If you’re a regular reader of Urbanette, then you know that we have a tenancy to veer to the serious side sometimes. That’s why we thought it was high time we brought you something sexy, silly, and fun. Cue the lumbersexuals!
In case you’re unfamiliar, there are two kinds of lumbersexuals: the fake kind and the sexy kind. Here’s how to spot the real ones, weed out the hipsters, and get over the fact that you’ve fallen for a beard-sporting, flannel-loving, Army boot-wearing man (who also may wear faux glasses and a droopy beanie that your dad makes fun of because hey, nobody is perfect).
Best Places to Find a Lumbersexual
Rock climbing gyms, live music venues, Frisbee golf courses, the lake, the river, the hardware store — this is where you find real lumbersexuals. They are at bars, too (but then again, so are the lumbering not-so-sexuals).
How to Avoid the Lumbering Not-So-Sexuals
Are his pants so tight that his thigh gap is wider than yours? Is he wearing Tom’s? Drinking a hard cider? This lumbering not-so-sexual may own a lot of plaid and have poor grooming habits, but odds are, he doesn’t know how to do many of the things that make real lumbersexuals so intoxicating. The allure of the lumbersexual is a manliness with an edge of fashionability, right? Well, consider this a guy a designer knockoff and beware!
How to Deal with His Fake Glasses
Fake glasses? That serve no medical purpose whatsoever? What is next, lumbersexuals? A plastic ax? What if we put a little fake bird on your shoulder like the kind my aunt gets from craft stores?
We may hate on the faux rims fad but dangit, at least this guy has some guts. It’s kinda refreshing to meet a guy who is rugged and still likes to accessorize, right? And really, fake glasses are a ridiculous thing in concept, but we lie about fake eyelashes and summer highlights, so why shouldn’t men have their little secrets, too?
Still not feeling it? If you really hate them, you could just ‘accidentally’ squish them while packing his CamelBak for a surprise day hike… whoops! He can always get another $10 pair, but in the meantime tell him how hot he looks without them.
How to Deal with His Droopy Beanie
We all know this look. The hottest guy in the room sporting a beanie that looks like a deflated balloon taped to the back of his head. Is it just me, or is a beanie only hot when it looks like he would snowboard in it? The lumbersexual is all about gettin’ things done, using tools and being efficient. So an emo beanie just doesn’t cut it. Get him something structured, strong and knitted, with ear flaps or faux fur/leather and buckle detail. His desire to wear cheeky accessories will take over and break him from his sad droopy beanie habit.
All Flannel, All the Time
Over the last few years, we’ve all become experts at spotting a flannel from across the room in a sea of no-effort T-shirts. It’s a beacon of hope that there are still manly men out there who can build you a house AND help you decorate it, too (or at least be willing to look through the Pinterest board).
The expanding population of smart, dare-we-say sophisticated lumbersexuals is a pretty encouraging development. And the fashion world is even taking notice. The Guardian calls the trend “faux-hobo” and boasts the practicality of the style. That’s right. It’s finally fashionable to be practical. Oh wait, it always was — for men, anyway. Sorry, ladies.
Now that you’ve found your lumbersexual and fallen for him like a tree in the forest and you don’t care who hears it, make sure you two stay cozy all winter long. Get some legit matching flannels and get to studying up on whatever gets this grizzly god of plaid outside and smiling.
Are you obsessed with lumbersexuals too? Do tell!
I love flannel, wear it every a few days of the week!! ?? but I’m a woman so does that still make me a lumbersexual? ?
Flannel shirts and boots are a hot look but whoever invented the name Lumbersexual may have had a sexual disorder .
I don’t think there’s anything masculine about a bunch of city dudes pretending to be outdoorsy. Keep up the good work though, Sarah.
Cool look except for the ugly laced chukka or work boots. Now with Western or Frye campus styled pull on boots, it looks great.
Lumbersexual thing was inspired by the Gay community so that Gays could know who was pitching and who was catching, not that there is anything wrong with that.
Kinda sad that when guys take care of how they look it is deemed “sexual” as if sex is the reason that we do it.
I think the modern day male country stars have a lot to do with this look such as Luke Bryan and Jake Owen.
I’m so disappointed that men like hipster fashion instead of this. There’s just something attractive about how men look really masculine. I think men look really powerful when they show that they’re capable of manual labor. I think those are the type of men you would really want to be around with and are supposed to keep. Like come on, I don’t want to marry someone who can’t do simple things around the house because that would be really irritating.
I hate all the negative comments. What’s wrong with wearing flannel shirts and having a beard? You don’t need to be a homesteader to be comfortable when it’s cold outside. I hope wearing basketball shorts and a t-shirt on the weekends doesn’t ever come under fire. I’ll be screwed.
I think those people who qualify themselves as a lumbersexual are trying to compensate for the embarrassment of previously qualifying themselves as metrosexual.