WHAT HAPPENED TO MOVEMBER?

Is it me, or is hardly anyone doing Movember?

A few years back, it was all the rage. Men everywhere were sporting the mo, from the twitching bristles of the sergeant major to the full-on handlebar moustachios. My facebook feed was like a who's who of 1974.

Now, admittedly I've given flumbook a rest. Who knows, maybe it's a-buzz with lip-haired men and quietly begrudging women? I tell you one thing though - twitter isn't and neither is my workplace. In fact, I think I only know two people who are doing it at all.

All the rage. I used that phrase deliberately, despite knowing of course, that Movember is not supposed to be anything to do with fashion, and everything to do with eradicating testicular and prostate cancer.

See, here's my theory: beards. Beards are in - and when beards are in, growing a moustache for a month is, well, it's kind of already done isn't it? All that is so 2011 nowadays. So has the hispter beard killed off Movember? I hope not.

Alright Stubbsy, what are you doing about it then, you fuzz-faced old hypocrite?

True, I have all-year round facial hair and have had for a long time. True, I've not shaved it off and joined in with the Mo Bros. I have donated though, and continue to do so - after all, that is the purpose of Movember, isn't it? However, with my mind dragging me back to the ice bucket challenge of the summer, I can't help raising a bushy eyebrow at the way these things seem to fade in and out of fashion (and let's not beat around the bush, we all know that the ice bucket thing was a fad) - whether for charity or not.

Interestingly, the Victorian beard craze started off as a practical way to keep warm during the Crimean war. When the men returned, it became the badge of honour for the soldier. Soon everyone was wearing them, from Dickens to Darwin. Beards were cool (I bet they weren't). In fact it was only the invention of the disposable razor that put a stop to it (and presumably the collective despair of Victorian women).

So often, something highly practical evolves into something fashionable: military-style overcoats, denim jeans, even ugg boots and parka jackets are all examples, not to mention chelsea tractors and spoilers on sports cars.

Perhaps that's what's happened to Movember too? Its strength was always the ridiculousness of normally clean-shaven men looking like they ought to be in The Village People, for charity. That was its practicality, its u.s.p - something which has been trimmed away, I think, by a whole bunch of men looking like trendy fishermen.

Ah. Maybe it's different where you are. Perhaps there are men you know, right now who are twiddling the ends of their moustaches like Hercule Poirot while the Movember cash rolls in. Perhaps you're doing it yourself while others are wrapping their necks in their massive itchy scarf-beards. Good for you. Good for them. Good for all of us.