Bringing Back the ‘Stache

In pop culture, things have a cycle. Styles will start out underground, make there way to the mainstream, get saturated, then fall out of style again. It then remains out of vogue for a spell, but then it creeps back into the underground again (usually in an “ironic-hipster” sort of manner) and lingers there for an indefinite period until it goes mainstream again for awhile and considered “retro”. That’s sort of what’s been happening with the moustache. A favorite of Burt Reynolds and Tom Selleck, their hairy upper lip has been considered unfashionable long enough that you can now see club kids and other youngish types flying the ‘stache again. Reviews are mixed. It may never make it back all the way into the mainstream again, but such things are hard to predict.

For centuries, the moustache was a mark of authority. Artifacts from as far back as 300 BC portray mustachioed soldiers and other authority figures. Military men, police (some things never change), judges and upper-class types would sport a moustache. In the military, in particular, officers of lower rank would cultivate a smaller and less elaborate moustache, while ranking officers might grow the ‘stache along with huge sideburns, a soul patch or other facial-hair adornments. An interesting piece of trivia for you, the moustache-and-soul-patch combination is known as “The Imperial.”

The moustache went in and out of style for years, but by the early 20th century, big, overgrown moustaches had fallen out of favor in most parts of the world. The trend was more towards a neatly-trimmed set of lip whiskers, including the somewhat-creepy pencil-line moustache favored by matinee idols and crooners in the 1930s and 40s. Still, a moustache was, and still is, seen as a sign of masculinity in many cultures. See any picture of Saddam Hussein and his mustached staff and hangers-on, they’re never without.

By the 1940s, most men had gone to a clean-shaven, well-groomed look, including carefully-pomaded hair and trimmed sideburns. That was true until the hippie movement of the 60s. The moustache held on past the hippie days as a Seventies-dude accessory that went well with flares and blow-dried hair. It’s still not fallen out of style with NASCAR drivers, cops or other subsets, but by the late 80s it was gone from the mainstream.

So now the moustache may be coming full circle again, and even full beards can be spotted on some rock stars, although most don’t go for the big beard popular with Mullahs. Trucker hat, skinny jeans, handlebar moustache? Yeah, you can probably get by with it now. But be aware: moustaches and facial hair in general are an “acquired taste” with many women. A big droopy walrus, Fu Manchu, handlebar, Poncho Villa or Civil War moustache may well be the deal-breaker with you and 70 per cent of all the women in the world.

NOTE: Do NOT go for the little postage-stamp Hitler moustache. Nobody is going to appreciate that or think it’s funny.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE