Photographs don’t lie. Which is why every few years, a man needs to do a little historical editing.
A few weeks ago I was doing some ‘clearance’ on my laptop and my old external hard drive, getting ready for a long-delayed PC maintenance that I’ve been meaning to do. I browsed and browsed some more…and I came to a folder titled “Abel Old”. I double-clicked on it, just to see what was stored inside. It was a series of photo albums, many of them with pictures of me from mid 1990s and early 2000s. Mostly with the look that would earn me a dishonourable discharge from any fashion school! At some points, I was very skinny, with pimples and dark spots on my face – and oh, that little pathetic moustache! You know how important your graduation pictures are; if only I could turn back the hands of time, I would re-take them all – with proper dieting a month prior, and a good night sleep the night before!
Back when I was in my teens, I relied on pleated pants and those loud baggy jeans. I don’t know what I was thinking – I thought that was the best look to go, especially when you lived in a boarding school, and trying to look cool and act cool – was the essence of being liked, and perhaps might get you landed with the ‘popular’ bunch in school. But I remember having myself emphasizing on being neat at all times – no matter what. The clothing selection might not be impressive but at least I tried – well, with the limited ‘resources’, if you know what I mean.
Now, I work in a profession where feeling good and looking good are paramount. I may not have a six-pack body but being healthy is a daily endeavour. Once a week run, consistent intake of supplements and daily chicken essence are some of the ‘must-dos’. Not to forget, occasional spa visits for whole-body relaxing massage and facial treatment. And I take pride in dressing to show off my hard work! When a man feels fit and healthy, when he’s proud of his body and how he takes care of it, it makes sense that he wants to accessorize with great fashion. After all, it makes no sense to put chrome hub-caps on a garbage truck, does it?
Clothes are the outward manifestation of an inner state. If the man underneath is anxious and embarrassed, the clothes will say so. But if he’s solid and confident, those feelings will suffuse every fibre. Having said that, we all should know the difference…Fashions and physical look may fade, but style and personality are eternal. - A
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