National Geographic

So I mentioned the National Geographic look to a friend of mine and she knew exactly what I meant, despite not going for them herself. I have since found out that there is actually a "National Photographic look" which means a certain kind of photograph. This is absurd, as obviously when you say the "National Photographic look" you mean:
- 3-day old unshaven, as if he' been to a place where you can only shave with a blunt hunting knife (scene from Crocodile Dundee) and bluntly cut short hair.
- Tanned, weather-beaten look; crucially on fair skin - there is a certain tinge of the colonial past about the National geographic look, plus of course it's usually only the countries with fair people who have enough money to pay people to do nothing but take photographs of birds the year round. No self-respecting National Geographic would ever dream of wearing sun-lotion of course.
- Shorts or very faded jeans - I think the look used to include cargo shorts with lots of pockets, but as this item of clothing has been taken over by metrossexuals who, gasp! use moisturiser, it has fallen out of fashion with the national geographic look. I have also found out that the National Geographic Societyactually sell these kind of clothes (and shoes -see below) for extortionate prices.
- Worn moutain boots or sandals - the national geographic look cares enough about its appearance not to wear socks with these.
- Thin as if you have had to survive for several weeks on a traditional Ethiopian diet of fried locusts.
- Optional - a manual camera

Now, I have never seen a real-life National Geographic photographer. The closest I got was Clint Eastwood in "Bridges of Madison Country" and he looked, as he always does, a very good version of his unique self. I also suspect he was much more of a gentleman than true national geographic photographers.
However, I have seen countless examples of the national geographic look here in Cambridge. This intrigues me. Besides some people from the Zoology Department, who do travel to far-flung places to collect exotic species, and the people from the British Antarctic Survey (who are the new real national geographic anyway), I can't really find an explanation for all the other ones I have seen. Plus the over-abundant number of clothes shops that cater for this look. I couldn't find any special link between the National Geographic Society and Cambridge, historical or current, and as far as I know, Cambridge doesn't produce more explorers than your average British place (I am willing to be corrected on this). So why this trend? And also, to what will the national geographics metamorphose in winter? At the moment, my bets go to the University professor look - i.e glasses, corduroy jacket with leather elbows and an inspiration on Indiana Jones. But I hope to be surprised.