. Their simple system comes as a warm welcome to the millions of guys that find shopping for personal care products through traditional channels overwhelming or intimidating.