In the Business of Looking Good, Vanity is Essential

Let’s face it: a little bit of vanity is sometimes essential.

If looking good and feeling great are central to your career, wouldn’t you take that extra minute in front of the mirror and check if everything is on point?

If your day ahead is bound to be challenging, it would help to close your eyes and tell yourself: ‘Yes, I can do this. Yes, I’m great at what I do. Yes, I’m that guy.’ Because no one else can love you and encourage you more than yourself.

For many, a little bit of vanity spells the difference between success and stagnation.

Vanity was what pushed Anthony Constantino, our May digital cover star, to forego a career in tech, fly from Los Angeles to Manila to pursue modeling, and eventually become one of the Philippines’ next heartthrobs.

It was less about being self-absorbed than believing that he could brave the leap halfway around the world. Look at Anthony now: in-demand model, rising actor, and still a winner in the business of looking good, thanks to his stringent fitness and self-care routines.

Vanity is also what pushed VMAN Southeast Asia to create the Vanity Vanguards It List, a curated selection of self-care essentials for the vanguards of men’s fashion destinations. Because we believe that looking good is a year-long affair, regardless of trends and seasons.

Vanity is what keeps Southeast Asian men at the forefront of fashion and lifestyle, as seen in our roundup of influential guys who look great and thrive by being so. We’ve scoured Singapore and Malaysia, and we’re on the lookout for more.

Welcome to VMAN Southeast Asia’s Vanity Issue: an exploration of the interests of the modern man—fashion, grooming, and fitness—through the lens of vanity. In the coming weeks, look forward to more stories on products that our faces and bodies will thank us for, men who motivate us to present ourselves best, and fashion and fitness trends that will make us look great.

Because again, a little bit of vanity never hurt anybody.

Photography Paolo Pineda

Chief of Editorial Content Patrick Ty

Art direction Mike Miguel

Fashion Corven Uy

Words Angelo Dionora

Grooming and Hair Myckee Arcano, assisted by Arn Esguerra

Retouching Summer Untalan

Editorial assistant Francis Vicente

Photography assistants Isidro Pejoto and Rolando Alcordo

On location Slick Barbers Co.

Special thanks Christian Indio Bendaña and Hiro Takahashi