Eden Cafe

‘Retrosexual’ is phrase that more than one person has tried to coin – with varying degrees of success.

By far the most popular definition of ‘retrosexual’ is as the antonym of the ubiquitous term ‘metrosexual.’

Metrosexual describes a straight man who pays more slightly attention to fashion, style and personal grooming than society thinks he’s typically supposed to. Retrosexual, on the other hand, describes a man who’s the complete opposite.

It’s not that retrosexuals lack style – not exactly. It’s just that they have stereotypically more ‘masculine’ ideas about what ‘style’ is supposed to be. And how does this translate into real-world ‘retrosexual fashion?’

On casual occasions, think flannel, loose fit jeans and football jerseys: all the accoutrements of practicality, rather than style. A retrosexual’s weekend wardrobe is generally assembled on the basis of the following criteria:

· Practicality: Flannel shirts, loose-fit jeans, sneakers and ‘wrinkle-free’ shirts.
· Cost: Levi 501s that are two sizes too big, but only $15 on sale.
· Coolness: A football jersey doesn’t need to be stylish if it was the same one worn by kicker Scott Norwood at Superbowl XXV.
· Comfort: You can’t beat a pair of ‘lucky’ boxer shorts that have so many holes in them, you don’t need to pull them down to go to the bathroom.

When the occasion calls for it, though, retrosexuals scrub up nicely. Style icons like James Bond and Cary Grant were rocking the tuxedo and two-piece suit long before the term ‘metrosexual’ had been coined. Even today, despite compromising with small ‘metro’ details like neckties and cufflinks, stylish gents like George Clooney, Daniel Craig and Clive Owen remain retro to the core, baby – and look damn good doing it.

Most retrosexuals, though, don’t have such an evolved sense of style. Typical mistakes – details that simply don’t register on the retro radar – include pairing a black belt with brown shoes, wearing odd socks or ignoring a stain on their favorite necktie.

The second, less popular meaning of the term ‘retrosexual’ refers to a person’s sexuality, rather than their sense of style.

‘Retrosexuality’ is a sexual preference for sleeping with exes and acquaintances. It’s an involuntary fascination with the past; trying to tie up the loose ends of relationships gone south, things that ‘might have been’ and childhood crushes that always remained unrequited.

Wondering if you’re ‘retrosexual’? Ask yourself the following:

· Have you ever slept with an ex at least a year or more after breaking up?
· Do you have a ‘friend with benefits’ you went to High School with?
· Have you ever slept with somebody you reconnected with on Facebook?

There’s nothing wrong with retrosexuality – in fact, retrosexuals show an enormous amount of loyalty and place huge importance on maintaining good friendships and relationships – but sometimes they’re too good.

On the rare occasions that a retrosexual starts dating a fresh face, the new romantic interest will often their retrosexual partner’s attachment to ‘relationships past’ a little intimidating. When dating a retrosexual, it can often be difficult to see a future together – simply because a retro won’t let go of the past.

There is one last definition of ‘retrosexual’ – in 1995, Guardian reporter Karen Krizanovich confessed: “I haven’t had sex in so long, I’m retrosexual.” It’s my personal favorite, because by that definition, we’ve all been ‘retrosexual’ at some point in our lives.