Getting Our Goatees--as the Beat Goes Chic

Tufts of fashion whimsy are sprouting on the faces of Los Angeles’ men-about-town. Goatees, those small, carefully crafted beards popularized by such disparate characters as Mephistopheles and Maynard Krebs in the 1960s TV show “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,” are making a comeback. Mixing beatnik and biker chic, they’ve become a definite fashion look.

Traditionally, a goatee resembles a goat’s beard in its pointed shape that covers only the chin area. But this basic form has been widely interpreted over time. Hairdresser Steve Renteria, who works at the Hair Loft, says the most popular variation is the Van Dyke, where mustache and beard connect. And, he notes, maintaining a goatee requires a close, daily shave as well as a weekly trim.

Photographer John Ragel, assistant to celebrity portraitist Annie Leibovitz, says his goatee has a certain gritty appeal, but “women hate it.”

A quick survey confirms his claim that women dislike goatees. But local gossip columnist Janet Charlton disagrees. “There’s something infinitely wicked about goatees,” she says. “A well-clipped goatee is so refined. It shows that a man takes care in how he looks.”

Ken Sylvester, a self-described jack-of-all-trades whose beard was inspired by Vincent Price, says his girlfriend is a major supporter of his look but adds, “It’s weird, she hates beards but loves goatees.” The object of his hairy affection, magazine editorial assistant Suzi Joi Kiefer, explains: “It makes him look so sinister.”