He passes by a group of young ladies in their twenties, and they cannot help but be intrigued, smile and exchange a few whispers. He’s a man in a suit, grays slowly taking over his mane, and his brow is no stranger to lines. But among a sea of equally business-like suits walking about, this one isn’t walking, nor is he driving a bright red Porsche.
He’s cruising the streets on his brand-new skateboard, in his neat attire and shoes, all perfectly combined in a professional ensemble Harvey Specter would tip his hat to, if he had one. And that is precisely why he is getting so much attention from the opposite gender.
The hipster within
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Have you ever seen a gentleman picking up a date on his skateboard?
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You can love ‘em, or hate ‘em, but they aren’t going anywhere, at least for a while. The hipster chili-caramel mocha culture has redefined many a manly thing, and introduced quite a few cool angles on modern society, and this laid-back, rejecting conformity vibe is likely the culprit for this weird yet wonderful shift.
And by the shift, I mean the sudden urge to heal your middle-aged wounds by going back to your freedom-loving roots and testing the boundaries of the normal and accepted. Hence the guy in the suit meandering through the crowd on his longboard.
The other perspective
However, the question still remains – what makes this simple choice so alluring to the opposite sex? The simple answer could be that the goofy skate is the latest version of the Harley or Mustang. It’s rebellious, free-spirited, and it definitely makes you stand out in any crowd. In a sea of Segway scooters, bicycles and standard four-wheelers, a skate is truly the epitome of thinking outside the box, and being unencumbered by the standard grownup etiquette.
So, it’s only natural that the youth spreading their wings amidst the hipster culture, the ladies in this case, get hooked on a man who isn’t afraid to express his innocent, playful side, and simply do what comes naturally and what is comfortable. The skate is a representation of their spirit, or a dear memory, and a practical solution with a fun twist. It’s tough to be intimidating riding a skate in a suit. But it sure is charming.
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With so many fake, false and phony around, men and women alike, trying to leave the impression of being something they clearly aren’t, it’s refreshing to be the guy who doesn’t give a rat’s rear about whether or not you know the size of his bank account, and other relevant…things.
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With so many fake, false and phony around, men and women alike, trying to leave the impression of being something they clearly aren’t, it’s refreshing to be the guy who doesn’t give a rat’s rear about whether or not you know the size of his bank account, and other relevant…things.
Remembering the present
It used to be mighty manly to wear a beard, but now you can actually wear something called beard jewelry. I don’t know, and don’t ask. And this beard also needs to be cared for with oils, well-trimmed and groomed at all times. It’s the modern, cleaned-up lumberjack look beloved by many and revered by all, empowered by the same crew that has embraced the skater-boy inside the Senior Account Manager.
And while you’d see the first guy riding a hog in downtown New York, the latter would also be the CEO of his own company, the guy cruising the streets completely immersed in the moment, and they have more in common than meets the eye. Just like the hardcore biker, he didn’t just buy the first board he could find, not by a long shot. He gladly took his time to choose the right skateboard hardware, its colors, shapes and curves, building his ride one piece at a time.
To the envious, it will always be just a chick magnet for older guys desperate to get some attention among the jacked and juicy, and those who can actually afford a Porsche. But those who had a light suddenly turn on in their head at the mention of their childhood board – it’s an undying refusal to conform, or to hide your authentic, genuine self. And the ladies seem to dig that.
Photos by Roland Tanglao and Emma Lawson
