Five O'Clock Shadows

While looking at photos of Gerard Butler just now *ahem*, I ran across an article which said, "Researchers in Britain have found that women are more attracted to men with stubbly chins than those with clean-shaven faces or full beards – in fact, the fair sex prefers them for love, sex and marriage."

It's nice to have my own instincts confirmed. I've always been a fan of the five o'clock shadow, and the darker the shadow the better. I'm not, on the other hand, a lover of beards. Once the length of facial hair gets beyond a certain point, it stops being sexy for me.

This is about right:

Or this:

Beard stubble even makes what might otherwise be a baby face, acceptable:

And totally changes my acceptance of an actor, along with my perception of his skill:


(Oh, yes. Titanic, who?)

I will even accept it when a man's facial hair grows in a little white trashy:


(Especially if he is hot, to boot.)

But the award for the most perfect five o'clock shadow goes to this man, based on depth of color, panache, and all sorts of other adjectives:

I believe I've proved my point. You're welcome.