Judging by appearances

Matt Vogts. Photo / Babiche Martens

If you work in the fashion and beauty world then you're inevitably judged by your appearance. Not all men might shape up to the demands of being a brand ambassador, but in any line of work, image is a defining aspect of how you're perceived.

The two men we speak to here are at the sharp end of the appearance game, but they reflect a growing sense of confidence among men in feeling comfortable in their well-moisturised skin.

Men are spending more on grooming (or filching products from women - the Herald's security guard was happy to answer yes when asked if he used moisturiser, but sheepishly admitted to raiding his wife's). They're also heading to the gym to get in shape and to the clinic to ward off signs of ageing and spending more trying out treatments, all without feeling emasculated. No longer are men who show signs of pride in their appearance greeted with hoots of derision from the blokier end of the spectrum. And if you are, don't worry, you'll have the last laugh: toned, taut and looking terrific.

Raj Ghatge is the sales and marketing manager, designer brands for L'Oreal's luxury products division, dealing with houses such as Yves St Laurent, Giorgio Armani and Lancome. The married 37-year-old with a suave corporate style grew up in Mumbai and has been in the beauty industry for more than a decade - Auckland has been home since 2004. Raj is happy to be dubbed a metrosexual, defining this as any man who is interested in what makes him look and feel good.

How important is appearance in your job?
I'd say quite important. It's simply a case of practise what you preach.

How important is appearance to the way you see yourself and others?
Very important - appearance builds self-confidence. Appearance and attitude go hand-in-hand.

How often do you go to the hairdresser/barber?
I go to Rodney Wayne in St Lukes once a month.

Have you had a grooming/pampering treatment (massage, facial, manicure, brow tidy etc)?
I have a full body massage, facial, manicure and pedicure on a monthly basis. A basic neck and shoulder massage is done weekly.

Is there a treatment you'd like to try?
Detox ... I think I need it.

Waxing: Manly or masochistic?
Hmmm! Depends on the area...

Describe your daily skincare regime/grooming routine.
Morning: cleansing (Lancome Men), moisturising (Yves Saint Laurent L'Homme Grooming), face and eye cream (Lancome Men), hand cream (Lancome Nutrix Royal Mains) deodorant spray (Giorgio Armani or Yves Saint Laurent), fragrance (Giorgio Armani).

Do you have a desert island grooming product(s), that you never travel without?
Yves Saint Laurent's 3 in 1 Cleansing Water, Giorgio Armani deodorant spray and Kerastase shampoo.

Is there a battle for mirror time in your house?
Nope! I'm fairly quick as normally I like what I see.

Do you wear cologne? What's your favourite(s)?
Daytime , Giorgio Armani's Code Men; night time, Yves Saint Laurent's La Nuit de L'Homme; and weekends, Diesel's Only The Brave.

Who's your style icon or man whose style you admire?
Giorgio Armani - effortless, timeless, understated. What more to say?

You have a hangover, how do you pull yourself together to face the world?
Gym, cold shower, Yves Saint Laurent's Anti-fatigue Treatment, Healthy Look Moisturiser, Radiant Touch for Men and a protein shake with banana.

Complete the sentence. New Zealand men need to ...
redefine themselves and move on from the traditional "bloke" image.

Matt Vogts is the PR manager for World. In his twenties and living with a partner, he grew up in Auckland and is a marketing graduate of AUT. During his student days he worked part-time in the World stores, where he can still be seen occasionally helping out and keeping in touch with customer needs. The rest of his time is spent in the backroom promoting the brand's clothes, accessories and beauty products, liaising with media and stylists and organising events. His dapper style of dress could be described as studiously dandy, and he has the confidence to carry off the label's paisley and floral prints.

Vogts rejects the label metrosexual, saying it means "absolutely nothing" to him. "People either care about their appearance or don't irrelevant of gender."

How important is appearance in your job?
Important, but then I think appearance is important in any industry.

How important is appearance to the way you see yourself and others?
A respectable appearance is sufficient to make people more interested in you.

How often do you go to the hairdresser/barber?
I try to go every four weeks.

Would you/have you coloured your hair?
I would and I have.

Have you had a grooming/pampering treatment? If so, is this a regular thing?
I've been gifted grooming treatments before, but unfortunately neither the gifts nor the treatments are regular.

Waxing: manly or masochistic?
Maybe sadistic?

Describe your daily skincare regime/grooming routine.
I use Aesop facewash and moisturiser morning and night.

Is there a battle for mirror time in your house?
Thankfully not.

Do you wear cologne?
Yes, my current favourite is Nasomatto Absinthe but all the Nasomatto fragrances are incredible.

Who's your male style icon(s)?
Salvador Dali and Patrick Wolf.

If you woke up and looked like your worst nightmare, who would that be?
Susan Boyle.

Complete the sentence. NZ men need to ...
brave up!