What's the new sexy?
But what about a new kind of sexy? One that's not so in-your-face, one that's not so...obvious.
Six people, six points of view on what the new sexy is all about.
Marc Forrat, owner of and chocolatier at La Chocolaterie Forrat Inc
Sure, chocolate might seem like a clear choice for a column on what's sexy, but to hear Marc Forrat talk about it gives it a fresh new perspective.
“Chocolate — it's a compliment. It compliments what we're lacking today. A lack of, perhaps, love,” explained Forrat.
Roger Carlos, another employee of the chocolaterie adds that the chocolate is alluring.
“It's an attraction all by itself, stirring and lifting the ladle - girls will just stop,” he said.
Forrat has been a chocolatier since the age of 12 and came from France to London after meeting his wife at a French club, while dancing on a pool table. He worked in construction, saving up some money until December 2002 when “the passion and money had a good ratio, a good balance,” and he set up his first store in London's Covent Garden Market.
He's created everything from a giant “male chocolate” for a bachelorette party — you get the idea — to custom body paint to romantic desserts for proposals. But it's more than just mass-producing chocolates for Forrat, he's all about adding a little more to the treat.
“There's a feeling attached to the chocolate. It makes it that much more memorable,” he said, adding that being willing to do the sexier side of chocolate is “definitely a plus.”
Irene Velentzas, 2nd degree black belt in karate
There's nothing sexier than a girl who can kick ass — literally. Although martial arts have long been seen as a mainly male dominated sport, Velentzas points out that as she progressed through her training, she began to see more women getting involved.
Velentzas has been doing karate for about 15 years, since she was 6-years-old. While she hasn't been in training lately, she said the discipline “never really leaves you.”
Her specific style of karate is isshin-ryu, which is Japanese. It focuses on closed and open techniques — slapping, chopping, hooks and kicks. She's also been trained in weapons like the sai — a three-pronged dagger and a bo — a six foot long staff.
While karate is visually all about the physical — it's actually a “complete way of life,” she said.
There's the focus on the body and its strength, the mind with setting goals and staying ambitious in training, and the spirit — controlling one's emotions and having the “personal knowledge that you can defend yourself,” she explained.
So what does Velentzas find personally sexy about her skills? “The notion of the damsel in distress is obliterated,” she said. “I don't know any guy who says (they) want a girl that's helpless and I don't want to be.”
In karate, students are taught to attack with perseverance and passion, she added.
“You attack with that (in) your life.”
Ian Greasley, owner and florist at Bloomers
It's not every day you find a guy's guy who sees art in flowers. But Ian Greasley has made himself a successful businessman because of that unconventional talent.
While “sexy” isn't the first word that comes to mind for him when he thinks of flowers, they can be at times romantic, he said.
Greasley was in the real estate business 25 years ago. He was vice-president of two real-estate companies — arguably a traditionally sexy position. Then, seemingly out-of-the-blue, he decided it was time for a career change.
He realized he was happiest in his garden and that one of his attributes, besides business acumen, was his artistic eye, he explained.
Initially, he received some flack — mainly questioning his sexuality — but he persevered, discovering there are lots of guys in the flower business. There was also the sudden career change in mid-stream that threw a lot of people for a loop. “‘What the hell is he doing?'” said Greasley, mimicking what others' said. “I wonder that myself sometimes!”
But he's got the talent for it. The florist has the job of conveying the range of emotions behind why people buy flowers ranging from “I love you,” to “Sorry I screwed up.” Another challenge is being able to convey the same message that a guy makes with a $6,000 bunch of flowers (yes, someone bought that much), for a guy with only $20.
“You have to be a good artist, very good at trying to understand what people want,” he said.
Shelley Long, author of the Forest City Fashionista
http://forestcityfashionista.blogspot.com
Shelly Long is London's own sartorialist. Ever since she was a kid, she's always been aware of other people's clothing. She started the blog back in April of this year, and has been chronicling London's most fashionably unique.
Readers won't find any carbon copies on this blog — it celebrates true style.
“Being stylish is sexy…and that's not being fashionable,” explained Long.
Her typical blog subject is someone who stands out — whether it's a pair of fishnets, artfully mixing plaids, or a jaunty hat.
“They don't look like everybody else,” she said of those people she photographs. “People who don't look like they're trying too hard. There's got to be that something.”
She will admit that true style — whether it's a little kooky, and very colourful — can be stifled by people's negative attention.
“Unless you have a strong sense of yourself, it can pressure you into scaling back.”
But throughout the project, Long believes that people need to take more risks with what they're wearing, and to forget about the naysayers.
“Wear what you like and what makes you happy, and wear it with confidence,” she said.
Being yourself — always sexy.
Paul Freeman, nursing student at Fanshawe College
Paul Freeman went to being a member of the majority at his former job at a factory, to being one of the minority when he came to Fanshawe.
“There's about 10 guys to 90 women,” he said of his nursing class. “(We're) more centred out.”
But pursuing a job that's non-traditional for men — pretty sexy. Freeman jokes that the scrubs are what really makes the job sexy. But another attraction could be that here are some guys who have “a sense of caring, who want to help out” — factors that brought him to the profession, he said.
While the men might face scrutiny on the job — older male clients don't really enjoy male nurses changing their bedpans or catheters — they're out to change stereotypes.
“A lot of guys are in the factory business — looking at why can't guys do this job?” said Freeman. “A guy can care as much as girls can.”
Lisa Fisher of Richmond Row's Fisher & Company
Short skirts, lots of cleavage, lots of skin — sexy for some, but Lisa Fisher believes a new brand of sexy is beginning and it's all about confidence.
“Girls in this era are more confident — ‘I don't have to show it all to get the guy,'” she explained. “Sexiness is a secondary thought, classy is the first.”
She notes that leggings are popular, but rear ends are covered and that v-necks are prevalent, but breasts aren't hanging out. It's more about being creative with belts, scarves, heels and blazers than being blatantly obvious — which can get tired.
“We're almost covering up more than say in the early 90s when everything was all out there,” she said. “It's more sophisticated dressing, there's a sweetness to it — a secret behind it.”
